Big Ten coaches believe in Purdue's title aspirations: "They got bigger, they got stronger, they got a little more athletic"

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Let’s take a trip around the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center during last week’s Big Ten Media Day and check the pulse of the Boilermakers.

This is not about what Purdue thinks about Purdue, but what the rest of the Big Ten sees in Matt Painter’s team. It’s a group loaded from top to bottom with talent, experience, and all the intangibles required to win a national championship.

The presence of Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer, and Painter overshadowed everything else that happened during this day-long event, aside from media members sharing their thoughts about the boxed lunches, which featured oven-roasted turkey and veggie sandwiches.

Smith, Kaufman-Renn, and Loyer, dressed in suits without ties, were the stars of the show and will remain in the forefront on the national stage, even if they stumble during the regular season. Going undefeated isn’t the goal; winning the national title is the priority.

Penn State coach Mike Rhoades is the first stop. Rhoades, whose Nittany Lions knocked off the Boilermakers in last year’s Big Ten opener, hasn’t completely settled into his chair behind the podium when the first Purdue-related question is asked.

“They put a team together to try and win a national championship,” Rhoades said.

Rhoades highlights the roster beyond Smith, Kaufman-Renn, and Loyer. He’s impressed with the depth Painter has assembled, from returners to additions through the portal, as protection for injuries and off-nights.

Once again, Rhoades and his Big Ten peers must deal with Purdue’s talented trio. They’re a year older, a year wiser, and the experience they’ve gained during their careers is poised to pay off with the biggest prize in the sport.

“You can’t completely stop them, but you try to take things away from them,” Rhoades said. “If you can do that on the same night, then you have a chance. We beat them at our place last year. We put a good game plan together, but our guys executed.”

On a team with few weaknesses, Rhoades believes Painter filled the one glaring issue from last season – rebounding. The addition of Oscar Cluff, along with moving Kaufman-Renn to the power forward spot, and the ability of the perimeter players to crash the boards will go a long way in fixing last year’s concern.

“They got bigger, they got stronger, they got a little more athletic, and their guards are big and strong,” Rhoades said.

“HE ADDED SOME GOOD PIECES”

The next stop is Danny Sprinkle from Washington.

Sprinkle is discussing the first-year travel logistics in the conference and says, “It takes a special team to win the regular season championship in this league just because of the travel or game times.”

Throughout Sprinkle’s interview with a handful of reporters, he mentions that everyone in the league improved. How did Purdue get better?

“Well, they got better because they kept Kaufman-Renn, Braden and Fletcher Loyer,” he said. “But some of the other guys – the big kid who can really shoot it, (Daniel) Jacobsen? He’ll have a role.

“The Oscar Cluff kid … just his overall skill level and feel for the game. He knows how to play, and he knows how to get teammates better.”

Here’s Oregon coach Dana Altman, who will make his second appearance in Mackey Arena in February. The first one? Altman was an assistant at Kansas State during the 1987-88 season when the Boilermakers won by …

“It was 29 points,” Altman recalled, and the veteran coach was correct. “That’s my only time there. It wasn’t very much fun. It was right before Christmas, and I remember coach (Lon) Kruger went into hibernation.”

However, the Wildcats got their revenge, knocking out Gene Keady’s top-seeded team in the Sweet 16 at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich.

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But back to this year’s Purdue team, which should be in the same position as the one 37 years ago, earning a No. 1 seed with an eye on a national title.

“He kept most of his guys, so I think that’s where it all starts,” Altman said. “He added some good pieces. I don’t know them all. I knew the little guard from overseas (Omer Mayer) and the big guy from South Dakota State (Cluff).”

There’s a tie to the 1987-88 team. On Monday, Purdue was voted the No. 1 team in the AP poll,its highest preseason ranking since Troy Lewis, Todd Mitchell, and Everette Stephens and the Boilermakers were No. 2 nearly 40 years ago.

“IT’S STILL CHEMISTRY”

Michigan’s Roddy Gayle is fielding questions about his team, highlighting the basketball intelligence and the character throughout the roster. Gayle has watched the Boilermakers from two different lenses – the Wolverines and Ohio State.

“There’s going to be a day where I don’t have to worry about Purdue running the same pick and roll, and there’s nothing you can do with those three guys in the same action,” Gayle said.

But the veteran guard added the leadership component, led by Painter and his staff, which will always keep the program among the best in the Big Ten and the country. That’s why this season could be a special one.

“They’re always going to be top three, especially with the type of leadership and foundation that they have with coach Painter and Smith,” he said.

Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg called Painter the best coach in the Big Ten right now. Northwestern coach Chris Collins extends the praise to “one of the very best coaches in all of college basketball.”

Why?

The consistency of Painter’s approach to maintaining his program at the highest level, despite the noise of the transfer portal, revenue-sharing, and NIL. More importantly, according to Izzo, Painter’s evaluation of recruits and putting the pieces of the puzzle together stand out.

This year’s roster is a perfect example.

“When he started getting all those big guys … I was wondering what the hell Matt was doing,” Izzo said. “He’s done a very good job evaluating players. Some of the guys he’s taken, Smith is one of them, and people questioned it, but he’s a hell of a player.

“That’s why, I think, in this day and age, it’s not the talent that always wins. It’s still chemistry. We proved it last year. It’s still camaraderie, it’s still putting guys together where winning is important. He’s done as good a job as any of us, especially in the last five years.”

“THEY’RE GOING TO BE A GREAT TEAM”

Hoiberg reiterates what other coaches have said about this year’s Purdue team. Retention was the crucial part of constructing the roster.

“First of all, you have as good a coach as there is in the country and putting those guys in spots to be successful and utilizing their skill sets,” Hoiberg said. “But what they were able to do as far as their retention and bring all those guys back to help them be at the top again and add some really important pieces around them as well.

“It’s very admirable to see what he’s done. When you’ve got guards to bring back with the toughest level, with the experience, with the shooting, the play making, it just puts so much heat and stress on your defense.”

Retention wasn’t just about Smith, Kaufman-Renn, and Loyer. Don’t forget about Gicarri Harris and C.J. Cox, both of whom had solid freshman seasons, and Jacobsen, whose rookie year was cut short by an injury in the second game.

Redshirt freshman Jack Benter stayed with the program, giving this year’s group more depth at multiple positions. The addition of Mayer, Cluff, and Liam Murphy shapes the Boilermakers as one of the most complete teams in the country.

“It’s really impressive the group that they’ve put together around their core,” Hoiberg said.

It’s time to end the trip around the room with a simple assessment from Collins and why the Boilermakers can win it all.

“Because they have Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman, and Fletcher Loyer, and one of the very best coaches in all of college basketball,” Collins said. “When you have great talent and great coaching, you can win it all, and they’re going to be a great team. I’m glad we don’t play them until the end of the season so we can sit back and watch.”