Five Preseason hot buttons for Purdue men’s hoops

Purdue begins formal preseason practice on Monday, and once again, we’ll pretend like it’s some meaningful moment even though most college basketball teams practice all summer anyway.

Monday just means the Boilermakers can do it every day now, as they retool coming off an NCAA runner-up season. This will be one of the more interesting and process-dependent preseasons in recent years — nothing like two years ago, but still a distinct mix between established team and blank slate.

But the topics Purdue will need to address and “learn” about itself, that process started months ago.

Nevertheless, a look …

HOW WILL PURDUE PLAY LINEUPS-WISE?

This is important, and fairly unknown at this stage.

With Trey Kaufman-Renn being the key figure, Purdue will use two different sets of lineup configurations. One of them will feature Kaufman-Renn playing the center position — that doesn’t mean he has to play or look like a center — likely alongside a smaller, more athletic 4 man, probably Camden Heide, to begin with.

The other lineup model would have Kaufman-Renn at forward, his primary position last season, next to a 7-footer, Will Berg or Daniel Jacobsen, probably a combination thereof.

The smaller lineup would be quicker, more athletic and malleable and presumably better offensively. The bigger lineups could be more compatible with rebounding and rim protection, two glaring questions.

Again, both sets of lineups will be in play, but which is primary? Remains to be seen.

PICK AND ROLL OFFENSE

Whether it’s scripted offense, improv or the ball-screening baked into Purdue’s motion offense, pick-and-roll was a formidable weapon for Purdue last season, as Braden Smith unlocked much more from Zach Edey and vice versa.

Now, with the frontcourt in flux, Kaufman-Renn presumably becomes the primary roll-man, those actions being ideal to position him for deep post position, but also utilize his short-roll (i.e. mid-range runners over a bailing defender) game, his ability to catch, face and drive and every now and then his seemingly improved three-point shooting.

Berg may be Purdue’s best screener, which is of critical importance, and with that would come opportunities to catch on the roll and finish. His efficiency in those opportunities would loom large. Jacobsen’s more narrow physically but his quickness and length remind of former pick-and-roll weapon Matt Haarms. But handling the initial contact and traffic at the rim would be the keys for him.

Can Heide and Myles Colvin play more of a role in such actions? Heide would seem suited to screening and certainly slipping and finishing; he’s Purdue’s most acrobatic player at the rim. Colvin could be used as a non-traditional pick-and-roll ball-handler to try to get him downhill or into his pull-up jumper. He’s the one guy on this team who can get a shot over most anyone.

Now, this is all just theoretical right now; practices this fall will determine Purdue’s bread-and-butter stuff offensively.

During the summer, rosters are often split to make for competitive practices; now, you’ll start to see Purdue’s best players playing together.

REBOUNDING, REBOUNDING, REBOUNDING

Edey was probably the best rebounder in college basketball the past two seasons, but he was absolutely the most influential.

Purdue can’t replace that, no way.

And Mason Gillis’ tenacity will be missed.

Now, it’s really important that the rebounding culture Purdue has established be carried on not just by big men on this team, but everyone. There’s no way around the Boilermakers needing five men at all times mindful of rebounding. That doesn’t just mean getting the ball, but just as much blocking out all over the floor, fighting to keep rebounds alive, things like that.

Rebounding has never not been a focus during the preseason, with plenty of black eyes, bloodied faces, etc. to show for it.

Purdue does scheme rebunding advantages in some ways, and perhaps you see a bit of that element.

THE FRESHMAN BACKCOURT

Purdue will obviously ride its veteran backcourt as far as it can take it, but the presumed backups are both freshmen who’ll be kicked into the deep end of the pool right away in important roles. Gicarri Harris and CJ Cox are going to be very important, some games more than others, but every day in practice as well.

The two defensive-minded young guards will now start getting more opportunities to practice against Smith and Loyer and push them to be better and more physical. Meanwhile, competing against two of the best upperclassman, experienced guards out there will absolutely benefit the rookies.

The common denominator with Cox and Harris: They’re both bigger and physically mature and already wholly bought in on defense. That doesn’t mean there won’t be learning curves — young on-ball defenders always have to adjust to guarding off the ball, among other things — but their collective mentality may really matter for Purdue in roles, especially if they can make shots at a high-enough rate for their defense to not come with an offensive trade-off. Early returns are positive in that regard.

PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

There’s no way around Purdue redshirting at least one freshman, maybe two.

That decision is a long way of, but try-outs begin now, essentially.

It is all but certain that Cox, Harris and Jacobsen — barring injury — are playing this season.

That would leave forward/center Raleigh Burgess and guard/wing Jack Benter as possibilities, though both made strong first impressions this summer. The numbers-game factor comes into play, though.