Three Things: Day 1 of Purdue basketball summer practice
Three quick notes from Wednesday evening on Cardinal Court, Purdue basketball’s first day of formal summer practice.
DEFENSE FIRST
Per usual for a Purdue practice, Wednesday’s session was dedicated heavily to laying a defensive groundwork. With the overseas trip coming in August, too, Painter said he wants his team to be able to be in more competitive situations in practice during the summer as opposed to drill-work and other basics.
The Boilermakers were 24th nationally in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom, but coaches believe/hope an ample step forward can still be made as last year’s young players benefit from experience, some athletic new pieces join in and Zach Edey continues his upward trajectory as a defender, particularly in ball-screen defense. But ball pressure on the perimeter will be a major emphasis, too, not that it hasn’t always been.
LANCE JONES DEBUTS
The lone Boilermaker on the floor Wednesday (among scholarship players) who wasn’t part of Purdue’s practices last year: Transfer Lance Jones, who brings four years of standout-level experience with him from Southern Illinois.
Jones is part of a bit of an athletic makeover for Purdue on the perimeter, as he joins the rotation along with physically gifted newcomer wings Camden Heide and Myles Colvin. Jones’ quickness and defensive mentality and versatility fill needs for Purdue, perhaps to the point that not only could he be Purdue’s No. 2 ball-handler but perhaps even a starter at another perimeter position as well.
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ONLY ONE MAN MISSING
Every player on Purdue’s roster as present on Wednesday, but one: The team’s lone scholarship true freshman, Myles Colvin, who’s in Colorado Springs trying out for USA Basketball’s 19-and under World Cup team. With just two more cuts to be made, Colvin has made the final list of 14 remaining.
While it would be a great honor and experience for Colvin to make Team USA, there’s really no bad outcome here for him or Purdue. The talented freshman is likely to be a major contributor for Purdue this season, and he’d miss a lot of pre-Europe practice if he makes the U.S. squad. Nevertheless, opportunities like this one don’t come along for just anyone and playing for Team USA would expose Colvin to high-level coaching (Colorado’s Tad Boyle and Oklahoma State’s Mike Boynton), high-level teammates and borderline-professional competition.
In West Lafayette, only redshirt freshman Will Berg is sidelined after he underwent foot surgery a while back. It’s hoped the redshirt freshman will be able to play at some point this summer.
It’s a stark contrast from last summer for Purdue, when Caleb Furst, Braden Smith, Camden Heide and Brian Waddell were all sidelined most of the summer by one thing or another and transfer David Jenkins didn’t arrive ’til around the end of June.
