Purdue's freshman guards are going to be much more than just backups
In veterans Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer, Purdue has one of the better and most proven and experienced backcourts in college basketball. That doesn’t mean, however, that freshmen Gicarri Harris and CJ Cox are bound to simply be their understudies.
Yes, the two freshmen represent virtually the entirety of the Boilermakers’ backcourt depth — Purdue really only has four true guards among those in its projected rotation — but Harris and Cox won’t just play behind Smith and Loyer, but with them, and in a way that complements the two juniors.
For instance, Harris started at Creighton — that figures to continue — not just because he’s earned it during the summer and fall, but because of the way his value can fill in possible gaps in the existing backcourt. Playing to Harris’ strength as an on-ball defender, Purdue mostly had him guarding, and pressuring, Creighton’s primary ball-handlers, putting a bigger and more physical presence than Smith in that role and unburdening Smith to a certain extent of that often-exhausting task, all the more fuel for Smith to burn on offense. Cox was used the same way.
Further, there will be opponents this season who pressure Purdue or scheme to blitz Smith to take the ball out of his hands, in which case the freshmen’s extra-ball-handler value comes to the forefront.
This was all precisely the value Lance Jones provided last season, though no freshman can reasonably be asked to do it at the same level as Purdue’s final piece of the Final Four puzzle did a year ago.
But they’ll help. Ready or not.
There will be growing pains, but both players look ready, both of them physically mature, seemingly level-headed and hardened competitively by their backgrounds in Atlanta and Boston, respectively.
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“Spark” is a term that could be used often this season around the two rookies.
Defensively, mainly.
“Bringing defensive intensity onto the court at all times,” Harris said, “being somebody that can pick up full court, do dirty work and stuff like that. That’s No. 1 for me.”
Same for Cox, who twice stripped Creighton guards for steals on Saturday night, consummate “spark” plays.
But as assistant coach Paul Lusk said Tuesday, both players’ impacts may be felt beyond defense.
Cox has already shown a scorer’s edge, particularly effective shooting pull-up jumpers off ball screens, same as Smith. Harris was very active as a rebounder at Creighton and figures to be both a respectable spot-up three-point shooter and a player who can generate offense off defense. Had Purdue fared better defensively at Creighton, that might have been more evident.
The two rookies’ worth will really come to the forefront quickly, perhaps as soon as Wednesday night, when Purdue hosts Grand Valley State for its second and final exhibition game. It will be both players’ first time in Mackey Arena for an actual game, as the timelines of both their recruitments — and distance — barred them from being in the building on game nights as recruits.
