Braden Smith's career-high 34 points highlight No. 21 Purdue's 83-64 victory over Toledo

A certain amount of rust is baked into the first game after the Christmas break, as the Boilermakers looked to regain their footing after a two-game losing streak.

That was the case Sunday.

For the first time in eight days since losing to Auburn and for the first time in 21 days since playing at Mackey Arena, Purdue lacked the overall sharpness expected for this non-conference matchup.

The Boilermakers finally shook off the rust, thanks to Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn, and Fletcher Loyer. The trio carried a bulk of the production on the offensive end as the 21^st-ranked Boilermakers disposed of Toledo 83-64.

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With 11:56 to play, Smith, Kaufman-Renn, and Loyer scored 55 of Purdue’s 57 points, and the Boilermakers led 57-47. But Smith helped create enough separation to stretch the lead into the comfortable range during the last 10 minutes.

Smith finished with a career-best 34 points and added 12 assists, orchestrating plays for himself and his teammates on nearly every possession. Kaufman-Renn made 11 of 14 field goals en route to 23 points, and Loyer scored 12 of his 17 points in the final 5:39 of the first half as Purdue built a 39-28 lead.

For most of the game, Toledo lacked a 3-point shooting punch to seriously challenge the Boilermakers. The Rockets were 1 of 10 through the first 30 minutes and finished 2 of 14, leaning on points in the paint, holding a rebounding advantage, hitting midrange jumpers, and converting enough free throws.

However, Toledo couldn’t slow down Smith, who had his 3-point stroke from the opening tip. Smith hit the first of his six 3-pointers 21 seconds into the game and continued to deliver clutch baskets when the Rockets tried to carve into the advantage.

Purdue committed just eight turnovers but was outrebounded 40-33.

“I FELT BAD TODAY”

Smith attempted 22 field goals, and the point guard felt bad.

Say what?

Smith didn’t set out Sunday to shoot 22 times, but Toledo’s defense allowed him to, and he was successful.

“Trust me, I don’t like taking 22 shots; I felt bad today, ‘Damn, I shot it a lot,’ ” Smith said. “Just having these guys back here and on this team and the coaching staff that trusts me and believes in me in taking those shots. I think that helps me and gives me confidence.”

Smith has always been a pass-first player, and with Zach Edey in the middle of the offense the last two seasons, it’s easy to make that a priority. But this year’s team is different, and more scoring is needed from Smith as the Big Ten season resumes Thursday at Minnesota.

Here’s what Smith is learning or has learned: He can be a volume shooter and also involve his teammates at an elite level. It’s worked several times this season and will work again.

“I think he’s always had it,” said Loyer, who was 4 of 7 from 3-point range. “It’s just a matter of turning it on and realizing how good of a shot it is for him to shoot it. It comes down to winning games, and that’s what he cares about. We need him to score.

“And nights like tonight, when he can take 22 shots, I’m going to tell him to take 25 to 30. It’s just him making the winning play and doing what’s best for Purdue is what he’s done for 2 ½ years and what he’s going to keep doing.”

From Kaufman-Renn’s perspective, none of the 22 field goal attempts were bad shots. They came within the offense, where Smith is comfortable taking his shots.

“It’s not like he took one bad shot,” Kaufman-Renn said. “I was just telling him after the game, even though you shot more than you’re comfortable with and more than you’re used to, they’re all good looks. If you can get those looks every time, you want to shoot them.”

“YES, IF …”

As conference play re-starts, can the Boilermakers win consistently with Smith, Kaufman-Renn, and Loyer accounting for nearly 90% of the scoring, similar to Sunday?

“Yes, if you don’t turn the ball over and you rebound better,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said.

Opponents can game plan to design a defense to remove one player and maybe two. But three? That’s a difficult assignment if Purdue’s Big 3 are operating at a high level on offense like Sunday.

Part of the offensive success was how Toledo played defense, switching everything. Not every future opponent will utilize the same strategy.

“If you have a guy that averages 35 points, and if you shut him down, you shut that team down,” Painter said. “In reality, maybe so. But three people? That’s a good core of three people. When you switch everything, they can do whatever they want, but they can’t tell us who we can keep the ball with.”

Painter and his staff will be prepared for every scenario throughout the Big Ten season. Smith, Kaufman-Renn, and Loyer won’t account for nearly 90% of the points in every game, and others must step up when needed. Part of the formula this season is leaning on the trio. The Boilermakers are 8-0 when they combine for 41 points or more.

Of the issues facing Purdue, this isn’t near the top of the list compared to turnovers, rebounding, keeping opponents out of the paint, and playing better defense.

“We have some guys that didn’t score tonight and didn’t help us in that area that can make open shots and can make plays,” Painter said. “They don’t get the same volume of opportunities. In the right scenarios, they’re going to make some shots there and really help us.”

INCREASED PHYSICALITY

Starting Thursday and continuing through the end of the season, the centerpiece of about every game is physicality. Rebounding. Playing defense. Setting and fighting through screens.

Kaufman-Renn took the physicality to Toledo’s players, but it wasn’t by design to show other players they need to embrace the same style. Painter prefers more physicality across the board, and that could be one difference in where Purdue finishes in the Big Ten.

Although Kaufman-Renn should’ve grabbed more than six rebounds in Sunday’s game, Painter points to the group and uses the word “collectively” because it involves everyone.

“I think everybody should rebound better than they did, but that’s the reason I keep saying, collectively, this is going to be on a team,” Painter said. “If we play smaller … we can’t be small in our fight, and our fight’s got to be better than it was today.”