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Takeaways: Win over No. 2 Alabama

On3 imageby:Brian Neubert•11/16/24•

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Purdue's Trey Kaufman-Renn
Purdue's Trey Kaufman-Renn (Chad Krockover)

Our post-game analysis following third-ranked 14th-ranked Purdue’s 87-78 win over No. 2 Alabama.

PDF: Purdue-Alabama stats

HELLO, TREY KAUFMAN-RENN

Calling Trey Kaufman-Renn Purdue’s next great big man might not be appropriate, because he’s only kind of a big man, certainly not the Krakens people are used to seeing the Boilermakers roll out there.

But he did serve notice Friday night that he might be Purdue’s next great something.

He introduced himself to at least one important individual in Mackey Arena on this night.

“I didn’t know he was that good,” said Alabama coach Nate Oats, more or less admitting the Tide didn’t prepare a comprehensive game plan for Purdue’s new lead frontcourt scorer.

Kaufman-Renn scored 26 points, but as impressively, he handed out four assists with no turnovers on high-volume touches, in the signature game of the weekend in college basketball.

Rebounding is a problem for Purdue but to Kaufman-Renn’s credit he played really hard in that regard.

Meanwhile, there is more to the term “go-to guy” than meets the eye. It’s not just the guy who scores the most or touches the ball the most.

He’s the guy you work to get the ball to in any situation, but especially big ones, knowing he’ll either find a favorable matchup or make the right play.

Kaufman-Renn was really the epitome of go-to guy tonight.

Keep in mind, Purdue has now closed two straight competitive games with Kaufman-Renn playing small-ball center.

INTO THE DEEP FOR PURDUE

These are the sorts of early season games that tell you whether you have depth or just a bunch of players, and there is a massive difference.

Start with Caleb Furst and Raleigh Burgess, who ushered Purdue through a really perilous time after Kaufman-Renn and starting center Will Berg each picked up two first half fouls. Furst really mattered in this game and Burgess’ five first-half points came when Purdue’s offensive combinations were a bit jacked up.

Now, Myles Colvin. He didn’t even take a shot but played great, an unthinkable development for a player who’s always been defined by scoring. He is defending and rebounding beyond even the most optimistic hopes.

Now, Camden Heide. Eight rebounds and a huge three-pointer in 23-and-a-half minutes. Eight rebounds, Purdue’s biggest vulnerability.

Finally, CJ Cox, who forever labeled this “The CJ Cox Game” with his three threes in the span of a minute in the second half, a run that made Mackey Arena’s crowd audible somewhere in the Earth’s core.

A GLARING PROBLEM

Purdue surged on the glass to finish the game, but over the first 30 minutes or so, rebounding was its albatross. That sure looks like it may be an enduring problem where Purdue just has to overachieve, beat people with sheer effort, or simply outscore them.

Rebounding has been a constant at Purdue for years now, but that has been a strength brought on by elite individuals.

This year, it’s going to be a battle.

The numbers vs. Alabama don’t tell the story of the whole game, because Purdue rallied to only get outrebounded 37-35 and Alabama’s 11 offensive rebounds don’t include some balls Purdue had a chance to get but just didn’t.

But to Purdue’s credit, it got all those balls when it mattered most, showing a real winning instinct at the right time.

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