Basketball is (basically) just around the corner so let’s check in with the staff and see how sky high the expectations are for this team that did so much in the offseason to shore up their weaknesses. I wanted to get a variety of opinions so I asked the staff. After reading through ours, make sure to let us know yours in the comments.
Ledman:
I was there in Detroit less than two years ago as Purdue punched their ticket to their first Final Four since 1980. I watched in relative comfort as they advanced
to the Elite Eight and then sweat through my shirt and drank too much Coke Zero (still hoping for that sponsorship) as I sat on press row watching Purdue vs. Tennessee. I remember gritting my teeth, mumbling under my breath (you can’t cheer on press row for those not aware), and generally doing my best to hide my emotions as Tennessee took that first half lead and then watching Purdue come back and ultimately win the game. I remember watching grown men and women crying in the stands. I remember watching Matt Painter and Robbie Hummel hug and Robbie Hummel cry. I remember Zach Edey cutting down the net and handing a piece to Gene Keady. It was all so surreal. It’s not that I didn’t expect it, I did, but expecting something and experiencing something are completely different.
I was also there last year in Indianapolis when Purdue faced Houston in the Sweet 16 and despite most thinking that Purdue had reached their ceiling they were just one inbounds play away from playing in the Elite Eight. Well, what did Purdue do in the offseason? They added rebounding and post defense. They got Daniel Jacobsen healthy. They went overseas to Israel and grabbed a potential future NBA star in Omer Mayer. My expectations you ask? I think I’ll let Jake Taylor give those to you.
Travis:
Win the whole damn thing.
Yes, that is the goal, and it feels like anything less will be a disappointment. We have had some teams with high expectations before, but never preseason No. 1.
– The NCAA Tournament is based on guard play, and Purdue has the two best and most experienced guards in the country.
– Trey Kaufman-Renn
– A talented supporting cast.
– That Matt Painter guy is pretty good at what he does, it turns out.
If we had been able to keep Heide and Colvin I would be even higher on this team, but it is still absolutely loaded. Anything less than a Big Ten title and trip to Indy would be a complete failure.
Ryan:
My expectations basically align with the general opinion of this team. A Final Four is of course a lofty expectation but considering Purdue was one basket away from fighting for a spot in the Final Four a season ago, it’s clearly in the realm of possibility. Of course, the returning trio of Smith, Loyer, and Kaufman-Renn combined with additions of Oscar Cluff, a healthy Daniel Jacobsen, and Omer Mayer raise Purdue to a preseason favorite to make it to Indy this year.
So what about player expectations? Personally, I expect Braden Smith to seriously threaten, if not break, the all-time assists record while also being at least a Wooden finalist. The only reason Braden falls short of that is if his teammates take up some of his productivity. I expect Trey Kaufman-Renn to take a slight step back in scoring as Oscar Cluff and Daniel Jacobsen may force some different spacing on offense but I also expect the rebounding numbers for the team as a whole to rise. As for the young guns, I expect them to be more consistent, though not necessarily more productive. CJ Cox and Gicarri Harris still won’t take the keys to the car so to speak, but the guards will again be counted on to be scoring options when called upon.
Overall, there is a lot of warranted buzz about Purdue heading into the season. Matt Painter and Purdue addressed its primary weaknesses from a season ago and brought back arguably the most dangerous trio in college basketball. Obviously, expectations don’t dictate a season but given how this team looks currently, it is fair to say that expecting a Final Four is well within reason.
Kyle:
Truthfully, my expectations are through the roof and anything less than a final four berth I would be disappointed with.
The team is absolutely loaded and CMP has just continued to get better and better each year in all facets of running a big time program.
I think there will be plenty of opportunities for Purdue to reach the pinnacle in coming years, but this may be the best with it being in Indianapolis and our best overall squad.
Drew:
It’s Final 4 or bust for this group. This is Painter’s most talented and deep squad and it’s not particularly close.
Things rarely fall together like this and when they do, you’ve got to cash in otherwise things might start heading in the wrong direction.
Paint has 1 Final 4 under his belt, it’s time for another.
Jed:
My expectations always remain the same:
Finish top four of the B1G
Make the Sweet 16
If a program does that consistently, the trips to the Final Four will continue to be much more regular. If you take those expectations, Purdue has largely been exactly there having made the Sweet 16 6 of the last 8 NCAA tournaments.
That’s where Purdue should be on a consistent basis and the ability to compete for conference and national championships comes from consistency. With that, the recruiting starts to elevate the program even more and I believe that is where the program takes the next step.
As for this season individually? A Final Four appearance and winning the B1G should be the standard. This team is too talented and too complete to expect anything else.
Casey:
I think Purdue is going to win the national championship. Those expectations are as lofty as it gets, and it doesn’t mean if Purdue loses in the Final Four that the season was a waste. It’s just, if not this team, what team will ever have these expectations? They don’t build college teams like this anymore. The back court will feature two guards that have started the entirety of their careers and made their way through an entire career at one school. They’ve lost first round games and NCAA Title games in the tournament. They are lifted up by a collection of talented big men, the best post scorer in the country, and shooting everywhere in an offense and for a coach that has steadily gotten Purdue to new heights. The Final Four is in Indianapolis, a fairy tale setting for a team full of players that have already rewritten Purdue basketball history once.
