Purdue
University (20)
by Joshua Riddell
Projected Starters
G
6-3
PT%
45.56
G
PTE
-0.92
6-5
PT%
78.31
F
PT%
65-37
6-9
PT%
0.00
C
7-0
PT%
60.81
HS100 AC/AA
Rapheal Davis
PTE
11.96
6-7
F
Johnny Hill
HS100 AC/AA
HMAC
Vince Edwards
SR
NBA
SR
NBA
SO
PTE
12.71
HS100 AC/AA
PTE
0.00
HS100 AC/AA
16
NBA
PTE
18.19
HS100 AC/AA
75
2-AC
NBA
65
Caleb Swanigan
A.J. Hammons
NBA
FR
SR
Bench Rotation
G
6-6
PT%
55.88
C
PTE
7.43
7-2
PT%
36.47
G
F
HS100 AC/AA
63
Isaac Haas
PTE
7.24
6-4
PT%
49.04
Kendall Stephens
HS100 AC/AA
82
Dakota Mathias
PTE
1.13
HS100 AC/AA
6-6 Basil Smotherman
PT%
32.21
PTE
2.14
HS100 AC/AA
JR
NBA
SO
NBA
SO
NBA
JR
NBA
After A.J. Hammons spurned
the NBA Draft once more, choosing
to return for his senior season,
Purdue coach Matt Painter has the
enviable task of trying to rotate
three quality back-to-the-basket big
men in an increasingly perimeteroriented game.
Hammons rejoins a frontcourt
tha t will include sophomore 7-foot2 center Isaac Haas and incoming
6-foot-9 freshman Caleb Swanigan.
If Painter can nail his big man
rotations, it could be the first step
in challenging Maryland for the Big
Ten title.
Originally committed to
Michigan State, Swanigan’s
decision to join the Boilermakers
instead gives Purdue one of their
highest ranked recruits in recent
memory, and their first Indiana Mr.
Basketball since Glenn Robinson.
Although slightly undersized to
play in the post, he has a wide
body, great hands, and advanced
footwork for such a younger player,
which should allow him to score
consistently from the low block.
This trio of big men should
help Purdue be one of the best
defensive teams in the Big Ten,
leaving teams hard-pressed to score
in the paint. According to KenPom,
they were the 13th best team on
2-point field goal percentage,
allowing only 42.3 percent
shooting. Led by Hammons, who
blocked 12.3 percent of opponent’s
shots last season, the Boilermakers
will once again be a strong
defensive unit in the paint.
Complementing their
formidable rim protection is
lockdown perimeter defender
Raphael Davis, last year’s Big Ten
Defensive Player of the Year. With
another year of experience under
their belt, they might improve on
their 96.7 defensive rating from
last season, which was 58th in the
country according to KenPom.
What Painter needs for the
Boilermakers to be a threat for
the Big Ten title is a consistent
perimeter-oriented scorer. They
will have the paint on lock on
both sides of the floor, but need
that shooter who can make the
defense pay for doubling on the
block. This will most likely be
BBALLBREAKDOWN | 42