Purdue’s basketball program is confronting a significant scoring void heading into the next season, with only 38.6% of last year’s points returning to the roster and the team positioned eighth in the Big Ten for returning production.
Key departures
The Boilermakers will be without Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman‑Renn, Fletcher Loyer and Oscar Cluff, all of whom contributed heavily to the previous campaign. Their exits leave a hole that the coaching staff must address.
Among those staying, C.J. Cox emerges as the top returning scorer, having averaged 8.5 points per game last season, while Daniel Jacobsen and Omer Mayer each added 5.5 points per game. Guard Gicarri Harris and forward Jack Benter also chip in with 4.6 and 4.4 points respectively, providing depth.
New faces
Redshirt sophomores Raleigh Burgess and Antione West Jr. are expected to see increased minutes after productive practice seasons. The incoming class brings Caden Pierce, the Ivy League Player of the Year who posted 11.2 points per game at Princeton, as well as Luke Ertel, Jacob Webber, Rivers Knights and Sinan Huan, each of whom could help fill the scoring gap.
Coach Matt Painter has emphasized that the blend of veteran presence and fresh talent will shape the team’s identity, and the program will rely on the NCAA’s transfer portal and NBA draft dynamics to fine‑tune the roster before the first game.