Purdue has done it again! Many thought that after Zach Edey’s departure, the program might not be the same again. But guess what? They have more players holding the fort now. The Matt Painter-led Boilermakers put on a three-point shooting clinic as they thrashed the Nebraska Cornhuskers 104-68. And with the win, one of the shining stars that yet again emerged for the 2024 NCAA runner-ups was Braden Smith.

John Fanta, host of The Field of 68: After Dark, took to his X account to discuss the exemplary performance of the Boilermakers. In their latest matchup, the team made a whopping 19 shots from beyond the arc. CJ Cox was the leading scorer, dropping 23 points on an astonishing 81% shooting. His breakout performance includes 5 threes, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals.

Impressing everyone though was Braden Smith. The guard took on a more facilitating role in today’s matchup, dishing out 14 assists with 8 points. He also helped with a block and 2 steals to push the program towards the win. The six-foot-tall junior is one of Purdue’s leading performers, putting up averages of about 15/9/5. Additionally, 6 foot 9 forward Trey Kaufmann-Renn showcased his all-around talent, putting up 15 points, 6 boards, and 7 assists to lead Purdue to victory.

The fact is, there was a large Edey-shaped hole in the Purdue team this off-season. After Zach Edey’s departure, the Boilermakers were underestimated beyond measure. Without the Canadian talent’s menacing shot-blocking abilities and back-to-the-basket play, the Boilers were left with stretch-fours and hybrid bigs to cover the 7-foot-4 gap.

While the big men in the Purdue program are talented, comparing them to an NBA lottery pick just seems unfair. The Boilermakers were reduced to underdogs, and that too was a stretch.

However, their undying determination and team synergy have led Purdue to a 5-1 conference record in the Big Ten, having won the last five games in a row. They currently stand third in the conference, and will definitely be looking to move up. It will be interesting to see what surprises Purdue has in store for the conference moving forward. But interestingly, Braden Smith is not the only star in the making in the Indiana-based program.

Kaufmann-Renn is filling big shoes and doing it well

Zach Edey had an astronomically high usage rate while at Purdue. Considering the dominance of the big post player, his offensive touches were much higher than anyone else in his team. The Boilers ran a very traditional playing style and spaced the floor with shooters so that Edey could play low-post. His sheer length and size meant that there weren’t many that could stop his physicality and touch around the rim. After his departure, however, things changed.

Trey Kaufmann-Renn, the six-foot-nine junior, played a relatively controlled role in his first two years at Purdue. He averaged no higher than 6.5 points while playing with Edey and was only seeing about ten to fifteen minutes of playing time.

“I feel like if I got double the amount of touches I got last year, or triple the amount of touches, I’d be one of the leading scorers on the team,” Kaufmann-Renn had said after his first summer practice with Edey gone. It was a boast that needed to be backed up. One does not simply go from averaging 6 points in fifteen minutes to becoming one of the leading scorers for the March Madness runner-ups.

To his credit, Kaufmann-Renn walked the talk. With a higher amount of touches, and nearly double the playing time, he leads Purdue in scoring and efficiency. Trey Kaufmann-Renn is averaging a team-high 17.7 pts and 6 boards on an astonishing 60% from the field. While his evolution has been clear, Trey has a long way to go in this season. Purdue next faces Washington on Jan 15th. Who do you think will win?