Purdue basketball a title contender 'on paper.' Boilermakers eye being one on the court

WEST LAFAYETTE − When 7-foot-4 Daniel Jacobsen, returning after a lost freshman season due to a fractured tibia, dove head-first for a loose ball at Purdue basketball's first summer practice, it wasn't a cause for concern.

It was an expectation.

"Right now you're playing for a spot, you're playing for minutes to help this team win," senior guard Fletcher Loyer said. "If you're not diving on the ball, you're not going to play. So either you do it or sit over there and listen."

Purdue Boilermakers guard Antione West Jr. (1) defends Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) Monday, June 9, 2025, during practice at Cardinal Court in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Welcome to Boiler ball.

Two seasons ago, the bar was raised with a national championship game loss. Last season, that bar wasn't met after a heartbreaking last-second loss to eventual NCAA runner-up Houston in the Sweet 16.

In the offseason, the Boilermakers lost key pieces from the past two seasons and added more in hopes of clearing the final hurdle in April 2026.

Purdue basketball offseason recap

Coach Matt Painter and staff went all in on the offseason.

Cam Heide transferred to Texas and Myles Colvin to Wake Forest. Brian Waddell departed, going to Bellarmine, and Will Berg left for Wichita State.

Purdue addressed its biggest shortcomings of a year ago − rebounding and rim protection − in the addition of Oscar Cluff from South Dakota State and the return of Jacobsen from injury.

Already with Antione West signed, Purdue also snagged Israeli point guard Omer Mayer as an added luxury and gets Jack Benter's production after he redshirted last year. If that isn't enough firepower, Liam Murphy, who shot 43.3% from 3 at North Florida last season, joined the squad.

Purdue basketball preseason projections

The Boilermakers are viewed as a top five team by most who post an early top 25 projections.

Perhaps Purdue's greatest strength is its seniority. Last year's Big Ten Player of the Year and Bob Cousy Award winner Braden Smith joins Loyer and first-team All-Big Ten selection Trey Kaufman-Renn on a star-studded senior class that now includes Cluff and Murphy.

"We're obviously very excited to see what they can bring and go from there," Smith said of the offseason additions.

The roster appears to have no weak spots, but winning requires more than talent. Purdue returns six players who started at least one game for it last season.

"That's what it feels like on paper," Kaufman-Renn said. "Obviously you've got to get everybody together and see what it looks like practically as a team. That's the biggest process is getting guys here, not as far as just playing, but just jelling with all the new guys.

"I think if that happens, like, I don't see why we're not the best team in the country."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue basketball a title contender 'on paper.' Boilermakers eye being one on the court