John Fanta
University basketball issuer and journalist
Life continues to be inflated inside Mackey Arena in West Lafayette. Purdue will as soon as once more have a front-round of the National Player of the Year and one of the best return guard in sport whereas Braden Smith has introduced that he’ll return for his senior season.
The winner of the Bob Cousy Award and the Big Ten Player of the Year, the 6 -foot Smith went from a 3 -star recruit from highschool to a primary consent staff. While many puzzled how the primary yr with out Zach Edey can be for Matt Painter and Crew, Smith contributed to main the boilers to a season of 24 wins and a visit to the Sweet 16, the sixth within the final eight NCAA tournaments.
Smith beat Big Ten’s document for the help in Conference Play this season, ACA 175, who beat the earlier document set by Cassius Winston (157) by Michigan State. The distinguished guard of the boilemakers additionally turned the second participant within the historical past of the NCAA to document no less than 550 factors, 300 assists and 150 rebounds in a single season, becoming a member of Murray State Ja Morant as the one different participant who can say it.
Although he was bounced by Houston on this yr’s Sweet 16 of this yr, Smith had a historic efficiency in opposition to one of the best protection in America. The guard didn’t present 15 assists in opposition to the Cougars, turning into the primary participant within the historical past of the NCAA match to have two video games with no less than 15 assists (2024-Gonzaga; 2025-Houston).
Smith has already shattered this system assists the document, recording 758 in solely 110 profession video games. In three seasons, it’s already in fourth place of all time in Big Ten’s historical past in help.
What does Smith’s return to West Lafeyette imply?
First of all, it’s wonderful for college basketball to remain the celebs in a spot and return, with Smith receiving a heavy zero package deal to just accept to remain. Secondly, if Smith’s return with Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn is coupled, after which add a unbelievable switch pickup to Oscar Cluff and the return guard CJ Cox, there’s a lot to be appreciated on this staff of Purdue who enters the following season. That’s why Boilermakers are staff n. 2 in my method to the primary rating.
Purdue is at present listed at +1200 to win the nationwide championship subsequent yr, linked to Houston for the second finest likelihood and solely last Duke (+1000).
John Fanta is a National College basketball station and author for Fox Sports. He covers sport in a wide range of capability, from name video games on FS1 to function the primary host on the Big East digital community to supply feedback on the sector of 68 media networks. Follow him to @John_fanta.
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