Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn, and Fletcher Loyer are out the door. Just like that, Purdue’s ‘Big Three’ , a trio that powered the Boilermakers to a Final Four and an Elite Eight , has officially departed, setting up a massive roster overhaul under longtime coach Matt Painter. In an era where players jump ship constantly, this core stuck together, playing 147 games side by side, even bringing the program to its first national title game in 55 years. That’s a legacy right there, no doubt.
The “Big Three” Left Nothing On The Table
You gotta respect what that trio accomplished. Reaching the Final Four in 2024 and then the Elite Eight this past season? That’s building something special. It’s rare to see a group of that caliber stay put in college basketball’s wild transfer portal landscape. Painter himself gave them props, telling CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, “They gave their best. … These guys sacrificed a lot. They played hard every day. They worked at it and gave everything they had. … they did everything, man. They did everything for our program and did it first-class.” No lingering doubts about their effort, that’s for sure. They laid it all out there for the Boilermakers.
Welcome To The New Era: Youth And Versatility
Now, the focus shifts to a new-look Purdue squad. The Boilermakers are bringing in the No. 16-ranked 2026 recruiting class, headlined by four-star guard Luke Ertel. That’s some serious talent walking in the door. They also nabbed Caden Pierce, who redshirted last season, but already has 89 college starts under his belt as a former Ivy League Player of the Year. That’s a ton of experience for a guy who just sat out, and yeah, he’s the younger brother of Indianapolis Colts star wide receiver Alec Pierce, which is just cool. Add to that Omer Meyer, C.J. Cox, and Daniel Jacobsen returning from last year’s 28-win team that crushed Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament title game. Painter is “excited about it,” saying, “We have a lot of young players. … I have 11 guys; if the five-for-five is what it is, that got 3-5 years. That’s a big statement.” He sees a future where they “have a chance to be much better on the ball defensively,” with “guys who can guard the basketball” and “very versatile fours.”
Purdue is currently ranked No. 21 in Gary Parrish’s Top 25, so the expectations are still there, even with all the change. You know Painter is going to get these young guns ready. Get ready to watch a completely different, potentially even more dynamic, Boilermaker team hit the court!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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