How well did Purdue’s offseason go during the spring months? Field of 68 college basketball analyst Rob Dauster tabbed the Boilermakers as the biggest winners, thanks to the returning talent, transfer portal additions, and incoming recruits.
The most important aspect of Purdue’s offseason was the retention of many key players from last year’s 24-12 squad, which reached the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament. The top three scorers and seniors Trey Kaufman-Renn, Braden Smith, and Fletcher Loyer all return, as well as rising sophomores CJ Cox, Gicarri Harris, and Raleigh Burgess. Plus, the Boilers get the services of 7-foot-4 center Daniel Jacobsen back for the 2025-26 campaign.
For Dauster, that was the biggest factor in putting Purdue at the top of his offseason winners list.
“I have Purdue at No. 1. One of the things you have to prioritize when you talk about winners and losers of the offseason is continuity and who are you bringing back?” Dauster said. “I don’t think anybody had better continuity this offseason than Purdue.”
Along with returning talent, Matt Painter and his staff did some big things in the transfer portal and on the recruiting front. Purdue added big man Oscar Cluff, who averaged 17.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game last season at South Dakota State. The Boilermakers also landed a transfer commitment from Liam Murphy, a 6-foot-7 wing who shot better than 42% from three-point range at North Florida last year.
Israeli guard Omer Mayer, considered one of the top international players in the 2025 recruiting class, also committed to Purdue. He has experience in the EuroLeague, playing alongside former Boiler Trevion Williams for Tel Aviv Maccabi.
“They added Oscar Cluff, they added Liam Murphy, they got the Israeli point guard Omer Mayer, but you also bring back two All-Americans,” Dauster said. “They got back Braden Smith, who might be the preseason National Player of the Year, they got back Trey Kaufman-Renn, they got back Fletcher Loyer. I think they’re the preseason No. 1 team, and I don’t know how you can do much better than that.”
Several media personalities and outlets have projected Purdue as the No. 1 team in their way-too-early top-25 rankings for the 2025-26 season. Jon Rothstein recently bumped the Boilermakers ahead of Houston; On3 put Purdue in the No. 1 spot, and ESPN also tabbed Painter’s squad as college basketball’s top team.
Dauster’s recent compliments of Purdue will add even more fuel to the preseason hype entering the 2025-26 college basketball season.
PURDUE COMMIT GOES OFF IN ALL-STAR GAME: 2026 Purdue basketball commit Luke Ertel stuffed the stat sheet in the Indiana-Kentucky Junior All-Star Game on Sunday, finishing the contest with 36 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds. CLICK HERE
WELCOME BACK SERIES, BRADEN SMITH: Braden Smith had a remarkable junior season at Purdue, winning the Big Ten Player of the Year award, the Bob Cousy Award, and becoming the program’s all-time assist leader. He’s one of the best college basketball players returning for the 2025-26 season. CLICK HERE
NBA ALL-STAR DOUBTS ZACH EDEY: Three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arena cast more doubt on Memphis Grizzlies rookie and former Purdue center Zach Edey in a recent podcast episode. CLICK HERE
BOILER BANTER PODCAST: The NCAA could expand March Madness to include 72 or 76 teams. Dustin Schutte talks about why that rewards mediocrity in college basketball. Plus, some Purdue basketball recruiting updates and some scheduling news on the football and volleyball front for 2025. CLICK HERE
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