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Purdue Basketball: Top 10 Players To Play For Matt Painter

By Tristan Freeman

BLOOMINGTON, IN - JANUARY 28: Head coach Matt Painter of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts in the first half of a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall on January 28, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. Purdue won 74-67. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - JANUARY 28: Head coach Matt Painter of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts in the first half of a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall on January 28, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. Purdue won 74-67. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – MARCH 18: Caleb Swanigan #50 of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts in the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 18, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – MARCH 18: Caleb Swanigan #50 of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts in the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 18, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

4. Caleb Swanigan – Purdue Boilermakers (2016-2017)

Career stats: 14.4 ppg 10.4 rpg 2.4 apg

A case could be made that Swanigan was the best player of the 2017 college basketball season, dominating the sport as a forward with an average stat line of 18.5 ppg and 12.5 ppg (one of the best in the nation). He was a First-Team All-American as well as the undisputed Big Ten Player of the Year.

Swanigan had four different games of at least 20 points and 20 rebounds, a historical accomplishment. Only seven times that season he didn’t register a double-double, and had a highlight performance on the road at Michigan State, dropping 25 points and 17 rebounds in the win.

3. JaJuan Johnson – Purdue Boilermakers (2008-2011)

Career stats: 13.7 ppg 6.1 rpg 0.7 apg

A full-time starter his final three years, Johnson quickly elevated into a star in the Big Ten. Even in limited minutes, the 6’10 forward showed an ability to get to the free throw line, which only grew with more playing time.

Johnson’s senior season was one of the best individual ones in recent memory, averaging 20.5 ppg and 8.6 rpg, in route to winning the 2011 Big Ten Player of the Year Award. He scored in double figures every game, with 21 games of at least 20+ a game. In the final game of his career, Johnson had 25 points and 14 rebounds in a loss to VCU in the NCAA Tournament.

But even as great as he was, Johnson still wasn’t the best big to play for Painter.

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