Purdue Basketball: What Does Carsen Edwards and Nojel Eastern’s Return Mean?

Good news Purdue basketball fans! As reported by multiple outlets, guards Carsen Edwards and Nojel Eastern will be back in the fold for the Boilermakers next season.

Both Edwards and Eastern decided to test the NBA Draft waters by attending the combine in earlier this month and participating in team workouts, but ultimately it was decided that another season in West Lafayette would benefit them both.

Eastern had a modest freshman season for the Boilermakers last year, averaging just 2.9 points and 2.5 rebounds a game in 12.6 minutes off the bench. His stats didn’t interest scouts as much as his size and athleticism, as the point guard measures in at 6’6” and 220 pounds.

Eastern wasn’t listed on any mock drafts and one would guess this was more of a chance for the guard to talk to scouts and learn what he needs to improve on to get to the next level.

As for Edwards, there was a little more concern from the Purdue basketball faithful that the All-American might stay in the draft. Per reports, he was hit and miss during the scrimmaging period of the combine, but he did turn some heads with this play:

Now that both NBA Draft entrees are back, what does this mean for next season? Well, it means a WHOLE lot. Without Edwards and Eastern, you can count the experienced roster players on one hand. The return of the guards puts NCAA Tournament and conference title contention back on the table.

However, Edwards and Eastern go into the season with focused on elevating their games. NBA teams want to see if Eastern’s length and athleticism can transform into consistent production on the court. As for Edwards, all eyes will be on him as he will most likely be the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year. Scouts are looking to see if Edwards can keep up his numbers by being “the guy” and generating his own offense when he needs to.

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The regular season is months away, but Purdue basketball fans can exhale with some talented pieces returning. It’ll be a long summer for these guys, but both are capable of taking the next step – their team is counting on it.