Purdue Basketball: Matt Painter opens up about transfers Haarms, Eastern

On transferring in the NCAA

Painter said college players grow up in a world that gives them the freedom to change course whenever they’d like, whether that means switching schools or Amateur Athletic Union teams.

“We’ve given them too many avenues to move, and in life you can’t do that,” he said. “Now they get into college, and now we’re making rules that are going to be even more flexible.”

“Should they be able to move and do what they want? Yeah,” he said. “There’s been rules for that. But we’re giving them so much freedom to do things that they don’t have to deal with the tough parts of things, and that’s just not the way life is.”

Painter blasted the possible one-time transfer rule, saying he’s fought against it because it will open the door for more players to flee at the first sign of adversity.

“That doesn’t help you from an education standpoint and it definitely doesn’t help get from a maturity standpoint,” he said. “And you’re not going to keep developing. You’re going to keep going into different programs and learning the new system.”

The new rule would also have a disproportionate impact on mid-major programs, Painter said. Those programs could regularly see star players leave after successful seasons to chase the bigger spotlight that more prominent universities have to offer.

“If you’re on the All-Freshman team, you didn’t grow up wanting to go to a low-to-mid major school,” he said. “You grew up wanting to go to Kansas.”

Still, transferring isn’t all bad, Painter said — even for players getting out of Purdue.

“As long as you’re leaving Purdue and going somewhere else and it’s better for you and your future, then you need to do that. But when it’s obviously not better for you academically or basketball-wise, I just feel for them. I’m like man, you’re not seeing the big picture here.”

Is Purdue in trouble?

The departures of Haarms and Eastern won’t sink Purdue’s chances to be successful, Painter said, noting that his roster has other weapons and incoming talent.

Plus, he has a track record of winning and developing players for the NBA. Just two seasons ago, it took a last-second shot to keep Purdue from reaching the Final Four.

“I think we have enough proof with the success that we’ve had and the guys that have graduated for us and improved,” Painter said. “We’ve had eight guys drafted in 15 years. But we haven’t sold our soul, and we’ve worked really hard.”

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, speaking on Dakich’s radio show Friday, said the recent Purdue transfers don’t mean Painter is doing anything wrong.

“He’s won Big Ten championships,” Izzo said. “Two years ago he was a ‘Hail Mary’ shot from getting to his first Final Four.”