Busting Brackets
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Purdue Basketball: Preview of Boilermakers 2020-21 depth chart

By Ben Dickson

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 21: Matt Painter the head coach of the Purdue Boilermakers gives instructions to Jahaad Proctor #3 against the Butler Bulldogs during the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 21, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 21: Matt Painter the head coach of the Purdue Boilermakers gives instructions to Jahaad Proctor #3 against the Butler Bulldogs during the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 21, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – JANUARY 18: Anthony Cowan Jr. #1 of the Maryland Terrapins fouls Sasha Stefanovic #55 of the Purdue Boilermakers (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – JANUARY 18: Anthony Cowan Jr. #1 of the Maryland Terrapins fouls Sasha Stefanovic #55 of the Purdue Boilermakers (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Purdue Third Guards/Small Forwards

Sasha Stefanovic returns to Purdue for his junior year and will start day in and day out for the Boilermakers. The 6’4″ guard has been next in line as the next great sharpshooter from deep for Purdue (see Ryan Cline, Dakota Mathias). While averaging 9.1 points per game last season, Stefanovic shot 38% from three, a slight decrease from 41% his freshman campaign but in a sample size much larger.

After playing over 26 minutes per game last year, I would expect Stefanovic to play nearly 30 per game this season. Former Boilermaker Dakota Mathias’ three-point percentage jumped nearly seven points from his sophomore to his junior year. If Stefanovic can have a similar jump, the Big Ten will be on notice.

Coming off the bench to play the “3” will be Mason Gillis, who fits more of the small forward role than a third guard. A former top-150 recruit, Gillis redshirted his freshman year in 2019-20. In fact, he hasn’t played competitive basketball since his junior year of high school, as a knee injury sidelined him for the entirety of his senior season.

Gillis is a physical player who finishes strong around the rim. It will be interesting to see what he improved on during his redshirt year and how ready he is to contribute despite not playing organized basketball since his junior year of high school. I would expect him to play around 15 minutes per game, with minutes at the power forward position in smaller Purdue lineups.

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