Purdue Basketball: Preview of Boilermakers 2020-21 depth chart
By Ben Dickson
Purdue Centers
6’9″, 270-pound Trevion Williams heads into the 2020-21 season as Purdue’s clear cut best player. With Matt Haarms transferring to BYU, that leaves Williams as the lone starting center and he has an opportunity to shine. The Boilermakers will go as far as their star big man takes them.
Williams’ best performance last season came in Ann Arbor against Michigan. Not only was it his best showing, but it was one of the best performances seen all season in college basketball. Although his 36 points and 20 rebounds weren’t enough for Purdue to get the win, it was a glimpse into Purdue’s future. Williams should play upwards of 30 minutes per game and has the potential to be an All-Big Ten player.
Behind Williams on the depth chart is incoming freshman Zach Edey. Despite not being highly touted, Edey is a massive human being, standing at 7’3″ and weighing 290 pounds. The Canadian big is raw but will obviously be the biggest player in the court. He can protect the rim and finish around the basket, but it will be interesting to see how he develops.
Potentially splitting minutes with Edey is redshirt sophomore Emmanuel Dowuona. The former 4-star center averaged 1.3 points and 0.9 rebounds per game in only nine games of action last season. Between Dowuona and Edey, they will probably combine for around 10 minutes per game, if not less. Whether or not Williams gets in foul trouble will be telling for backup center minutes.
Next. Analyzing 2020 Big Ten recruiting classes. dark
Overall, Purdue’s roster is pretty well rounded as it enters the 2020-21 season. Despite losing four players from last season’s rotation, their newcomers and returning players should be enough to have the Boilermakers firmly in NCAA Tournament contention and towards the middle of a deep Big Ten Conference.