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Purdue Basketball: 2020-21 season preview for the Boilermakers

By Drew Schmelzer

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 08: Eric Hunter Jr. #2 of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts after a call in the game against the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half at Assembly Hall on February 08, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 08: Eric Hunter Jr. #2 of the Purdue Boilermakers reacts after a call in the game against the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half at Assembly Hall on February 08, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 11: Trevion Williams #50 of the Purdue Boilermakers (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 11: Trevion Williams #50 of the Purdue Boilermakers (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Starting Lineup

There will be times when Purdue misses all four of its departed players as each of them started over 10 games, but all it does is create more opportunities for their top three scorers, Trevion Williams, Eric Hunter, and Sasha Stefanovic, who all return.

Painter’s also got a top 35 freshmen class and two touted redshirt freshmen that will join the fold this season. This roster has more than enough to perform at a very high level and the starting lineup features a bunch of guys who played starter minutes in 2019-20.

Point Guard – Eric Hunter (10.6 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 2.6 Ast), Junior

The 6’4- point guard out of Tindley High School returns to the Boilermakers and he will be the team’s unquestioned leader. Hunter led Purdue in time on the floor by almost 200 minutes last season, so he is fully prepared to be the full-time floor general in the absence of Eastern.

His 2.6 assists per game were good enough for 19th in the Big Ten and with Eastern gone, expect Hunter to be one of the best ball distributors in the league statistically in 2020-21 with increased opportunities. He’s also Purdue’s second-best perimeter shooter where he made 43 shots from behind the line last season.

If there is one area where Purdue’s number two scorer could be a little bit better this season, it’d be at taking care of the basketball. Hunter’s two turnovers a game was worst on the team, and while that can be expected for a point guard playing over 30 minutes per game, it would really help Painter’s 269th ranked scoring offense.

Shooting Guard – Sasha Stefanovic (9.1 Pts, 2.4 Reb, 1.7 Ast), Junior

Stefanovic is not Ryan Cline, but he’s close, and if the 39% 3-point shooter who led Purdue with 64 makes from beyond the arc in 2019-20 can increase that percentage even a little bit, it could make this team a contender in the Big Ten.

Stefanovic’s success is all about how he stretches the floor for the Boilermakers as a deep threat and their 8-4 record when he scores 10+ points is proof of it. Stefanovic and Hunter will enter the 2020-21 college basketball season as one of the top 3-point shooting guard duos in the Big Ten.

Small Forward – Brandon Newman, Redshirt Freshman

This is the one starting spot up for grabs for the Boilermakers and Brandon Newman’s pure talent makes him the favorite to land it. The former top 100 recruit adds to a big backcourt in West Lafayette (6’4 Hunter, 6’4 Stefanovic, and 6’5 Newman) and the size certainly fits the physical style of defense that Painter likes to play on the outside. Above all, this kid is gifted offensively.

His 27 points and 8 rebounds per game averages as a senior at Valparaiso High School in Northwest Indiana were good enough for second place Indiana Mr. Basketball Honors and his 40% 3-point shooting stroke will make this one of the more potent outside shooting backcourts in the nation.

Forward – Aaron Wheeler (3.6 Pts, 4.2 Reb, 0.9 Ast), Junior

Purdue doesn’t have many experienced bigs, but Wheeler is 6’9, played 18 minutes a game, and was a much better rebounder in his sophomore season than his freshman season increasing from 3 to 4.2. Frankly, there is not another better option at the 4-spot, but I still expect Wheeler to hold his own in the paint.

The most glaring flaw in Wheeler’s game is that he takes a lot of threes but doesn’t make many. In fact, he took 97 of them last season, which was fourth-most on the team, only making 21. If he can limit the forced 3-ball and increase his rebounding average to 6, it will be a win for Purdue. Side note- as a freshman Wheeler shot 36% from 3-point land, so he’s capable, just must be more selective.

The bottom line for Wheeler is that with Purdue’s lack of size, he’s going to have to be on the floor, so whatever strides he’s taken this offseason will be important for Purdue.

Center – Trevion Williams (11.5 Pts, 7.6 Reb, 1.5 Ast), Junior

Williams thoroughly outplayed Matt Haarms last year, but Painter gave them a similar minute distribution. In 2020-21 the 21 minutes Williams played could very well turn into 30, and if Williams’ conditioning is where it needs to be, he is in for a big junior season, as is Purdue.

When Williams is on the floor the Boilermakers are effective as his offensive box plus/minus was top 5 in the Big Ten in 19-20. He is also an absolute beast on the glass where he led the conference in offensive rebounding percentage and ranked 1st in total rebounding percentage.

It’s not an overreaction to say that Williams very well could be 1st Team All-Big Ten in 2020-21. He’s as efficient as any player in the league and the minutes’ increase he is in store for gives him a shot at some high accolades

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