Purdue Basketball: 2020-21 season preview for the Boilermakers

Season Outlook

Purdue’s Ceiling – #4 in the Big Ten and NCAA Sweet 16

There is no question about it, Trevion Williams is a legitimate and clear go-to-guy for Purdue. In only 21 minutes a game he has proven he can be a dominant Big Ten center, his best effort being a 36 point-20 rebound performance at Michigan in 19-20.

There is no uncertainty who this offense will flow through and that’s great clarity to have heading into what will be a season of uncertainty for college basketball teams across the country. Surrounding him is a slew of ball distributors and lights out shooters both in the starting lineup and coming off the bench.

If Aaron Wheeler can rediscover his freshman year efficiencies from outside there won’t be one player in Purdue’s starting lineup you can help off to defend Williams. One thing that hasn’t been mentioned is that Williams is an adept passer, too.

Those offensive weapons coupled with the consistent defensive approach that Purdue plays with year in and year out makes this a team that if things are working, you do not want to play. The Boilermakers were the 19th best scoring defense in college basketball in 2019-20.

This is a lot of pressure to put on one guy, but if Aaron Wheeler has a breakout year this is an attainable ceiling.

Purdue’s Floor – #11 in the Big Ten and NIT

As mentioned, the Big Ten is loaded again. It’s not a joke, there are 11 teams with rosters that are going to be good enough to play in the Big Dance, Purdue being one of them. What could derail the Boilermakers from making it, then? That unpredictability and inconsistency we saw in 2019-20.

We know the defense is going to be strong, but if Stefanovic, Hunter, or Thompson, all 35% or better perimeter shooters, take a step back then it becomes much easier to handle Williams in the post.

Spreading the floor and giving Williams room to work inside, or opponents helping off of Hunter (or Stefanovic, Thompson, Newman etc,..) and Williams finding him an open look is what this offense will be built around, and if Purdue’s shooters are not consistent, then this becomes a much easier offense to defend.

The Boilermakers are going to be hungry to avenge their 15-loss campaign a season ago. Matt Painter brings back a lot of talent from a team that had flashes of brilliance in 2019-20, and many people believe that the transfers of Haarms and Eastern are addition by subtraction. Trevion Williams is a real Big Ten POY candidate.

There is a buzz in West Lafayette heading into the 2020-21 basketball season and if the Boilermakers can make even a slight improvement in winning percentage, their strength of schedule should have them dancing come March.