Big Ten Basketball: Projecting each team’s key player production for 2021-22

Purdue – Sasha Stefanovic and Jaden Ivey

Decrease in production: Sasha Stefanovic

Head Coach Matt Painter has all five starters returning,  all of whom will be returning to the starting lineup, leaving no obvious choice of a player who will not produce. The emergence of several players – most notably the sophomores – will not entirely result in the Boilermakers increasing their 69 points per game total, but also, some player’s production decreasing.

With the drives to the basket covered by Eric Hunter Jr and Jaden Ivey, and the paint being occupied by Trevion Williams and Zach Edey, Sasha Stefanovic will be confined to the three-point line. Stefanovic averaged 2 made three-pointers on five attempts last season while attempting just over six total field goals a game.

His points per game increased incrementally despite the three-minute uptick in playing minutes. This is a simple case of making three-pointers are more difficult than ones in the paint and chances are Stefanovic is the best bet to see a decrease in production.

Increase in production: Jaden Ivey

Everybody has Jaden Ivey on some sort of list for this upcoming season, for good reason as well. The No. 87 ranked recruit averaged 11 points per game by connecting on 39 percent of his field goals. The off-guard will not only produce by upping his field goal percentage but he will get more minutes in the follow-up to being selected to the  All-Big Ten Freshman Team.

All five of Purdue’s starters might be returning, but they did lose some depth off the bench that the starters will need to compensate for. The transfer of 6’8 Aaron Wheeler to St. John’s will result in Brandon Newman coming off the bench to play in the frontcourt as opposed to backing up Ivey for 23 minutes a game.

Painter will rotate Isaiah Thompson in the backcourt with starters Eric Hunter Jr and Jaden Ivey. Being able to attempt more shots with more minutes is the reason why everybody has Jaden Ivey on some sort of list this season.