Purdue Basketball: Can Brandon Newman be a lead guard for Boilermakers?
After several guards left the Purdue Basketball roster this offseason, Brandon Newman, a key returning player, will have to step up in a big way.
After last season’s Sweet 16 appearance and 29 overall wins, Purdue Basketball had a complete roster turnover. Zach Edey is back while Trevion Williams has moved on. Most of the changes have come in the backcourt, with Jaden Ivey, Sasha Stefanovic, Isaiah Thompson, and Eric Hunter either transferred or gone pro.
Combined is over 110 starts from the group of four and lots of scoring production. That leaves two remaining guards from the rotation in Brandon Newman and Ethan Morton, who averaged 4.6 and 2.4 ppg respectively last season. Both will get much more playing time this upcoming season, joined by Utah transfer David Jenkins from the portal.
The interesting thing s that Newman is a former starter for the Boilermakers. In the year prior, the 6’5 guard averaged 8.0 ppg and 3.5 rpg in 24 mpg and 23 games started. He also was very efficient from the field, making 38% from three-point range and 94% from the free throw line. What hurt Newman was the inconsistency, with more games going scoreless from the field than going in double figures.
The hope is that the rising senior guard can be that go-to playmaker to lead the backcourt and balance out the offense. Newman looked promising in this month’s USA East Coast Basketball trip to Spain, where he played three exhibition games. Among the guards, it was Newman that stood out, scoring 9, 12, and 17 points respectively in just limited minutes since everyone got playing time. His three-point shot looked good and he looked confident having the ball in his hands.
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Edey is going to be the focal point of the Boilermaker offense without question but unless there’s offensive balance from the perimeter, the team is going to underachieve in 2022-23. But the one player who has shown flashes of being a lead guard in the past and looks ready to take over the reins in the backcourt could very well be Newman. He’ll certainly have the opportunity to do so.