Purdue Basketball: Projected depth chart and rotation for 2023-24 season

Small forward

Starter – Ethan Morton: 3.8 ppg / 2.4 apg / 25.1 mpg

The 2020 No. 85 ranked freshman played his junior year with the Boilermakers last season and started 29 of the 35 games he appeared in. Ethan Morton was nursing an ailment to his hamstring and consequently missed the Boilermakers’ four-game Euro trip. At 6 foot 6 and 215 pounds, Morton is able to play physical on the inside, yet be able to defend on the perimeter and not have to switch on screens. This is particularly important as opposing centers will draw Zach Edey out of the paint by setting screens.

In terms of the offensive side of the court, there is a reason he averaged fewer than four points per game, as his game consists mostly of hanging out in a corner in case Edey kicks it out to him, or using off-the-ball cross screens to cut free-throw line and eventually just clear out of the paint.

Off the bench – Brian Waddell: 9 total points / 8.3 mpg

A lot of the Brian Waddell‘s time was spent on the bench as a freshman, and while he will be getting off the bench for more playing time as a sophomore, a lot of those minutes could be lost to Mason Gillis. Early evidence for the European tour suggests that Waddell will take a step forward this season. In those four games the high school 15.8 points per game player scored 39 points on 21 field goal attempts. Granted, that total of field goals was fewer than any starter or off-the-bench player discussed in this article, but it is two more than he attempted in 17 games last season. His four made three-pointers on eleven attempts are the most telling, for that is the one aspect Coach Painter will utilize in order to surround Edey.

After missing all eight of his three-point attempts last season, if Waddell remains anywhere near a 36 percent shooter from beyond the arc he will prevent Coach Painter from trying to turn Mason Gillis into more of a swingman than he already is.