Big Ten Basketball: Biggest storylines for each team entering 2024-25 season

Purdue Boilermakers: No Zach Edey? No problem for Matt Painter

Similar to Boo Buie at Northwestern, the loss of Zach Edey -- the two-time NPOY -- is irreplaceable. However, even without Edey running the paint, do not expect the Purdue Boilermakers to fall off anytime soon. Matt Painter has this year’s group ready to compete for another Big Ten regular season title.

To begin, Braden Smith will make a run for Big Ten POY. Fletcher Loyer, who increased his 3P% from 32.6 to 44.4 percent last season, will look to keep that number in the 40s, even with a higher volume role offensively.

In the frontcourt, Trey Kauffman-Renn is a big-time breakout candidate to monitor. 7-foot-4 freshman Daniel Jacobsen, who impressed with the USA Basketball U18 National Team this summer, is the next seven-footer up for the Boilermakers.

A major storyline for the 2024-25 Purdue Boilermakers will be how they adjust to life without Zach Edey. Even if it may look (and feel) different, it will not be a problem for Matt Painter. He has the next group of guys ready to go.