2. Purdue (2-seed)
Oscar Cluff (Senior – Forward)
Cluff was one of the nation’s top rebounders at South Dakota State last season and while he hasn’t matched that production he has become significant with these Boilermakers. An important offseason addition in this frontcourt, Cluff averages 10.5 points and 7.5 rebounds and has made 69% of his field goal attempts. He remains one of the nation’s most efficient players and is a threat to score and rebound on every single possession, giving Purdue a major lock down presence under the hoop once again.
C. J. Cox (Sophomore – Guard)
The young weapon on a veteran lineup, Cox has enjoyed a successful sophomore season as the third starter in this Purdue backcourt. His numbers don’t compare to the other four starter, but you’ll be hard-pressed to complain about 8.5 points and 2.6 rebounds a night, especially as he makes 38% of his 3-pointers. Cox put up 11 points in each of Purdue’s first two wins in the Big Dance and remains that shooter that defenses need to plan for, sitting at 6 for 8 in the NCAA Tournament already.
Trey Kaufman-Renn (Senior – Forward)
The work out of Kaufman-Renn has been nothing but solid throughout his four years in West Lafayette. The addition of Cluff has eaten into his productivity a bit, but Kaufman-Renn still puts up great numbers from this frontcourt at 14.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per contest. He makes nearly 60% of his field goals inside the arc and is a major threat as a rebounder too. Kaufman-Renn had 25 points and 9 rebounds against Queens before a 19-point showing against Miami in round two, looking to end his playing career on a very high note.
Fletcher Loyer (Senior – Guard)
Somewhat unheralded as he came from Fort Wayne four years ago, Loyer has started nearly 150 games in this Purdue backcourt and become one of the most impressive shooters in Boilermakers history. He’s making 43% of his 3-pointers for a third season in a row, averaging 14.1 points per game overall. Loyer is among the Big Ten’s all-time leaders in free throw percentage and 3-pointers and is already 8 of 12 from long-range during the Big Dance, notably scoring 24 points against Miami on Sunday evening.
Braden Smith (Senior – Guard)
First Team All-American for the second year in a row, Smith built quite the career over the last four years with the Boilermakers. Possibly the best point guard in the nation, he’s averaging 14.3 points and 9.0 assists per game in his final collegiate season with solid shooting figures as a phenomenal leader for this program as a whole. He has recently become the all-time career leader in assists and was fantastic with 26 points and 8 assists against Queens. Smith has seen the ups and downs across his time at Purdue and will be adamant in writing whatever’s left of his college story next week and beyond.