Purdue Scouting Report

Sam Bourne
Jan 2, 2024
5 min read

The number one team in the country has dominated a difficult non-conference schedule, winning games against Arizona and Marquette to name a few. The Boilermakers have yet to pass a true road test after losing their perfect record in an overtime loss to conference foe Northwestern. Matt Painter is leading an older, more athletic roster into the bulk of the conference play, seeking the second straight Big Ten Championship. Yet, this team will not be evaluated based on their regular season success, the evaluations will be how they project as a team trying to answer serious questions around March Madness.

Purdue's Offense Rolling Down the Tracks

Outside of the Maui Invitational, Purdue has scored over 80 points and averaging 90.4 points a game in the ten games away from paradise. Purdue has the second ranked offense according to Kenpom with an adjusted offensive efficiency of 122.4. This number is just below the numbers put up by the 2019 Purdue team that came so painfully close to making a Final Four. It is also a large improvement from the 117.7 number from the previous season.

Offensive Sets

Purdue runs a set oriented offense with a ton of motions, actions, and decoys to enter into their offense. But their bread and butter can be simplified into three main actions that drives their offense. (Checkout my twitter @sambourne04 to find a thread of Purdue's offensive sets this season.)

Post ups with Zach Edey or Trey Kauffman-Renn
Pick and Rolls with Braden Smith or Lance Jones as the ball handler
1. They use a third player a lot, either Loyer or Gillis as the one popping
Dribble Handoffs or Zoom actions for Braden Smith or Fletcher Loyer

Individual Defensive Game Plan

#15 - Zach Edey

In the post, the primary defender is pushing with his legs to keep him further than five feet from the rim. Weakside help is playing any lob passes. The defender one pass away is stunting at his dribble, trying to poke the ball loose.
As a roller, the primary defender is playing drop, ready to late switch with the guard fronting Edey and weakside defenders looking to "sandwich" Edey by helping behind him to keep rebounds away from him.
As a passer, he primarily looks to the cross court wing. He can be baited into throwing pick six type passes.

#3 - Braden Smith

In ball screens, the primary defender has to be physical at the point of attack, stay connected to his hip and guide him towards the sidelines. Stay on the ground in the mid-range with any fakes.
Additionally, help defense is playing it neutral, low man ready to help and the high man splitting the weakside before recovering.
When he is off-ball, he is going to be involved in a Pick and Roll.
He is better going right compared to left, but it is more important to be physical with him.

#2 - Fletcher Loyer

Off ball, his defenders primary job is staying close enough for minimal closeouts. Play him tighter than normal players and closeout without leaving the ground.
On his drives, help defenders need to be early and ready for him trying to create contact.
His catches have to be semi-contested, trying to add ball pressure.
He is stronger driving to his right hand, force him left.

#55 - Lance Jones

With Smith on the floor, his defender is helping off of him. He has a quick trigger, just try to get a solid contest without overcommitting and compromising a driving lane.
Without Smith, he is much more aggressive driving the ball to the rim.
In ball screens, the primary defender is forcing him to the sideline or his left hand in the middle of the floor.
Additionally, The help defender is in an intermediate drop, giving up the mid range shot and containing the drive without fouling.
On drives, helpside defender needs to be committed into the gap and ready to fully seal the driving lane.

#4 - Trey Kauffman-Renn

In the post, the primary defender has to be physical in the lower body, looking to frustrate him and draw fouls before the ball is entered. After the ball is entered, commit fully on his left shoulder no matter what he does.
To help, the low man is coming from the baseline to meet any spins.
On the perimeter, close out short and force him to decide if he should shoot it or not, DO NOT ALLOW RIGHT HAND DRIVES.
In ball screen situations, we are switching guard and big with the guard fronting the post.

#0 - Mason Gillis

On the perimeter, closeout hard to his right hand and force him to drive.
On drives, help defense is stunting hard and looking to take his dribble.
When he is holding the ball, help defense is staying tight and trying to deny easy passes
For rebounding, somebody has to get a body him!

#1 - Caleb Furst

In transition, the defender has to work hard! Making sure to run the floor with him and box him out on every possession.
In the post, the primary defender is staying on balance ready for a spin to the baseline.
Additionally, the help defense is sending a double from the low man.
On the perimeter, pressure him with the ball.

#23 - Camden Hiede

The primary defender is taking away his shot with hard closeouts and pressuring him after the catch.
On the weakside, the defender has to be careful to not lose sight or drifting to far up the line to allow for him a free cut to the rim.
Overall, ball pressure and good help side positioning is important to take away his cutting and spot up shooting.

#5 - Myles Colvin

On ball defender is staying tight and being physical with him. The goal is to force him to play on his heels and takeaway his shots.
The closeout needs to be hard with the expectation of a three or pump fake one dribble jumper.

Defensive Gameplan

To defend the post, the post defender is being physical with their lower body.
1. Against non-Edey players, double from the baseline side.
2. With Edey, the help is coming from one pass away, ultra aggressive on the dribble and varying timing.
In ball screen situations, playing a drop coverage with the guard going over the top.
1. The guard has to vary up his movements, focusing on being physical with the ball handler.
2. The help is coming early in the gap attacking the dribble.
The help defense is focused on smooth switches and helping in the paint.
1. Treating the weakside like a zone to maintain the help structure.
2. The strongside is vital to play good help defense in ball screen situations.
Gang rebounding with everyone crashing to keep the ball away from Edey.

Purdue's Defense

Principes & Style

Man to Man
1. Pick and Roll
  1. Drop with Edey, guard trailing over the top
  2. Hard hedge with Furst at the center position with the guard trailing
  3. Other ball screens are switches
  4. They will switch guard to guard in Spain action
  5. They will alternate between straight up coverages or icing the ball screen with the guard
2. Post Ups
  1. The post defender is playing behind or one hand on the top side
  2. The power forward doubles
  3. Help defense rotates to the closest man out of the double
3. Help Defense
  1. They do not switch unless there is an emergency
  2. The gap defense stunts hard and recovers to shooters
  3. They will often sack off of non-shooters at the power forward spot
4. Transition
  1. They will have two players back to start their transition defense
  2. They matchup slowly, trying to maintain the assigned structure

Offensive Gameplan

Actions before ball screens to create advantages.
1. Guards setting screens for each other or trying to rub off each other, similar to football "picks".
2. In transition, high ball screens can be used if the guards continuously goes over the top.
Driving into space and cutting off of the drives.
1. Driving into double gaps, drawing two and looking for drop off passes or cuts behind the help
Early offense in transition
1. Creating space on the wings and throwing the ball ahead. Then, attacking a unsettled defense early and moving on the weakside to create shots.