Purdue came into this season with the idea that its offense would run a little faster, and the Boilermakers have spent the first week-plus trying to turn that idea into actual production. The pace hasn’t become a full sprint, but the transition game was supposed to be a real asset for a roster built around guards.
That part of the offense has lagged behind. Through three games, Purdue has only 15 fastbreak points, a 5.0-per-game average that ranks 338th nationally. That has put a spotlight on the team’s ability to turn rebounds and turnovers into something easy before the defense gets set.
Junior guard C.J. Cox said that’s been a clear point of emphasis.
"One of the things we need to work on is our transition after getting a defensive rebound," junior guard C.J. Cox said.
"P.J. [Thompson] and Coach [Painter] are emphasizing that we need to kick the ball ahead and get it up the court, get easy transition points.
That will help us on the defensive end, as well."
That need matters even more because Purdue has not exactly been lighting it up in the half court. Daniel Jacobsen has given the Boilermakers a dependable post presence, averaging 23.3 points per game, but the team still needs cleaner scoring chances around him. The quickest way to create those is by getting out in space.
The shooting numbers from Purdue’s first two losses tell part of the story. Against Gonzaga and Valparaiso, the Boilermakers combined to shoot 20.4% from three-point range. They also managed only six fastbreak points against Gonzaga and just two against Valpo.
Matt Painter said the answer starts with playing faster in the right moments and finishing possessions with an extra effort on the glass.
"You want to push the basketball, and we've gotta be able to push the basketball to create opportunities for ourselves, and we have to get on the offensive glass," Matt Painter said. "Those two areas can really help, because the efficiency of your offense and your execution takes time."
Purdue is not trying to become a track team overnight. Its half-court offense still has plenty of value, and the Boilermakers can do damage there. But transition scoring has to become part of the package if the offense is going to open up.
That’s the question heading into Friday night’s game against Ohio: how much will Purdue actually push the pace?
Cox said the goal is simple enough in theory.
"Just sprinting up the court, looking for kick aheads and creating that space in the open court," Cox said. "Me, being able to sprint to my position, helps open up a lot of things for the offense."
Getting there takes more than one or two players running hard. The whole group has to get moving immediately after a rebound or turnover. So far, Caden Pierce has looked the most comfortable doing that, grabbing rebounds and quickly turning up the floor in search of mismatches.
For Purdue to get the easy baskets it wants, that has to become a habit across the roster, not just a flash here and there.
In Other News...
Matt Painter Just Gave Purdue Fans A Backcourt-Frontcourt Dream To Watch
Purdue has already started building for the future with a recruiting haul that gives the program both ends of the floor to dream on. The Boilermakers have signed Isaiah Hill, a highly regarded seven-foot center from Indianapolis, and Kevin Savage, a four-star point guard from Marietta, Georgia, in the 2027 class, giving Matt Painter a pair of prospects who arrive with national attention and obvious long-term appeal.
For Purdue fans, the appeal is easy to see: one player can anchor the paint while the other brings the kind of backcourt skill that can set the tone for years. Both are expected to factor into the program down the road, and with their commitments in place, the Boilermakers have given themselves an early glimpse of a roster shape that could become very hard for opponents to handle. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Painter Just Gave Purdue Fans Another Reason To Dream Big
Purdues long-term roster planning got another boost this week when the program officially signed point guard Kevin Savage and center Isaiah Hill in the 2027 recruiting class. Both arrive with four-star status, and both give Matt Painter another pair of high-end building blocks as he keeps stacking talent for the future.
Savage comes in ranked No. 36 overall by 247Sports, while Hill sits even higher at No. 25, a sign that Purdue is landing impact players at key spots on the floor. Their additions help push the Boilermakers to No. 11 in the 2027 recruiting class, a reminder that the pipeline remains in strong shape as the program keeps aiming high. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Painter Just Framed Purdues Biggest Question After That First Win
After opening the season 0-2, Purdue got a much-needed reset from Matt Painter in the form of a lineup change, and it paid off in a 76-59 win over Illinois. The Boilermakers looked cleaner offensively, shot it better and gave themselves a little breathing room after a rough start, but Painter was quick to point out that one win does not erase the bigger issues he has been tracking.
Offensive rebounding and transition play remain the next areas Purdue has to sharpen, especially with a trip against Ohio coming up. Painter also touched on freshman Ertels style and what he brings to the mix, while giving a nod to the challenge Ohio presents under Jeff Boals, a reminder that the Boilermakers are still in the part of the schedule where progress matters as much as the result. [Read more 🡒]