Fresh off an exhibition win over Ball State, Purdue is opening the season with a place in the national conversation.
The Boilermakers checked in at No. 24 in the 2026-27 preseason USA Today coaches poll, giving them a spot in the top 25 as they begin a new season after last year’s Elite Eight run.
This is a different Purdue group, though. The Boilermakers are bringing back only one starter from a team that put together the highest offensive efficiency in the history of KenPom and finished 30-9. A long list of major contributors is gone, including four-year starting point guard Braden Smith, four-year starting shooting guard Fletcher Loyer, three-year starting post Trey Kaufman-Renn and last season’s starting center Oscar Cluff.
What’s left is a mix of returning pieces and new faces. Third-year starter CJ Cox is back, along with guards Omer Mayer and Gicarri Harris, forward Jack Benter and center Daniel Jacobsen, all of whom had roles on last year’s roster. Purdue also adds forward Raleigh Burgess and guard Antione West after redshirt seasons, plus transfer forward Caden Pierce from Princeton, the 2024 Ivy League Player of the Year.
The freshman class is expected to matter right away, too. Luke Ertel, Jacob Webber and 6-foot-9 Frenchman Enzo Shahrvin are all in line for roles as Purdue moves through its exhibition schedule.
The Boilermakers play their second exhibition game Thursday at Purdue Fort Wayne, then head to fifth-ranked Connecticut for the final tune-up on Oct. 27.
The regular season starts in Las Vegas against Gonzaga on Nov. 2.
Purdue is one of five Big Ten teams in the preseason coaches poll. The others are No.
3 Illinois, No. 6 Michigan State, No.
20 Michigan and No. 22 USC.
Florida sits at No. 1, with Duke second, and Arizona and UConn completing the top five.
In Other News...
Kansas Just Added A Purdue Veteran Bill Self Can Actually Use
Trey Kaufman-Renns college career has taken a surprising turn after five seasons at Purdue, where he developed into one of the Big Tens most experienced and decorated forwards. The veteran big man brings a rsum that includes first-team All-Big Ten honors and honorable mention All-American recognition, along with the kind of NCAA Tournament exposure programs value when the calendar turns and the games get tighter.
Kansas now has a proven frontcourt piece in the fold, and the timing is notable given the uncertainty around his next step. A court ruling opened the door for him to keep playing while his case against the NCAA moves forward, giving Bill Self another seasoned option to lean on as the Jayhawks try to add more stability and depth inside. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Suddenly Has Two Problems It Can't Ignore
Purdue came out of its matchup with Washington having done the hard part on defense, only to watch the offense give away the edge. The Boilermakers forced five turnovers, but they could manage only six points off those takeaways, a frustrating waste in a game where hidden yardage and field position should have mattered far more.
The defensive side had its own setback when Hiduri Hines was lost early, and Washington took advantage with a steady stream of explosive plays. Barry Odom pointed to trouble up front and a running game that never found traction, two issues Purdue cannot afford to let linger if it wants to turn recent takeaways into actual wins. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Looked Very Different And Still Gave Fans Plenty To Debate
Purdues first exhibition without Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn brought a noticeably different look, but it still produced plenty for fans to chew on in an 87-55 win over Ball State. The Boilermakers leaned hard into perimeter shooting and, by the end of the night, the offense felt built around a style that looked less familiar and more spread out than what Purdue supporters have been used to seeing.
There were also a few individual performances worth sorting through as the staff begins to define roles for this new group. Daniel Jacobsen, in particular, flashed the kind of all-around impact that can change the conversation around the frontcourt, and his minutes gave the building an early glimpse of how much versatility Purdue may be able to tap into this season. [Read more 🡒]