Omer Mayer knows the job description has changed at Purdue.
A year ago, the sophomore guard was waiting behind Braden Smith, fully aware that the lion’s share of the minutes and the ballhandling duties would belong to someone else. Now Smith is with the Indiana Pacers, and Mayer has been handed the keys to the Boilermakers’ backcourt.
That kind of opportunity comes with a clear mandate: make the offense harder to read. Mayer spent the offseason trying to do exactly that, focusing on becoming more unpredictable and adding layers to his game.
“I was working a lot in my training back in Israel and in L.A. on my conditioning and on my drives,” Mayer said. “I want to get past people.
I want to get to the rim more, play off two [feet]. I feel like I’ve improved in that area.
Offensively, just become a bigger threat with more tools than I had last year.”
Last season, the drive game was not where Mayer made his money. His calling card was the pull-up jumper, the skill he brought with him from Israel and the one that gave him a reliable way to score.
As a freshman, Mayer averaged 5.5 points per game and shot 41.2% from the floor. He also hit 35.5% of his three-point tries.
That pull-up still matters, and Mayer isn’t pretending otherwise. But he wants more ways to get points without having to settle into the same pattern every possession.
“It’s no secret that my pull-up game is my go-to,” Mayer said. “But that was the main idea this summer, how am I going to get cheap points?
I can get to the line. Just be more unpredictable.”
That idea lines up neatly with a major Purdue issue from last season. The Boilermakers averaged only 17.1 free-throw attempts per game, which ranked 323rd in college basketball.
Purdue would like that number to rise this season, especially when jumpers aren’t dropping. If Mayer can consistently pressure the rim, he can help on both fronts: making himself tougher to guard and giving the Boilermakers more easy scoring chances.
There’s also the weight that comes with running the show. Starting point guard for a program as steady as Purdue is a role plenty of players would covet, but it also means every decision gets scrutinized.
Mayer doesn’t sound rattled by any of it. If anything, he sounds ready for it.
“I’m fortunate enough to have this opportunity,” Mayer said. “You feel pressure, but I think pressure is a good thing.
There are those phrases that pressure is a privilege ... you have to manage that, everybody feels pressure. I’m glad and fortunate to have this kind of pressure.”
Purdue won’t show the full version of Mayer’s expanded game until Oct. 18 against Ball State. But the early signs point to a guard who understands exactly what this moment demands, and who says he’s prepared to meet it.
In Other News...
Purdue Heads To Illinois With Serious Availability Concerns
Purdues trip to Illinois already carried plenty of weight, and the availability report has only added another layer of uncertainty. The Boilermakers will be without defensive back Mister Clark and offensive lineman Joey Tanona, while freshman defensive back Raderrion Daniels and tight end Kylan Fox are out for the season with knee injuries.
The list does not stop there, either, with offensive lineman Jude McCoskey and defensive end Elo Modozie both questionable heading into the game at Memorial Stadium. Illinois has its own injury concerns on the report, so both sides may be sorting through lineup changes as kickoff approaches, but Purdues depth test is especially noticeable as it tries to get through a Big Ten road game shorthanded. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue May Have A Bigger New Backcourt Weapon Than Fans Realize
Antione West Jr. spent last season redshirting at Purdue, but his name has started to come up more often during the Boilermakers recent trip to Canada and in the practices that followed. That kind of buzz can be easy to dismiss in the middle of preseason workouts, but West has apparently done enough to get teammates and coach Matt Painter talking about both ends of the floor.
The appeal is obvious for Purdue: West has been praised for his scoring ability and his defensive skills, two traits that can make a young guard hard to keep off the court. With his work in scrimmages and practices creating real anticipation, the Boilermakers may be looking at a backcourt piece who can help sooner than many fans expected. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Fans Finally Have A Few Real Reasons To Keep Watching
Purdues season has not given fans much to celebrate yet, but there are at least a few signs the Boilermakers are starting to look more watchable. At 1-2, with the lone win coming against an FCS opponent, the results still lag behind the hope, but staff members have pointed to a wider receiver group that looks improved and a more settled Ryan Browne at quarterback, where the early emphasis has been on better decisions and fewer turnovers.
There have even been some small but noticeable tweaks around game day to help the experience feel a little fresher, including moving Shout to an earlier spot in the schedule. None of that fixes the bigger issues on the field, of course, but for a fan base looking for any reason to stay engaged, Purdue is offering a few more of them than it was a couple weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]