Purdue’s first real offseason test is in the books, and the Boilermakers came out of Canada with a clean sweep. Over four games in five days, Purdue beat the Vancouver Selects 102-63, Trinity Western University 82-66, the University of Calgary 79-48 and the University of Fraser Valley 97-62.
The results were one thing. The bigger takeaway was how this group looked while piling them up.
The most obvious calling card from the trip was pressure defense on the perimeter. Purdue turned teams over repeatedly thanks to the on-ball work of Antione West Jr., Gicarri Harris, C.J.
Cox, Omer Mayer and Luke Ertel. That kind of disruption could end up being one of the defining traits of this team if it carries over into the season.
West, in particular, kept jumping off the page. He may not be Purdue’s best player right now, but he looks like the one with the highest ceiling.
After missing last season, the Toledo guard showed he can affect the game in a lot of ways. He scored in double figures in three of the four games, attacked the basket, knocked down threes and hit mid-range pull-ups.
He also made life miserable on defense, finishing with roughly 15 steals across the trip.
Purdue also learned plenty about what still needs work. Rebounding stood out immediately as an issue.
Even with a clear size and athletic edge in every game, the Boilermakers were not always first to the ball after missed shots. That was a concern, and it’s one the staff will want cleaned up fast.
Caden Pierce was the most reliable rebounder on the roster during the trip, leading the team in boards twice. He fits the Mason Gillis mold in the way he can clean up misses either by boxing out or sliding in from the perimeter.
But Purdue cannot ask him to carry that load alone. Daniel Jacobsen and Raleigh Burgess need to do more, and if the NCAA clears Enzo Shahrvin, that would help as well.
At guard, Mayer and Ertel both flashed as potential engines for the offense, even if they do it in different ways. Mayer is more deliberate, works through the offense and can create his own mid-range looks off the dribble.
Ertel plays faster and brings more of a pass-first approach. Both had their highs and lows in Canada, but Mayer’s scoring touch stands out as a real asset.
It also gives Purdue different options depending on who is running the show, which lets P.J. Thompson lean into the strengths of his lead guard.
Another name that made noise was Webber. Purdue knew he could shoot when he arrived, but he looked even better than advertised on this trip.
His best moment came in the fourth game against Fraser Valley, when he scored 21 points and hit 6-of-7 from deep. He looks like a real weapon from three and a useful spark off the bench.
The next step is proving he can hold up defensively and on the glass if he wants major minutes as a freshman.
There were also signs that Purdue can attack the rim more effectively this season. That has not always been a strength for the Boilermakers, but West, Harris, Mayer and Ertel all showed a willingness to get downhill.
The finishing wasn’t always there, yet the aggression itself matters. It should help Purdue draw more contact and get to the free-throw line more often than it did last year.
Pierce added another layer there too, with the ability to drive from the four spot.
Not everything was clean on the defensive end beyond the perimeter pressure. Purdue got caught out of position at times, and part of that came from new players learning one another’s habits. Still, communication needs to tighten up to eliminate some of those breakdowns.
The depth chart also started to take shape. Sinan Huan and Rivers Knight saw limited minutes in Canada and currently look like the two players on the outside of the rotation.
If redshirting were still an option, both would be obvious candidates for it. They may appear in a handful of games this season, but they do not look like major rotation pieces right now.
Inside, Jacobsen and Burgess were a mixed bag. Both had stretches where they looked strong in the post, and both had moments where they did not. They appear to be Purdue’s two options at center heading into 2026-27, but there is still work to do before the opener.
Burgess brought value on defense. He blocked shots, kept guards out of the lane and held up well on the perimeter.
The problem was the other end and the glass. He missed box-out chances, struggled to rebound and lost some touch around the rim.
Purdue is going to keep creating those chances, so he has to finish them.
Jacobsen also made his presence felt defensively, swatting several shots during the week. When he played fast and made quick decisions with the ball, he looked nearly impossible to stop. The next step is obvious: he has to play with more force and welcome contact inside so he does not get moved around in the paint.
Pierce, meanwhile, gave Purdue exactly what a young team needs. He rebounded, handled the four spot with versatility and brought a steady, high-IQ presence.
His game has pieces of Gillis and the leadership traits of Fletcher Loyer, and that combination fits this roster well. He never had a huge breakout moment in Canada, but he was steady throughout and gave the Boilers a calming presence.
That alone makes him a significant addition.
In Other News...
Purdues Starting Five Debate Just Changed After The Canada Trip
Purdues four-game trip to Canada did more than give the staff a chance to evaluate the roster in live action. It also sharpened the conversation around what the Boilermakers might look like when the 2026-27 season arrives, with several players using the trip to strengthen their cases for bigger roles. The projected lineup coming out of that evaluation leans on a group that offers a mix of playmaking, defense, toughness and steadiness, which is exactly the kind of balance Purdue will want as it sorts through an offseason of development.
Mayers feel as a passer, Wests two-way upside, Harriss assertiveness, Pierces work on the glass and Jacobsens reliability at the five all stood out in different ways, and those traits now shape the early picture of Purdues starting five. The Canada trip did not settle every question, but it did make the pecking order feel a little clearer, especially at the spots where the Boilermakers are trying to blend experience with upside. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Players Sent A Clear Message About Barry Odoms First Team
Barry Odoms first Purdue team is already being judged less by hype than by how its players describe the day-to-day inside the building, and three of the programs most visible voices used Big Ten Network Media Day to paint a picture of a group trying to tighten its habits. Quarterback Ryan Browne talked about better togetherness and the need to protect the ball, linebacker Charles Correa leaned into the importance of leadership on defense, and wide receiver DeNylon Morrissette framed the season around urgency and preparation. Each of them also pointed to teammates and coaches as part of that process, a sign that the Boilermakers are trying to build something more connected than what came before.
Brownes focus was on the basics that can swing a season, while Correa highlighted the linebackers he expects to help define the defense and Morrissette described a team that knows it cannot afford to waste time. The common thread was accountability, from the quarterback room to the defensive huddle to the receivers working to get on the same page. For Purdue, the interesting part now is whether that message carries beyond media day and into a fall camp that will tell a lot about how quickly Odoms first roster can turn chemistry into results. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Media Day Put New Focus On A Forgotten Receiver
Big Ten Media Day in Chicago gave Purdue a chance to put a few faces in front of the room, with Coach Odom, Ryan Browne and Charles Corea all making the trip for the usual mix of prepared remarks and questions about where the program is headed. The event also offered a small but telling glimpse at how the staff is sorting out roles, especially with Odom talking through player development and the pieces Purdue hopes to lean on this fall.
One of those pieces was DeNylon Morrissette, whose presence stood out because it suggested the Boilermakers still see a place for a receiver who has flashed before. Morrissettes name carries some intrigue after his limited production a year ago, and his inclusion in Chicago only added to the sense that Purdue may be preparing to ask for more from him if the offense is going to take a step forward. [Read more 🡒]