The outside noise is impossible to ignore for Purdue's basketball team. Now the Boilermakers have to prove they're worthy of high preseason status.
WEST LAFAYETTE ― Trey Kaufman-Renn's grandfather has a disdain for "participation trophies."
It's something Purdue basketball's fifth-year forward inherited throughout his athletic journey.
So when Kaufman-Renn's mother called to congratulate him, having seen her son's name on a preseason All-American list, he could picture his grandfather chuckling at the notion.
It was an honor bestowed before having played a single game. Kaufman-Renn feels the same about the Boilermakers being the betting favorite to win a national championship.
"It's one of those things that translates to the team. We're picked No. 1, but we haven't played," Kaufman-Renn said. "I think we internally know we're going to be really good. I've been a part of a lot of open gyms. But when we play Rutgers our first Big Ten game there, it's going to be a tough game."
Kaufman-Renn isn't Purdue's only All-American, joined by last year's Bob Cousy Award winner as the nation's top point guard Braden Smith.
It's a formidable duo that will carry a heavy load most nights.
But why Purdue is a national title contender is a deep roster of talent to complement its stars.
It's given the Boilers the luxury of being able to simulate the kind of skills Purdue will go up against on at any given tipoff this season.
"You don't typically see that level of play until games start," senior Fletcher Loyer said. "To have 12 guys that can all go play high level Big Ten basketball and simulate the game-like experience out there, it's huge."
Loyer, the sharpshooting and savvy wing, like Kaufman-Renn and Smith started for Purdue's 2024 Final Four team.
That team, much like the current Boilermakers, entered the season with Final Four expectations and came up one win shy of the program's first NCAA title.
A lot can be transferred from that experience courtesy of Purdue's three longest-tenured players. Aside from the coaching staff, walk-ons Sam King and Jace Rayl are the only links to that 2024 national runner-up squad.
For newcomers Oscar Cluff, Liam Murphy, Omer Mayer and Antione West along with returnees CJ Cox, Aaron Fine, Jack Lusk, Daniel Jacobsen, Gicarri Harris and Raleigh Burgess, this level of hype is all new.
"I think it's a good thing. You worked hard to be in a really good position," said Purdue coach Matt Painter, who enters the season four wins shy of 500. "I think it helps you more from an attention standpoint, a recruiting standpoint and your program getting noticed, which you always want. But deep down, it doesn't help you win the next game."
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Depth gives Purdue basketball high expectations for 2025-26 season
Category: General Sports
