Here's the burning question on every Boilermaker fan's mind: Who will claim those coveted starting spots when Purdue basketball tips off this season? With championship aspirations soaring higher than ever, the pressure is on both the players and coaching staff to deliver results that match the hype. Reaching the Final Four—and potentially going all the way—is an incredibly challenging feat, but this Purdue squad has both the talent and leadership to make it happen. So, let's dive into our staff predictions for the opening night starting five.
Ledman's Take:
Three names are essentially guaranteed to be in the starting lineup: Braden Smith, TKR (Trey Kaufman-Renn), and Fletcher Loyer. Unless something unexpected like an injury occurs (and let's knock on wood—or Travis Kelce—that it doesn't), these three are absolute locks. The real intrigue begins when we look at the remaining two positions.
For the second guard slot, I'm leaning heavily toward CJ Cox, who demonstrated remarkable growth throughout last season while maintaining impressive shooting efficiency. The final piece of the puzzle is the center position, which essentially becomes a two-horse race between Oscar Cluff and Daniel Jacobsen. This decision presents an interesting dilemma for Coach Painter: Does he go with Jacobsen, whom he trusted enough to start last year before an unfortunate injury disrupted his season? Or does he choose Cluff, the seasoned veteran who dominates the glass like few others can?
My prediction is that Oscar Cluff gets the starting nod, though I'll admit I'm not overwhelmingly confident about this choice. What I am certain about is Purdue's desperate need for improved rebounding and interior defense—two areas where Cluff has consistently proven his value and effectiveness.
Kyle's Prediction:
- Braden Smith
- Omer Mayer
- Fletcher Loyer
- TKR
- Oscar Cluff
Let's address the elephant in the room: rebounding was a glaring weakness for the 2024 squad. That's where Oscar Cluff comes into the picture—he ranked among the nation's elite rebounding big men last season. Think about it: Purdue didn't aggressively pursue and land Cluff just to have him ride the bench, right? His presence on the boards should create an immediate and noticeable impact for a Boilermaker team determined to fix this critical problem.
The "big three" are returning and will obviously start—Braden Smith, TKR, and Fletcher Loyer. These are Purdue's three most talented players, and they've been fixtures in the starting lineup throughout their entire time wearing the black and gold.
But here's where it gets controversial: I believe Omer Mayer will prove too talented to keep on the bench. He brings an additional dimension by alleviating some of the ball-handling burden from Smith, as Mayer is a natural playmaker himself. He's college-ready from day one and will make waves immediately. Now, don't get me wrong—CJ Cox hasn't done anything to lose the starting job. It's simply that Mayer has the skill set of a future professional player.
Ryan's Lineup:
Braden Smith
CJ Cox
Fletcher Loyer
Trey Kaufman-Renn
Oscar Cluff
Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, and Trey Kaufman-Renn are absolute certainties. I'm predicting Oscar Cluff starts at center over Daniel Jacobsen primarily due to his experience advantage and to allow Jacobsen to gradually adjust to the college game, considering he has only one game plus one additional minute of actual competitive action under his belt.
Regarding the final backcourt position, I'm going with CJ Cox. He held that spot for the majority of last season, and while I anticipate he'll be the first player substituted out during games, I believe he earns the opening tip. And this is the part most people miss: this lineup might not remain static throughout the entire season. Jacobsen or Omer Mayer could absolutely force Matt Painter's hand by delivering exceptional performances.
We've been saying for months that Purdue is absolutely stacked with talent, but I'm genuinely not sure Coach Painter has ever had a roster this deep during his tenure. Every single position has legitimate depth going 2-3-4 players deep, and frankly, we don't envy Matt Painter's challenge of distributing minutes among a locker room full of guys who can all contribute to winning basketball.
Drew's Unconventional View:
I'm taking a different approach here. I wrote about this topic over the summer but never definitively committed to a prediction on the starting lineup.
Let me be clear upfront: I think these are the starters for the opening game, not necessarily the closing game of the season. Purdue has multiple options, and any number of players could emerge and claim a permanent starting spot as the season unfolds.
PG: Braden Smith (absolutely set in stone)
SG: Gicarri Harris
SF: Fletcher Loyer (absolutely set in stone)
PF: TKR (absolutely set in stone)
C: Oscar Cluff
Here's my reasoning: Harris provides Purdue with the perimeter defensive presence that starting both Braden and Fletcher necessitates. Let's be honest—neither of those guys is on the floor primarily to lock down opposing scorers.
Harris demonstrated that defensive ability late last season and frequently found himself on the court during crucial late-game situations once his shooting stroke returned from its early-season struggles. Remember, he was actually the starter at the beginning of last season for these exact same reasons.
Cluff gets my vote because he's a proven commodity. I watched Jacobsen play for Team USA this summer, and he was frequently getting helped off the floor at the end of most possessions. When opponents got physical with his legs, he went down easily.
Oscar, conversely, spends considerable time extending a hand to help up defenders or rebounders he's just knocked to the floor. Purdue's fatal flaw last season was rebounding—we all saw it cost them dearly. Cluff was one of the country's best rebounders last season. He brings a toughness and physicality to what is otherwise a skill-based, finesse-oriented team.
One final clarification: This isn't my prediction for the five players who will log the most minutes. Painter has the flexibility to mix and match lineups based on how he wants to attack specific opponents. I'm genuinely excited to see what that looks like because I honestly can't recall him having this kind of roster versatility before during his time with the Boilermakers.
Travis's Comprehensive Analysis:
We know with absolute certainty that Smith-Loyer-TKR will be starting, as this trio has now started over 100 games together. Having that kind of continuity in today's chaotic college basketball landscape—dominated by transfers and one-and-done players—is practically unheard of. To have three four-year players who have started together throughout their entire careers is honestly something we may never witness again in a power conference, but this is exactly how Matt Painter constructs a program. His philosophy is to "get old and stay old," and as a direct result, Purdue enjoys a level of consistency that few teams can replicate.
Regarding the remaining spots, the picture becomes murkier. I believe Oscar Cluff gets the starting nod in the middle, but we can't forget that Daniel Jacobsen was starting there last season before his injury derailed everything. TKR played significant minutes at the five last season, but he's also been remarkably successful at the four throughout his career. He started there his first two seasons when Purdue had some guy named Zach Edey at the 5—you might have heard of him, as he had a somewhat noteworthy college career. I can envision Cluff getting the nod because he was specifically brought in as a transfer to start, but if Jacobsen proves he's fully recovered and ready, he could absolutely claim it too.
That leaves us with the three spot. Smith and Loyer form the backcourt, but who fills that wing position? CJ Cox held it for most of last season, and that continuity can only enhance the chemistry with the main trio. Gicarri Harris could also get serious consideration here given his experience. Omer Mayer might simply be too talented to keep off the floor, especially if he can play effectively off the ball while serving as the primary ball-handler when Smith needs a breather. Jack Benter reportedly had an excellent redshirt year and summer and could challenge for minutes here, while transfer Liam Murphy at 6'8" could have an absolute field day shooting wide-open threes in Purdue's offensive system.
Honestly, Purdue has an absolute embarrassment of riches right now—and I mean that in the best possible way. This is a team that can legitimately go 9-10 players deep without experiencing a major dropoff in quality, and if the chemistry develops as expected, it will exceed even the lofty expectations people have set. The roster features three guys who have started together for four years, plus experienced contributors returning from last season.
My final prediction: PG Smith, SG Loyer, SF Mayer, PF TKR, and C Cluff. Jacobsen, Cox, Harris, Benter, and Murphy will all see significant playing time as well, with Raleigh Burgess and Antoine West each possibly redshirting because I simply don't see where the minutes come from on a roster this loaded.
I know Coach Painter traditionally prefers sticking with one consistent starting five regardless of opponent, but this particular roster gives him unprecedented flexibility to start whoever he wants alongside the Smith-Loyer-TKR core depending on matchups. If Purdue wants to go small, we've seen they can be devastatingly effective with TKR in the middle and someone like Murphy at the four.
Just thinking about what this team can accomplish this year is making me dizzy with excitement, because it might actually be a more complete and well-rounded team than the Final Four squad from two years ago. Smith as both a scorer and distributor makes them absolutely lethal. Painter can mix and match lineups to such an extent that this team could be genuinely frightening for approximately 95% of college basketball.
But here's the question that could spark debate: Is having too much depth actually a problem? Could the challenge of distributing minutes fairly create chemistry issues or leave talented players frustrated? Or will this depth be the exact advantage that carries Purdue through March Madness when other teams are exhausted?
What's your take? Do you agree with these predictions, or do you think we're completely off base? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—who do YOU think deserves those starting spots?
