Skip To Main Content

Southwest Maui Invitational

General

2014-15 Season Outlook: Purdue Boilermakers


Quick Links
Purdue Basketball Homepage
2014-15 Purdue Schedule
2014-15 Purude Roster

With just two seniors and four juniors on the 2014-15 roster, head coach Matt Painter will look to his youth to help bolster the returnees in getting Purdue basketball back near the top of the Big Ten Conference.

Leading the resurgence will be center A.J. Hammons, who opted to return for his junior campaign after averaging 10.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game a year ago. Hammons led the Big Ten in blocked shots and was named a member of the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. After a summer of working on his offensive game, Hammons could be poised for a big season in West Lafayette.

Joining Hammons in the junior class is Rapheal Davis, who started 15 of the Boilermakers' final 20 games last season. Davis picked it up in the final month, recording his first career double-double against Michigan in late February and scoring in double figures in five of his last nine games. Davis is the vocal leader and captain of this squad and his leadership will be vital to Purdue's success this winter.

A trio of sophomores return after all reaching varying levels of success during their introductory year to power-conference basketball. Sharpshooter Kendall Stephens led all Big Ten freshmen and ranked second on the Purdue freshman three-pointers made list with 64 en route to Big Ten All-Freshman Team accolades. Now healthy after an injury-plagued freshman year, Stephens is ready to take the next step.

Bryson Scott, a fearless, bulldog-type of point guard, appeared in all 32 games last year and became the first Purdue rookie to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice. He will be counted on more this year to run the offense, and after a productive offseason, appears ready for the challenge.

Basil Smotherman, a high-flying forward, is back after a freshman season that saw him connect on 58 percent of his field-goal attempts, the third-best percent by a Purdue freshman in school history. Smotherman plays with great energy and has worked diligently on his perimeter shot in the offseason, adding another weapon to his repertoire.

Five highly regarded freshmen join the mix and will likely be counted on early and often. Center Isaac Haas, power forward Jacquil Taylor, small forward Vince Edwards, shooting guard Dakota Mathias and point guard P.J. Thompson will all aid in Purdue's attack this year.

Purdue's non-conference features the challenging EA SPORTS Maui Invitational, as well as non-conference contests with N.C. State, Notre Dame and Vanderbilt before the rigors of the Big Ten schedule. If the Boilermakers can get consistent effort and results early on, Purdue could be the surprise team in the Big Ten in 2014-15.
 
 
Purdue will take on Kansas State in the opening game of the Championship Round on November 24 at 2:30 ET on ESPN2. Purdue and Kansas State join Arizona, BYU, Missouri, Pittsburgh, San Diego State and Tournament host Chaminade in Maui at the Lahaina Civic Center from November 24-26. 

You can follow live updates and interact with the Tournament on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @EASPORTSMauiInv and with the Tournament's official hashtag, #mauihoops.

Next up: 2014-15 Season Outlook: Kansas State Wildcats
 
Print Friendly Version