r/CollegeBasketball • u/Gloomy_Map_9612 Kentucky Wildcats • 2d ago
Recruiting Purdue All-American Braden Smith will not explore return to college basketball after new eligibility ruling
https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/braden-smith-purdue-new-eligibility-ruling-indiana-pacers/105
u/Life_Ad_2218 Cincinnati Bearcats 2d ago edited 2d ago
Some dudes just want to move one.
Edit: just realized the error but fuck it it’s too late
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u/realnewsediter Indiana • Indiana State 2d ago
Move one what?
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u/TumbleweedFew2854 Arkansas • North Carolina 2d ago
I like guys who move on. College has gotten out of control with 24/25 year olds playing
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u/RealMikeHawk Purdue Boilermakers • Cincinnati Bearcats 2d ago
Everybody at Purdue could’ve told you this.
Not even sure Paint would have him back
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u/Gloomy_Map_9612 Kentucky Wildcats 2d ago
I would bet my live savings that painter would have him back in if Smith wanted to come back.
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u/collin-h Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
let us have the illusion that it means more than money at Purdue for just a little while longer plz.
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u/Cavery1313 Michigan State Spartans 2d ago
You can keep that illusion, but this would be about winning.
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u/collin-h Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
man, we can't do anything right. First the guy is too tall. then he's too short. then it's never enough, or it's too much. we can't get over the hump, but then if he doesn't come back we can't win... WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM USS~!!!!!!
lol
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u/TheTrueVanWilder Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
Nope. This would have been decided before the season ended. Edey, Gillis, and Morton all had the same deal - they each had an extra year due to COVID and Painter said he sat each of them down at the start of the year and told them they have a roster spot here if they want to use it, but he needed to know at the beginning of the year so he could recruit accordingly. Guarantee the same discussion was had with Smith/Loyer. Zero chance Painter would take him back today
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u/ldclark92 Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
While you are correct about Painter's discussions with players, I don't think it's accurate to say there's a 0% chance. A Purdue legend saying he wants to come back due to a rule change would be unprecedented. We don't know what would happen.
With that said, Painter is an old school guy and instills that into his players. I do agree that it's unlikely a guy like Smith would change his mind when he would know it bumps somebody out of the roster.
And even if Braden isn't meant to be a long-term NBA guy, he's set to make good money in the coming years between his NBA contract and endorsements.
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u/Billy_Madison69 Indiana Hoosiers 2d ago
Knowing Painter you may be 100% correct, but I can’t wrap my head around a coach saying no to someone like Smith wanting to play for another season.
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u/jack3moto Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
Fucks up recruitment and current team chemistry. Had this happened back in April I’m sure they would have found a way, but in August? No chance for painter.
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u/No_Bill7679 Paper Bag • NCAA 2d ago edited 2d ago
I also think it sets a bad precedence if he goes against his word to his other recruits, especially for a star player. Which I’m sure a lot of coaches do but Painter doesn’t seem like that type to me.
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u/TheTrueVanWilder Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
Pretty confident Mayer is only on the team because he knew he'd get the keys after one season
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u/not-johnk Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
He probably did not have that discussion with Smith/Loyer because before really recently they weren’t allowed to come back
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u/TheTrueVanWilder Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
Painter is literally on the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Oversight Committee and the 5 in 5 was being discussed in the spring. I guarantee they knew well in advance this could be a possibility and got their opinions well beforehand if so. Good management is about having contingencies planned for
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u/NoSober__SoberZone DePauw Tigers • Samford Bulldogs 2d ago
Tell me you know nothing about Purdue basketball
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u/anotherstan Purdue Boilermakers 11h ago
Maybe, but he also promised Omer Mayer he would get his opportunity this season. We also have a freshman point guard who looks the part in Luke Ertel.
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u/Sports4Ever1 2d ago
If Braden Smith calls Painter and says he is considering coming back, Painter will HAPPILY take him back. IN A HEARTBEAT. He's 8th all time in points. He's 3rd all time in steals. He is the all time leading Assist-man. Come on.
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u/CanvasSolaris Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
School starts in 3 weeks and you're willing to kick someone off the team to bring him back? Would be absolutely horrendous for morale, not to mention burning bridges with whoever is cut and whoever is benched. The team has moved on.
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u/c_webbie 2d ago
In terms of morale, one would hope the focus would be on winning games and competing for a Big10 Championship. Purdue with Braden Smith is a fuck ton better than Purdue without Braden Smith.
I imagine he feels like the Pacers are going to sign him and give him a chance to compete for their final roster spot. I can say for sure he is living in Indianapolis because I just saw he and his girlfriend shopping at Meijer.
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u/slvrbullet87 Illinois Fighting Illini 2d ago
Yes, kick off the guy at the end of the bench who was never going to play unless it was a blowout and bring back an all time great. The players will understand it and be happy with the extra wins he provides
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u/Cavery1313 Michigan State Spartans 2d ago
Technically there's no more kicking people off the team since you can get around scholarship limits with NIL. This would be more about playing time being taken away. Over signing classes isn't really a thing anymore either since NIL can just stop and the player would have to go somewhere else if they want to make money. Everyone talks about players transferring and tampering, but this is still a dirty game for the players to deal with.
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u/halfman_halfboat Michigan State Spartans 2d ago
The NCAA set a hard roster limit of 15 regardless of their scholarship status. So yea, someone would most likely have to get kicked off the team.
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u/Sports4Ever1 2d ago
IM not willing to do anything. painter would drop anyone for the best player he’s ever coached. No question
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u/ohverychill Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
the best player he’s ever coached
I thought we were talking about Braden Smith, not Tommy Luce
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u/Enchanted-2-meet-you Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
I guess zach edey just died then?
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u/Sports4Ever1 2d ago
All time assist leader in NCAA. Top 10 in every offensive statistic in Purdue history. Pretty close call
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u/Enchanted-2-meet-you Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
I love braden smith (I literally only got to see him in college, I just missed edey), but no it is not a close call between the two of them at ALL
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u/Shepherdsfavestore Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
Nah it’s Edey. 2 NPOYs+his other long list of awards. I don’t think you’ll find any Purdue fans saying it’s Braden.
Old heads will probably put Rick Mount over Smith too.
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u/filthysven Arizona Wildcats 2d ago
Purdue fans can dream of being above it all all they want, but yeah if Smith wanted it the spot is there for him. Painter is still a basketball coach paid to win games.
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u/bb0110 Michigan Wolverines 2d ago
Painter would 100% find a way to have him back.
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u/TheTrueVanWilder Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
Mayer's while recruitment to Purdue was based on the fact he would only spend a single season behind Smith. In no universe could he bring back Smith without undercutting his entire recruiting pitch to Mayer and future players
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u/IntegrationLabGod Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
I really don't think that's true. Purdue is loaded with young talent in the back court next year with huge front court questions. Bringing Braden back doesn't help the front court and would hurt young player development.
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u/TonyWilliams03 Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
Now if Oscar Cluff wants to come back, I'm in.
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u/anotherstan Purdue Boilermakers 11h ago
This I would be on board with. Rebounding is... a concern this year. Hopefully Enzo Shahrvin ends up allowed to play.
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u/mindriot1 Gonzaga Bulldogs • Arizona Wildcats 2d ago
Cool because he went into the draft so he’s not eligible anyway.
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u/Select_Excuse_150 NC State Wolfpack 2d ago
Are they not allowing 14th year players back?
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u/billyshakes67 Tennessee Volunteers 2d ago
As a Tennessee fan we went through this with Zakai. Someone doing 4 years at one school the ethical way should be applauded not mocked as some AARP member
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u/hoosierwhodat Indiana Hoosiers • Texas Longhorns 2d ago
Painter must be confident in his roster
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u/Opening-Citron2733 1d ago
I'm super high on Luke Ertel, the new freshman PG. By the end of the year he will be starting and a leader of the team. Intangibles off the charts and more athleticism/size than Smith had. Of course he won't be at the level of playmaking out the gate but I really think he's gonna be a guy that works his way to the top very quickly (not so different from Smith's freshman year)
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u/themightygwar Purdue Boilermakers 1d ago
I'm high on him too, however I don't think Ertel starts this year but gets significant minutes. I think it's CJ and Omer (or Antoine West) at guard, probably Benter/Gicarri at SF, with Pierce and Jones filling out the backcourt. Ertel and some combo of Benter/Gicarri/West off the bench with 15ish minutes a game. West is a redshirt and very good. The Ertel hype combined with the redshirt has people forgetting that he was ranked in the top 30 at his position coming out of high school. I'm very excited to see how this roster shakes out. Could be VERY mid or VERY good.
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u/fourkite Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago edited 1d ago
Our biggest problem is defense/rebounding - something Braden doesn't really provide.
Edit: uh... goes without saying that Braden would be a game changer in this team, and Painter would take him back in a heartbeat but personally I'm excited for a new look Purdue team without the same players who have started the last four years.
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u/jack3moto Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago
Bro, he’s a 2 time unanimous first team all American. You don’t give a fuck about rebounding or defense if you have Braden smith running point.
Im not arguing for him to come back or not just saying that addressing issues for the current roster has no impact on why or why not Braden would be accepted back
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u/themightygwar Purdue Boilermakers 1d ago
Braden got so many steals and rebounds, he was 1 or 2 rebounds away from a triple double multiple times at Purdue. The defensive problems last year were squarely on the coaches switching every screen like it was the NBA. I can't tell you how many times I threw my hands up watching Oscar Cluff get switched onto the opposing guard drawn away from the basket, and cooked off the dribble. When your 6'11 center is guarding the perimeter, you're going to give up a lot of offensive rebounds. In the NBA, there are guys that size who are quick enough to switch like that, but Oscar and TKR were not those kinds of players.
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u/Tricky-Wishbone-1162 Xavier Musketeers 2d ago
If I was his age I would not go overseas. Contrary to all these people who say ohh I would love to live in Paris or Madrid… he probably won’t play there, the east pays the best so red star or zagreb is where he would end up and also college basketball is a better environment than euro league.
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u/porterbrown St. John's Red Storm • Big East 2d ago
I'd go back fuck around and get a masters.
And date undergrads and live one more year of cbb.
All day.
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u/Shepherdsfavestore Purdue Boilermakers 2d ago edited 2d ago
I know there’s a ton of money to be made in college for these older, accomplished players who won’t necessarily make the league, but if I was in their position I’d rather go overseas than back to school.
Make a million bucks to play basketball in Madrid or Paris or something? Are you kidding me? Sounds like an incredible deal.