WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue basketball players are sick of playing each other.
The Boilermakers have beaten on each other with high-intensity practices dating back to the summer. They showcased that intensity inside Mackey Arena on Saturday with an open practice in conjunction with Fan Day.
In two of the three 12-minute scrimmage sessions, the losing side had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead in the final seconds. In keeping with the usual roster dynamic, Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn never played on the same side. At all five spots, Purdue’s roster construction sets up well for 5-on-5 scenarios.
Here’s what we learned from Saturday’s scrimmage, the last before Friday’s exhibition opener at Kentucky.
What has transfer Oscar Cluff brought to Purdue basketball offense?
While players went back and forth between the Black and Gold teams, Oscar Cluff and Daniel Jacobsen never played together. The 6-foot-11 veteran from Australia and the 7-4 second-year center kept up the battles they’ve engaged in since the summer.
Cluff produced the sort of double-double for which he became known at South Dakota State. He scored 14 points on 7 of 8 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds.
The latter stat is what Purdue needed most from him. That low-post scoring, though, remains a crucial addition.
How Trey Kaufman-Renn and Daniel Jacobsen build Purdue basketball frontcourt
Kaufman-Renn was one of the most efficient players in the country last season despite being somewhat out of position at center. Between Cluff and Jacobsen, who had 10 points on 5 of 6 shooting with four rebounds and a block Purdue added better skill at the five while moving Kaufman-Renn’s talents to the four.
“Trey’s special,” Cluff said. “His floater’s ridiculous, and his passing is crazy as well.”
Kaufman-Renn collected four assists Saturday. When he and Braden Smith engage in their pick-and-roll action and opposing centers engage Kaufman-Renn, Purdue now has two options with touch around the basket who can capitalize behind the defense.
“Braden and TK have been so good in the pocket passes, the short rollers,” Painter said. “And now instead of when Trey was the five and we spread people out, no we’ll do it more with him as a four, and keep that big in the dunker so you can get that quick lob. … His passing ability really helps us.”
How did Purdue guard Omer Mayer look running the point?
At first it appeared Painter deliberately put Kaufman-Renn together with Omer Mayer in all three scrimmage sessions. Made sense — the fifth-year player needs more reps with the freshman than his fourth-year teammate in Smith.
Painter, though, said that came about accidentally from how the assistant coaches drafted the teams.
Still, that pairing provided a longer look at the pick-and-roll dynamic between the two. Mayer finished with nine assists and three turnovers while attempting only six field goals. While his international experience might shorten the learning curve a bit, at the end of the day, he’s still a first-year player absorbing a complex offense.
“He’s been learning the plays really well,” sophomore guard C.J. Cox said. “We’ll have walk throughs in the morning and he seems to be knowing the plays and getting them down well. That’ll be big time for when he’s handling the ball in the games if Braden’s not in.”
What roster decisions remain ahead for Purdue basketball?
Painter said scrimmages and practices are determining the final roster decisions ahead. All 12 of the Boilermakers’ scholarship players could help this team win. There’s also no way for any coach to find 12 players enough minutes to make it worth burning eligibility for all of them.
Jack Benter used his redshirt last season — and has carved out a potentially big role behind Kaufman-Renn at the four. Those who have not yet used a redshirt who could face the toughest path to minutes are second-year big man Raleigh Burgess and true freshman guard Antione West Jr.
“It’s not a challenge – it’s part of it,” Painter said. “The sorting through comes in competition. Every day in practice, those guys competing against each other and getting better.
“Yeah, you’re going to have to draw a line at some point. But it’s part of it. It’s what we’ve worked towards.”
For what it’s worth, Burgess posted seven points on 3 of 4 shooting with five rebounds. That day included a steal for a run-out dunk. West only shot 1 of 8 from the field — with a couple of rim-outs — but took the role of jamming the opposing point guard when he came in.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue basketball scrimmage, stats, score, Omer Mayer, Oscar Cluff, roster
