How a recruiting philosophy switch lifted Purdue to national title path

WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue men’s basketball’s coaching staff came together for a pivotal debate in the fall of 2022.

The question on the table was whether freshmen Braden Smith or Fletcher Loyer would open the season in the starting lineup. The resolution of the conversation remains an inflection point in Boilermaker history.

“I just let them talk – they all gave their two cents or whatever,” coach Matt Painter said. “And I just said, ‘Those two guys are gonna take us to a Final Four.’”