• Coach Painter Interview / Practice Video
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Purdue men's basketball team officially kicked off the 2018-19 season Tuesday afternoon on Cardinal Court.
The practice was the first of 30 preseason practices for the Boilermakers in advance of their season opener Nov. 6 against Fairfield at Mackey Arena.
Tickets are available on PurdueSports.com, by calling 800.49SPORT or by visiting the Mackey Arena ticket office.
The Boilermakers have become one of America's most-consistent programs, ranking in the top 25 in 56 of the last 57 polls, the fourth-most appearances nationally during that span behind just Kansas (57), North Carolina (57) and Villanova (57) while posting the ninth-most wins nationally over the last three years (83).
Purdue will be led by junior guard Carsen Edwards, the preseason national Player of the Year by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook and one of just three returning All-Americans in college basketball (North Carolina's Luke Maye, Virginia's Kyle Guy). The guard from Atascocita, Texas, won the Jerry West Award last season as the nation's top shooting guard, averaging 18.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while connecting on 97 3-pointers – the second-most in school history.
The Boilermakers also return a young, but talented nucleus that learned from one of the best senior classes in school history a year ago. Seniors Ryan Cline and Grady Eifert are ready for more-prominent roles this season, while sophomores Nojel Eastern and Matt Haarms both had strong offseasons and will improve from their freshman campaigns. A strong freshman class and junior transfer Evan Boudreaux will provide added depth and experience.
The Boilermakers went 30-7 a year ago and reached their second straight NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Purdue men's basketball team officially kicked off the 2018-19 season Tuesday afternoon on Cardinal Court.
The practice was the first of 30 preseason practices for the Boilermakers in advance of their season opener Nov. 6 against Fairfield at Mackey Arena.
Tickets are available on PurdueSports.com, by calling 800.49SPORT or by visiting the Mackey Arena ticket office.
The Boilermakers have become one of America's most-consistent programs, ranking in the top 25 in 56 of the last 57 polls, the fourth-most appearances nationally during that span behind just Kansas (57), North Carolina (57) and Villanova (57) while posting the ninth-most wins nationally over the last three years (83).
Purdue will be led by junior guard Carsen Edwards, the preseason national Player of the Year by Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook and one of just three returning All-Americans in college basketball (North Carolina's Luke Maye, Virginia's Kyle Guy). The guard from Atascocita, Texas, won the Jerry West Award last season as the nation's top shooting guard, averaging 18.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while connecting on 97 3-pointers – the second-most in school history.
The Boilermakers also return a young, but talented nucleus that learned from one of the best senior classes in school history a year ago. Seniors Ryan Cline and Grady Eifert are ready for more-prominent roles this season, while sophomores Nojel Eastern and Matt Haarms both had strong offseasons and will improve from their freshman campaigns. A strong freshman class and junior transfer Evan Boudreaux will provide added depth and experience.
The Boilermakers went 30-7 a year ago and reached their second straight NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.