#5 Purdue: A New Roster and New Era in West Lafayette

Purdue enters the 2026-27 season facing something it hasn't had to deal with in quite some time: figuring out how to play basketball without Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer. The two longtime backcourt starters finished their Purdue careers having started all 149 games they played together, and their departure leaves Matt Painter with some enormous holes to fill. The Boilermakers will turn to a combination of returning players and newcomers, including C.J. Cox, Omer Mayer, Jack Benter and highly regarded freshman Luke Ertel, to take on much larger roles. With Smith's playmaking and Loyer's shooting no longer available, where will Purdue's offense come from, and who becomes the new voice in the backcourt?