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Gold and Black Radio: Purdue hoops preps for Auburn in Indy

by: Derek Schultz2 hours ago

Sixth-ranked Purdue will be in action again after Finals Week when it faces Auburn in Indianapolis. GoldandBlack.com men’s basketball writer and host Derek Schultz looks ahead and back at how the Boilermakers have improved during their modest two-game winning streak.

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Excerpt from Brian’s Three Thoughts Column on Braden Smith

ON PURDUE BASKETBALL AND BRADEN SMITH’S LEADERSHIP

Since Iowa State, Braden Smith has played mad, and whether he’ll admit it or not, he’s better mad. But mad is one thing; controlled mad is another. The past two games, with the tone the Boilermaker senior has been setting defensively, it’s the latter.

He’s been a force defensively, in a way that must be contagious, and he’s doing it without taking excess risks or committing worthless and damaging fouls. It’s been the definition of “dialed in,” as they say, and critically important to maybe taking Purdue to a higher level. Yeah, I know that Minnesota and Marquette aren’t exactly the ’80s Lakers and Celtics, but that’s beside the point. Elements like this transcend matchups and if Smith maintains this, then Purdue is markedly better off vs. Michigan and Michigan State, or at UCLA, than it otherwise would have been.

People follow leaders. That’s why they’re called “leaders.” And when your All-American offensive-savant point guard is doing it, how does everyone not?

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ON PURDUE BASKETBALL AND TREY KAUFMAN-RENN

All the same stuff from above, except about Trey Kaufman-Renn and rebounding.

Oscar Cluff filled a gaping void for Purdue, which just popped a great rebounder into a lineup that desperately needed one. He has been what he has always been.

But it’s Kaufman-Renn that has changed that has taken Purdue from a sketchy rebounding team to a great one.

Speaking of tone-setting, Kaufman-Renn’s Swanigan-esque effort, physicality, relentlessness and utter cruelty to overmatched opponents have again been that spark. And when your Preseason All-American leading scorer is doing it, I’ll ask again: How does everyone not?

With Smith and Kaufman-Renn alike, this is what senior leadership looks like.

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