Purdue basketball's Trey Kaufman-Renn sees value while dealing with rough stretch
WEST LAFAYETTE – As Zach Edey’s backup, the opportunities – and the minutes – are going to be limited.
That’s Trey Kaufman-Renn’s situation.
In Purdue coach Matt Painter’s recent conversation with the redshirt freshmen, he emphasized several items on Kaufman-Renn’s to-do list. He must play better, cut down on his turnovers and avoid fouls.
“To your defense,” Painter told Kaufman-Renn. “You are backing up the best player in the country right now.”
That doesn’t mean the Silver Creek graduate can’t be productive. Kaufman-Renn has demonstrated his value to the third-ranked Boilermakers, who visit Minnesota (7 p.m., ESPN2) on Thursday, at different times throughout the season.
There was the 24-point outburst against New Orleans, a game Edey missed due to an illness. He provided solid minutes during the non-conference season, giving Edey a chance to rest on the bench and help Purdue close out key games.
When Purdue last played Minnesota on Dec. 5, Kaufman-Renn logged a season-high 28 minutes and totaled 10 points and six rebounds. But recently, the fouls and turnovers – along with Edey’s dominance in the post – have kept Kaufman-Renn on the bench.
“I think it’s just continuing to play,” Kaufman-Renn said. “I need to go hard every day and it’s just one of those things. I’ve got to get through the droughts. I didn’t play at all last year, and I rarely practiced. Just being in games and going through different experiences, a lot of things are new for me. I think it’s all been good. It’s been very valuable.”
He’s in one of those dry spells right now.
Kaufman-Renn has committed six fouls and five turnovers in a combined 10 minutes in the last two games. He’s scored just five points in the last five games and is shooting 32% from the field (8 of 25) during Big Ten action.
He can be an effective weapon for the Boilermakers with his ability to play outside the lane, creating space for his teammates and himself.
“It’s an art. It’s a hard thing to come in and be ready to go coming off the bench,” Painter said. “He’s done a really good job of it this whole year up until the last three games or so. He has to keep things simple. When you go through that little bit of a rut and getting into a game and being simple and trying to get a positive play right away so you can build some confidence.”
Kaufman-Renn’s confidence isn’t shaken, despite the rough patch. He’s tried to mix up his mental approach to games while sticking with his daily routine and his normal preparation.
He’s focused on performing well on the defensive end and rebounding, which has been a big edge for the Boilermakers this season. He wants to be aggressive on the offensive end, but the results haven’t consistently materialized.
If Kaufman-Renn remains locked in on the scouting report, he believes the results will start to work in his favor.
“The goal is when you get in the game to be as productive as possible. I always like to say that,” Kaufman-Renn said. “You’re more comfortable the more time you’re able to get in. It’s a learning experience for me and it’s something I’ll grow from and take lessons from.”
