Those are the positions the highest rated recruit for each team plays. As I looked at the other teams, they all seemed to have a good player at those positions ... but PU does not. I thought that interesting for several reasons. Perhaps the best one was considering what highly-ranked recruit would get a lot of playing time.
This doesn’t seem accurate...
Indiana: With Justin Smith transferring, it’s highly likely IU plays a lot of 3 guard lineups. I don’t know that Lander cracks the starting lineup as I believe the 3 guards will be RP, Durham, and Franklin, but he will get plenty of playing time backing up the 1 and 2 spot. He’s probably in line for 20-25 mpg.
Illinois: Adam Miller 6’3” guard. He should start and play a ton of minutes beside fellow freshman PG Andre Curbelo (#43) and SR Trent Frazier.
MSU: Mady Sissoko. MSU appears to have a big hole at center assuming Xavier Tillman stays in the draft. Even if Tillman doesn’t stay in the draft Sissoko will get a ton of playing time alongside Tillman as MSU is pretty weak on the front line.
Michigan: Hunter Dickinson is the only center on their roster outside of Austin Davis. I’d be shocked if Dickinson wasn’t the starter all year knowing what Austin Davis brings to the table.
Rutgers: I would guess Rutgers plays Omoruyi at the 4 alongside Myles Johnson. Ron Harper Jr played the 4 for them last year at only 6’6”.
Purdue: Like Indiana with Lander, it doesn’t seem like Jaden Ivey will be a starter from day 1. He definitely won’t replace Hunter in the lineup and likely won’t replace Sasha. I suppose he could be a starter if Hunter plays PG and IT doesn’t start. Regardless, Purdue has 6 guards that should get plenty of PT this year. It doesn’t seem like Ivey will be getting more than 20-25 minutes like Lander.
So based on this breakdown, I’m not sure how you come to the conclusion that those teams ahead of Purdue have good players at their respective positions, but that Purdue does not. I think really the only team that fits that description is IU.
