Fran was right. He could be a starter on most good teams. He's a starter coming off the bench. Such a valuable weapon.
I like all three of Purdue’s fours, but also understand they provide different things with none being one that does it all. There is no Robbie Hummel or Vince Edwards here that can do it all and so it makes sense to use the players as needed for most their minutes. Here are just a few quick things I could list in why Matt is starting Trey.
1) Trey has a better chance of drawing fouls to get in bonus earlier.
2) If Mason plays closer to bonus, Mason is the better FT shooter. Let him get his minutes later.
3) Trey got very few minutes last year and it would be the same with Zach returning this year. This provides more minutes and gets Trey in game shape and comfortable as well as growing his game more versatile.
4) Trey getting more minutes and being in better game shape provides a better backup should Zach not be able to play for some reason
5) If that were to happen, it would also offer a more experienced 4 should Caleb go to the 5
6) Should Purdue play in a game where the other team was very physical and Purdue was
cold on the perimeter and needed war in the paint, Trey can help inside should the game turn to a physical slugfest inside and Zach needed another big body to score inside.
7) Should Purdue play a team that was limited inside and developed a high low game to overpower a team, that option would exist at Matt's disposal.
8) Zach is gone next year, Trey being more versatile whether at a 5 or 4 next year will benefit from his minutes this year at the 4.
Again, I can make a case to play Mason, Caleb or Trey depending on what is needed since none do it all and I like all three and don’t care how many minute
s each gets, but I’m fully aware that they are different and have different strengths and weaknesses.
Playing Trey at the 4 makes Purdue more versatile this year and also helps for next year when Zach is gone. The more versatile the players are the more you can do with them…the more they can play no matter the situation.