I agree and disagree.
Painter said after we reached our scholarship quota that there was a way to add Harris. With Catchings gone and Harris added, that way that Painter earlier hinted at was still available. The question remains, after Catchings left, we were at the limit, so everything worked out. However, it’s possible Painter might have at least looked at the portal players to see who was left. And just didn’t see anybody worth pursuing.
As for Gillis, I know everything that was stated publicly to the media and what you read off your internet sites! All three seniors said they weren’t coming back at the beginning of the year! That’s what Painter and the media published to the fans!
However, I personally believe after playing for Purdue all those years, if Gillis had second thoughts and wanted to stay at Purdue for 1 more year, Painter would have found a loop hole to allow him to stay! It’s not like Stephens who wanted to leave the program! It seems very logical if Gillis came to Painter in June after Catchings left, painter would have worked his magic to bring him back.
Admittedly none of this made the media. The real reason Catchings left didn’t make the media either and neither did Burgess’ conditioning issues.
There are many things the media doesn’t publish