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Welcome to this week's “BOILING OVER,” GoldandBlack.com’s weekly information-clearinghouse and analysis column meant for our site members and site members only. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in helping us keep what is sometimes delicate or proprietary information confined to this message board. This feature allows us to be more flexible in our reporting, to our readers' benefit, and we lose that ability if we can't keep this feature secure and the value of our site's membership at its peak. Additionally, we address recruiting and hiring processes in-depth and often without filter in this feature and we do it behind a subscription-protected barrier for a reason, in hopes of avoiding situations where our reporting can impact the recruiting process, which can happen occasionally.
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PURDUE BASKETBALL
• Not aware of any visitors for Saturday's Indiana game, but I'm sure there will be. I know 2024 Kanon Catchings has been a target for a return visit, but with sectionals going on, this weekend could be tough for him and others.
• I really don't want to get in the business of speculating on transfers, but I will tell you that, yes, if Kansas State's Nijel Pack becomes available should there be a change at K-State, Purdue will be all over that.
Purdue's going to be involved in the portal heavily this spring with wants or needs that could exist at a couple different positions. The most steadfast might be point guard, though, with Eric Hunter departing and backcourt dynamics changing post-Jaden Ivey.
Our guess right now is that Zach Edey is back next season, though NBA people are definitely looking at him seriously. But we all know how quickly things can change in March. Either way, Purdue may or may not be in the market for a center, too.
We think if the center position sticks with Edey back and William Berg coming in, Caleb Furst likely slides into minutes at the 5 and gets some offensive packages in place for in pick-and-roll or some of the stuff they run with Trevion Williams at the elbow.
It's conceivable that Trey Kaufman-Renn could also factor in as a small-ball 5 man alongside Furst or Mason Gillis and give Purdue a really different look that could create different kinds of matchups and maybe switch five ways more effectively on defense.
Remains to be seen. Matt Painter's decisions in recruiting have suggested that he's pretty committed to having ultimate size out there all the time, but his track record, too, suggests open-mindedness and it should probably be noted that Purdue's last Big Ten championship did so without a real low-post anchor on the floor at all times.
The only name I can think of that would set some sirens off from a Purdue perspective would be Harrison Ingram, which could be a declare-or-transfer kind of situation. Not sure how much would push for that one if he came available, but my guess personally is that he either goes pro or stays at Stanford anyway.
Keep in mind about this year's transfer market: It's not just about guys leaving one school for another, but nowadays, these seniors with these COVID years to burn could decide to go play extra seasons of college basketball. None of Purdue's seniors are coming back next season, but all of them would also have the option to go play a year somewhere else. I wouldn't expect that to happen, but that's what every senior has the option to do now and for the next couple classes. (BN)
PURDUE FOOTBALL RECRUITING
• 2024 quarterback target Danny O'Neil was back at Purdue for practice yesterday a few weeks after being offered.
Might the Brady Allen story — he committed before his junior season — be re-writing itself?
We'd expect Purdue to keep recruiting 2023 quarterbacks as well to make sure they keep in the game should they not be able to hang on to Rickie Collins once the SEC figures out there are quarterbacks down there not named Arch Manning.
Marty Biagi's move to Ole Miss may not kill Purdue with Collins, but it sure won't help.
• This guy is visiting Purdue this weekend. Detroit players tend to visit in groups so maybe it's part of a caravan.
With so many new coaches on staff now, I don't know responsibilities, so I'm not sure who's recruiting Detroit. Ron English has history there, though. (BN)
PURDUE BASKETBALL RECRUITING
Sectional results (and sorry I keep forgetting to include this every week)
• Fletcher Loyer (26 points, 10-14 shooting) and Homestead beat Huntington North the other night and meet New Haven Friday evening at 6 p.m. at Huntington North.
• Behind an unreal game from Braden Smith (29 points and 11 assists, which we have video of that'll need to be edited), Westfield beat Fishers to advance to meet Hamilton Southeastern Friday. Carmel or Noblesville would await in the sectional championship.
• Behind Myles Colvin's 30, Heritage Christian beat Park Tudor the other night and meets something called Irvington Preparatory Academy on Friday night.
