With Purdue basketball set to officially open preseason practice on Oct. 14, we are keeping busy with a series making projections on each of Purdue's scholarship players, keeping in mind that we are basing such things off less than ever because of this bizarro world off-season. Please keep in mind that more in unknown — to people like us and maybe even to coaches and such — than ever before heading into a season.
Anyway, we continue today with Aaron Wheeler, as we go in descending order by eligibility.
Prior Editions: Trevion Williams | Eric Hunter
The point in his career
Wheeler's obviously at a bit of a crossroads, where his career can now go one of two ways. After a productive and promising redshirt freshman season in which he helped Purdue win a Big Ten title and reach the Elite Eight, his role and expectations expanded last season, and things didn't go well. Most notably, the forward simply struggled to make shots, which he was pretty reliable at doing the season prior. Not sure how to explain it, because they were largely the same shots from one year to the next. Again, nobody on Purdue's roster needed a reset more than Wheeler, so the hope will be that last season was last season and this season things begin anew. No reason to believe he can't rebound, and his position is wide open, so the same opportunity he got last season is up for grabs.
Projected role
There's no telling right now, because it's too early to guess as to who may lay claim to Purdue's forward spot between Wheeler, Mason Gillis and maybe freshman guard Ethan Morton (though probably not as a starter at this point). It's reasonable to expect Wheeler to get first crack due to his experience, but after that it's anyone's guess how minutes are divided. Purdue needs its 4s to make good decisions on offense, make open shots, rebound and defend — nothing out of the ordinary — and whoever does the best job of it will have an advantage. If Morton can change Purdue's offensive complexion for the better, that carves a niche for him as part of four-guard lineups. But Wheeler will play a lot no matter whether he starts or not.
Best case scenario
The best case is a resurgence and Wheeler returns to being a consistent three-point shooter but also a provider of energy, where his athleticism and other physical gifts tend to come out most, when he's running the floor and playing above the rim as a scorer and offensive rebounder. Purdue is going to want to play fast at times this season, and Wheeler's ability to run and finish could fit into that.
He was a productive rebounder last season, and that was a positive step, but his best case would also involve him taking a marked step as a defender, becoming a more engaged and physical player at that end of the floor and a presence on post double and other forms of help defense.
Worst case scenario
The worst case, quite honestly, probably just occurred. Wheeler's struggles were one of the great mysteries and disappointments of last season, but no one's giving up on him. No reason to believe that he can't turn things around.
Reasonable expectations
The range of outcomes here is all over the map based on the results of the past two seasons. What to expect, we have no idea, but here's guessing Wheeler rebounds from last season's struggles and becomes a more consistent and productive player. Whether it's enough to take that position out of the range of being a huge question mark, we'll see. But if struggles continue, a door opens for Gillis or Purdue has reason to commit to four-guard lineups for this season.
