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 Isaiah Thompson, concluding the list of those returning who played meaningful roles last season.
Prior Editions: Trevion Williams | Eric Hunter | Aaron Wheeler | Sasha Stefanovic
The point in his career
Thompson was the only freshman who played a meaningful role for Purdue last season and is now at that spot in his career where the hope will be that he makes a jump forward with experience. He might be a really important player, because Purdue needs some added scoring punch and his ability off the dribble, in the open floor and from long range can be key elements to a turnaround in that sense. Bigger picture, Purdue needs better, more aggressive guard play this season and Thompson's one of those whose improvement from one season to the next could mirror Purdue's as a whole.
Projected role
Thompson's one of Purdue's four ball-handling guards, along with Eric Hunter, Ethan Morton and Jaden Ivey, who'll be put in positions to do so, whether it be at "point guard" or otherwise. He can play a couple different roles/positions, and between two spots, should have a chance to push for 20-plus minutes per game. Thing is, the backcourt is deeper now than it was last season, so there are no finite guarantees for anyone, really. But Thompson is going to be needed to add scoring punch, and his quickness and speed are only rivaled on this roster by Jaden Ivey, so from an elemental perspective, he can be really important. He'll have a chance to push for a starting position in the preseason, but if he comes off the bench, he could be a really valuable presence off the bench and a sixth-starter sort of contributor.
Best case scenario
The best case is Thompson sort of coming of age this season and giving Purdue a real shot in the arm offensively, as both a three-point shooter — he's always been a good shooter and he is said to have shot the hell out of it all summer, for what it's worth — and as a creator off the dribble and in the open court. Purdue does want to go fast on offense when opportunities present themselves and that's a strength of Thompson's. Decision-making is important for him, as would be defensive improvement, both on and off the ball, but Thompson came a long way through the course of last season from a comfort perspective and there were glimpses of some fearlessness in his play at times, and Purdue could use more of that. The best case is probably Thompson being a 20-plus-minute guy who holds his own on D, doesn't turn the ball over and pushes to average double figures whether he's a starter or comes off the bench.
Worst case scenario
The worst case is probably just that Thompson doesn't show much improvement and winds up fighting like hell for minutes all season as Jaden Ivey and Ethan Morton come into the mix at guard. Thompson is one of Purdue's best three-point shooters and a sophomore slump would obviously be an unwelcome sight. Some of his success this season will hang on the defensive end of the floor, and that's a big question for a lot of players on this roster, not just the sophomore.
Reasonable expectations
It's very reasonable to expect Thompson to be a markedly better player this season than last season. He was a better player at the end of last season than he was at the start and should build on it. The question may be whether a more loaded backcourt covers up individuals' improvement somewhat, but that goes both ways, because Purdue will find something out about its returning guards competitively this season, because of Morton, Ivey and Brandon Newman joining the mix. I'd expect Thompson to carry robust minutes at the 1 and the 2 both, be an important scorer for Purdue and one of its two of three best three-point shooting threats. It's always interesting when a player moves into a role where they have to score and how they carry themselves in that role. Thompson's always seemed well-wired for it, but as with everyone in that backcourt, decision-making is king.
