New Leaders Emerge in Purdue Basketball

The Purdue basketball team is entering a new era, with new leaders emerging to take the reins from the departing seniors, Mason Gillis, Ethan Morton, and Zach Edey. These three seniors set the standard on and off the court, culminating in Matt Painter’s first trip to the Final Four and a National Title game against the back-to-back champion UConn Huskies.

New leaders emerging in Purdue basketball

Mason Gillis, a hard worker who constantly had to work on his body to stay healthy, was a protector and a natural older brother to his fellow players. Ethan Morton was the emotional and mental stability for the team, always available to answer questions and provide guidance. Zach Edey, with his impressive accolades, redefined the potential at Purdue and left a lasting legacy in modern basketball.

“It’s obviously a new group,” Fletcher Loyer said Tuesday after Purdue’s first summer practice. “Lost some key pieces, but we got a lot to improve on but we’ve still got the same goals in mind. There’s no step back.”

The no-step-back mentality is what Purdue will embrace going forward, with Loyer and Braden Smith taking on the elder statesmen roles on the team. They will draw on the lessons they learned from the departing seniors and guide the way for the younger players.

Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith taking on leadership roles

Loyer emphasized the importance of setting an example for the younger players, just as the departing seniors did for them. “Doing things that Ethan Morton, Mason Gillis did for us,” Loyer said. “Doing things that Zach did for us. Whether it’s showing up at seven a.m. or whether it’s diving on loose balls or whether it’s talking to them after drills. It’s just showing them what to do and how to act because getting to the National Championships is tough and we want to do it again.”

Myles Colvin, who struggled at times last year but came on strong during the NCAA Tournament, is stepping into an expanded role and showing natural leadership with the freshmen. “One thing I told them yesterday when we had runs,” Colvin said about the freshmen. “We’re not going to let you struggle. You know, they didn’t let me struggle last year. They knew as long as I was doing better, then the coaching would do good. I think that’s something I wanted to harp on to make sure they didn’t feel alone, and we’re there for them and we’re trying to make them as good as everybody else.”

Myles Colvin stepping into an expanded role

Braden Smith, the point guard, will be the main focus for defenses, and Purdue’s success will depend on how he sets up his teammates. “I think our main focus is just lead them through summer,” Smith said.

Braden Smith leading the team

Purdue has a lot to improve on, but with the right leadership and mentality, they can achieve their goals and make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.