The 2026 Purdue basketball season ended short of the national championship that some prognosticators predicted last fall. The Boilermakers (30-9) won the Big Ten Tournament championship and reached the Elite Eight before falling to Arizona.
Purdue’s roster will undergo its most significant change in NIL/transfer portal era as Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer — who combined for more than 5,400 points and a 117-32 record — have exhausted their eligibility.
What does that mean for 2026-27? The cupboard isn’t bare, but returnees and newcomers will have to step up to keep the Boilermakers in the national conversation.
Way-too-early 2026-27 college basketball rankings: Where is Purdue basketball in 2026-27 rankings?
Jon Rothstein, FanDuel: 15th
He sees a starting lineup of Luke Ertel, C.J. Cox, Gicarri Harris, Caden Pierce and Daniel Jacobsen.
Jeff Borzello, ESPN: 14th
“It’s a new era in West Lafayette. Gone are Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn, a trio that brought a lot of wins and plenty of success to the Boilermakers. C.J. Cox is the lone starter back in the fold, although coach Matt Painter should expect jumps from reserves Omer Mayer and Daniel Jacobsen. Incoming top-50 recruit Luke Ertel and former Princeton transfer Caden Pierce should help replace some of the outgoing stars, and potential returnees Jack Benter and Gicarri Harris have plenty of experience as role players.”
His projected starting lineup: Luke Ertel, Omer Meyer, C.J. Cox, Caden Pierce, Daniel Jacobsen.
James Fletcher III, On3: 10th
“Purdue is set to see star point guard Braden Smith leave after setting the NCAA assist record, along with the starting frontcourt. The Boilermakers reload is already underway, with a solid recruiting class, an early transfer hit and plenty returning talent which will take on increased roles.”
C.J. Moore, The Athletic: 13th
“Are you ready for the Omer Mayer breakout? Mayer didn’t quite hit like I thought he would as a freshman. He averaged only 14.3 minutes per game but did have good per-40 numbers (15.3 points and 3.2 assists). Now that Braden Smith is gone, it’s going to be Mayer’s show. Coach Matt Painter is missing his usual back-to-the-basket scorer unless one of the freshmen can immediately fill that role, but this is a bet on Painter and Mayer. The Boilermakers also got a head start on the portal with the addition of former Princeton forward Caden Pierce, who was the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2024.”
Mike DeCourcy, Sporting News: 12th
“Matt Painter will not begin coaching differently at this stage of his career, but 2026-27 certainly will be different. He’s had Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn for so long it felt like a decade. Replacing a team’s top four scorers never is easy, but he’s one of the few coaches who won’t have to entirely install a team culture. That’s there. It’ll be there as long as he is. And such players as C.J. Cox and Omer Mayer have shown the will to play big in big moments. Watch out for Luke Ertel, who is building a reputation as the best long-distance shooter in the 2026 recruiting class.”
Erick Smith, Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY: 16th
“The Boilermakers move on without the trio of Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn. No returning player scored more than guard C.J. Cox’s 8.5 points per game. Look for Purdue to lean on a recruiting class that ranks seventh nationally while blending in transfers such as former Princeton forward Caden Pierce. Coach Matt Painter has won at least 24 games in each of the past five years and will contend to do so again despite the reworked roster.”
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: After losing big 3, here’s where Purdue sits in way-too-early college basketball rankings 2026-27
Reporting by Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
