Latest in a series of articles reviewing the 2025-26 season for Purdue men’s basketball’s returning players. Next up: C.J. Cox.
An unfortunate fall in March emphasized the Boilermaker guard’s resilience and toughness.
Cox hyperextended his right knee while going in for a layup early in the second half of a Round of 32 victory over Miami. It knocked him out of that game and cast some doubt on his status for the remainder of the tournament.
Cox pushed through to match his season high with 31 minutes against Texas. He collected 10 points, eight rebounds and two assists without a turnover to help send Purdue back to the Sweet Sixteen.
The Boilermakers probably could have minimized Cox’s absence or limitations due to their veteran depth last season. The departure of four seniors changes his importance to the team’s formula for winning.
C.J. Cox’s key statistics for Purdue men’s basketball in 2025-26
Cox started all 39 games and has started 62 consecutive games dating back to his freshman season. His scoring average jumped from 6.0 to 8.5, and while his 3-point shooting dipped slightly, it remained a solid 37.3%.
The biggest gains, though, came in ball security. He distributed 49 assists against 12 turnovers for a team-best 4.08 assist-to-turnover ratio. He did not commit a turnover in December or January.
Down the stretch, he helped more as an offensive rebounder, grabbing 17 in the final 10 games. (He totaled only 12 over the first 29 games.)
C.J. Cox’s biggest moments for Purdue basketball in 2025-26
Despite being the fifth scoring option in the starting lineup most nights, Cox stayed true to his reputation of being able to take over games when locked into a shooting rhythm. Sometimes that carried him to a big scoring night, such as when he scored 27 crucial points in a win at Northwestern in early March.
On other occasions, he simply provided a game-changing streak. He hit three pivotal 3-pointers in the closing minutes of the first half in a second-round NCAA Tournament win over Miami. He hit four 3s en route to 18 points in a Baha Mar Championships semifinal win over Memphis in November.
Cox scored in double figures in 16 games, but the two examples above were his only games over 16 points. Purdue will need an expect a more consistent impact, but the lineup dynamics could also make that more accessible.
Where does C.J. Cox fit in for Purdue basketball in 2025-26?
While always ready as a spot-up shooter, Cox’s primary importance came as Purdue’s lead on-ball defender. He was first through the door on the most challenging perimeter assignment every night. Those matchups ranged from dynamic, attacking point guards to some of the Big Ten’s bigger wings.
That identity will be even more important in Cox’s third season. Purdue should remain solid offensively, but statistically must fall back from last season’s nation-leading efficiency. It will need to generate energy defensively and generally be more disruptive against top opponents than it was last season.
Cox should also continue to linger in the corner in halfcourt offense, ready to toss in daggers with an at-times alarming frequency. He’s as good as maybe anyone in the Big Ten at spotting up there – an asset which could expand if Purdue’s lineup alignments create even more spacing next season.
Someone needs to take the 3s Fletcher Loyer is vacating, and while the won’t all go to Cox, on a given night, many of them will.
He’ll also likely be asked to handle the ball even more than he did while occasionally allowing Braden Smith to move off the ball last season. Some of that depends on how much Luke Ertel and Antione West Jr. emerge as early season options in the same role behind presumptive starting point guard Omer Mayer.
What is C.J. Cox’s top offseason priority for Purdue basketball?
The upside here is obvious. After two seasons of performance peaks as a complementary piece, Cox could become one of the most well-rounded players in the Big Ten and someone pushing for all-conference recognition.
That breakthrough may depend on development in a few areas, though.
It’s true Cox took that primary defensive assignment throughout last season – a rule which extended back to his freshman season. It’s also true Purdue underachieved defensively, or at least underwhelmed, pretty consistently in that same span. It does not merely need someone to take the tough assignment. It needs someone to be the nerve center of the defense, bridging the team’s recent communication gaps and sparking a more infectious attitude on that end of the floor.
Cox ranked fourth on the Boilermakers in steals per game and barely inside the Big Ten’s top 100. Can he become a more consistent generator of offense from his defense?
Speaking of offense, while Cox’s opportunities should increase, two of the main sources of his opportunities the past two seasons have moved on. No more Braden Smith dribble-drive brilliance. No more Trey Kaufman-Renn kick-outs.
That action won’t dry up completely, of course. Cox and Purdue would both benefit from him creating his own shots more. He’s already become quite reliable in the mid-range against opponents who dropped back against Boiler bigs. He’s established a firm base of production, but if his arsenal can expand, so will his scoring output.
Cox never shrank from the moment, dating back to that surge against Alabama four games into his college career. The spotlight on him will naturally intensify in his third season. He’s already a testament to betting on oneself and surpassing expectations. He’ll now have the runway to take that story to another level.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How Purdue basketball’s returning starter can push for all-Big Ten with offensive jump
Reporting by Nathan Baird, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
