WEST LAFAYETTE — Omer Mayer’s portion of Purdue men’s basketball’s scoring potential remains on schedule this summer.
The scorer’s mindset peaked in one sequence during a 5-on-5 competitive drill at Tuesday’s practice on Cardinal Court. Mayer hit a mid-range fadeaway jumper, then followed with a baseline drive for a dunk, then zipped down the lane for a layup.
That part of Mayer’s identity – the one where he can score over and through defenses – has been there since he first put on a Boilermaker uniform. The other half, the one in which Mayer must become the facilitator necessary to keep the rest of a potentially prolific offense engaged, remains part of a new-look team’s summer project.
Mayer carries both the benefit of having learned from the NCAA’s all-time assists leader and the curse of following him at the same position. As much as Braden Smith liked to say Mayer reminded him of himself, expecting a carbon copy would be foolish.
Mayer brings a different physique, background and skill set to the floor. He must provide what Purdue needs, but in his own shape and form. If that seems like pressure, Mayer doesn’t share your perspective.
“Naturally, I have a bigger role, so I’m excited,” Mayer said. “It’s just the same game. It’s Purdue, and I’m doing whatever to help Purdue win. I’m excited, and my approach is still the same.”
Perhaps influenced by his prior experience as an entry level professional for Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Mayer deferred to Purdue’s senior leadership last season. He still held himself accountable to himself and his teammates, with no downshift from his own high expectations. Yet he also embraced his understudy role to Smith and recognized the acclamation necessary, in both style and role.
Not surprisingly, his performance improved as his comfort level grew – especially as a shooter. His 44.2% 3-point shooting in conference games only led all Big Ten freshmen.
Purdue needed Mayer’s presence last season to take some of the burden from Smith’s shoulders. It recruited him for what it needs this season, though, most of all. It needs someone to take the baton from Smith and keep the wheels of this offense running smoothly. That means less of the ball stopping when it gets to him and more creating for others.
It also means, by default, a bigger leadership impact. On a team putting a roster-wide emphasis on vocal leadership this offseason, Mayer’s voice is coming through.
“We’re all getting out of our comfort zones,” third-year guard Gicarri Harris said. “Everybody’s trying to step up and be a leader.
“He’s been doing a good job just being vocal and leading by example too. If he sees something on the court, he sometimes stops practice and lets younger guys know what they’re doing and if its right or wrong.”
As Mayer’s production improved last season, his minutes remained fairly stagnant. Purdue coach Matt Painter tried to set that expectation in the recruiting process.
“Any time he would come in and be upset about things, I would agree with him, and it would blow his mind even more,” Painter said.
The focus, Painter explained up front, was the “runway” into this season. Freshman Luke Ertel, the presumptive backup to Mayer at the point, continues his own summer of adjustment. Mayer moves to the forefront of an offense annually contending to rank among the nation’s best.
Mayer gets to reach back to his extensive international experience and play under FIBA rules during the four games in the Vancouver area. Three of the Boilermakers’ four opponents are established college teams, already practicing for weeks to be prepared defensively for these challenges from the States.
“There’s not any difference,” Painter said. “He’s a good player. He was good for us last year in practice, did a lot of really good things.
“He showed some of those things in games. Now, he’ll be able to play more and play through his mistakes more.”
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Point guard ready to put his spin on Purdue basketball offense in trip to Canada
Reporting by Nathan Baird, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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By Nathan Baird, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
