Newcomers out, or limited, for first Purdue basketball practice: 3 things we learned
WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue basketball big man Trey Kaufman-Renn looks up and down the roster and struggles to find a weakness for a preseason national championship favorite.
He's eager to finally experience that much-anticipated squad in its complete form. Summer practice began Monday without two of the Boilermakers' biggest offseason additions.
South Dakota State transfer center Oscar Cluff is waiting on his renewed visa to arrive so he can board a plane from Australia. He is expected in West Lafayette soon. Incoming freshman guard Omer Mayer remains overseas, as he will play with Team Israel at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Switzerland later this month. As a result, his own visa process is less time-urgent.
Another incoming transfer, former North Florida forward Liam Murphy, participated in a limited capacity. Purdue coach Matt Painter said Murphy is not expected to be fully cleared from shoulder surgery until the fall.
"It's going to take time to get people in different systems, especially the way that we play," Kaufman-Renn said. "We play a little bit differently than a lot of other teams, so it'll take time for it to be perfect. But from what I've heard, what I've seen as far as their film. I think they'll fit right in."
Here are three things we learned from Monday's practice on Cardinal Court:
Second-year center Daniel Jacobsen will soon depart for the Team USA training camp to compete for a spot in the same FIBA Under-19 World Cup where Mayer will play. Monday, though provided the first public look at Jacobsen participating in full-contact action since the broken tibia which ended his freshman season after two games.
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It was a different look, too, as Jacobsen has added over 30 pounds, weighing in around 253. Beefing up his 7-foot-4 frame had always been part of his freshman plan. Sitting out most of the season accidentally helped that process.
"I feel a lot better, a lot bigger," said Jacobsen, who crashed to the floor a few times and bounced right back up. "I feel like I'm not getting moved around as much."
Raleigh Burgess remains out after offseason leg surgery and may not participate this summer. The decision not to use a redshirt season with him last season drew the most attention because it came down to the start of the season.
Last season's other redshirt decision will lead to a bigger role for Jack Benter. The Brownstown Central grad was somewhat out of sight, out of mind last season while sitting out. Now he'll fight to earn guard rotation minutes and can also play the 4 in smaller lineups.
"He's got good length, good size," Painter said. "He can stretch the defense. He knows how to play."
Painter called Monday's practice a "glorified pickup game." Yet it's an important first step for freshman guard Antione West Jr., the player with the steepest learning curve.
That freshman initiation can be a tough process for those coming in with a big class. Coming in with a small one amplifies the corrective focus of the coaching staff. West was merely getting his feet wet Monday.
The NCAA allows up to eight weeks of required summer activities. Of the eight allowed hours per week, no more than four can be spent on skill instruction such as drills and film sessions. The rest of the time can go toward weightlifting and conditioning.
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