Braden Smith's decision to return for his senior season at Purdue solidifies the Boilermakers' status as a national championship contender. The All-American guard will lead a potent offense alongside returning teammates and a key transfer addition.
Life continues to be exciting inside Mackey Arena in West Lafayette. Purdue will once again have a national player of the year contender and the best returning guard in the sport as Braden Smith announced his decision to return for his senior season. Smith, the winner of the Bob Cousy Award and the Big Ten Player of the Year, has transformed from a three-star recruit out of high school to a consensus first-team All-American.
Standing at 6 feet tall, Smith captivated audiences with his exceptional talent. While many were curious about how Purdue would perform in the first year without Zach Edey, Smith led the Boilermakers to a 24-win season and a trip to the Sweet 16, marking their sixth appearance in the last eight NCAA Tournaments. Smith set a new Big Ten record for assists in conference play this season, amassing 175, surpassing the previous record held by Michigan State's Cassius Winston (157). The Boilermakers' standout guard also accomplished a rare feat in NCAA history, becoming the second player to record at least 550 points, 300 assists, and 150 rebounds in a season, joining Murray State's Ja Morant as the only other player with this distinction.Despite falling to Houston in the Sweet 16 of this year's Big Dance, Smith delivered a historic performance against the nation's best defense. The versatile guard dished out 15 assists against the Cougars, becoming the first player in NCAA Tournament history to record two games with at least 15 assists (2024 - Gonzaga; 2025 - Houston). Smith has already shattered the program assists record, accumulating 758 in just 110 career games. In three seasons, he already ranks fourth all-time in Big Ten history in assists. What does Smith's return to West Lafayette mean? Firstly, it's fantastic for college basketball to have stars like Smith decide to stay and return to their teams, demonstrating a strong commitment to their programs. It also speaks volumes about the exciting future that awaits Purdue. The announcement further solidifies the Boilermakers as a team to watch next season. Coupled with the return of Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn, and the addition of highly touted transfer Oscar Cluff and returning guard C.J. Cox, Purdue's roster is shaping up to be a formidable force. This makes Purdue a top contender in the national championship race. The Boilermakers are currently listed at +1200 to win next year's national championship, tied with Houston for the second-best odds and only trailing Duke (+1000). John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports
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