The 2018-19 Purdue Basketball team felt like a team of destiny. They were coming off the best season in school history but had just graduated four seniors who had been so crucial to the team’s success. They were a group that no one expected much out of. And if you would’ve asked fans around New Years, they would’ve told you that they were already moving on to next football season.

Then the squad went on an unimaginable run and won the Big Ten. Their run continued into March knocking off the defending National Champions by double digits and winning a thriller against Tennessee. In the Elite Eight Carsen Edwards carried the team on his back, scoring 42 points on Virginia, and had his team a tenth of a second away from their first Final Four appearance since 1980.

However, 2019 is in the past and the Boilers are two games into the 19-20 season. A season without Carsen Edwards, Ryan Cline, and Grady Eifert. What’s next for the Matt Painter led team? It appears as if they already had their Kemba Walker and already had their moment to shine and just couldn’t capitalize. Was that heartbreaking Elite Eight the Boilermakers ceiling or are they just getting started?

Who’s going to score?

That’s the biggest question with this new Purdue team. Where is the scoring going to come from? In the past this answer was obvious. Everyone knew that last year the offense would run through Carsen Edwards. The year before that they had Vince Edwards, Dakota Mathias, Isaac Haas, and an array of other weapons to beat you with. In all of Purdue’s most successful seasons, they’ve always had a go-to guy. This year no one knows who that guy is going to be.

Will it be Aaron Wheeler? Is he going to be able to take that next step and take charge? Will Eric Hunter Jr live up to his sharpshooting potential? Then there’s graduate transfer Jahaad Proctor who through two games is the team’s leading scorer. It’ll be interesting to see who the ball goes to in big moments and who leads the team when times inevitably get tough. 

Who has the grit?

Another characteristic of all great Purdue teams is a grit guy. The guy who isn’t afraid to get on the floor after loose balls, box out anyone, and out-hustle your team’s star. Last year that was Grady Eifert. Eifert was all hustle, grit, and determination. If you needed a rebound, he got it. If you needed a big stop, he did it. Eifert was the embodiment of a Boilermaker and his presence will be missed. Who is going to be that guy? It needs to be Nojel Eastern.

Eastern established himself as one of the best defenders in the country last year. He’s a point guard in a power forwards body. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to do everything Grady Eifert did and then some. If this year’s Boilermaker team is going to make a run at anything, they’ll need Eastern to be their heartbeat. 

Where’s the beef?

Yes Matt Haarms is 7’2″ and Trevion Williams is 6’9″ 270 pounds but they’re not the bigs Purdue has had in the past. Haarms has seen success over the past two seasons but he’s not built like past star centers. He’s no Issac Haas, Caleb Swanigan, or even AJ Hammons. His development and ability to hold his ground in the post will play a major role in the team’s success.

Williams is something to be excited about. At times last year, he looked like Caleb Swanigan junior with the way to handled himself in the post and racked up double-doubles with ease. If he is able to take a jump from his freshman season to his sophomore campaign then the Big Ten will have another dangerous Boilermaker big man on their hands.

Never doubt Matt Painter

Matt Painter has been doubted every year post Robbie Hummel and continues to prove the doubters wrong. He continues to do more with less than any other coach in the country and that’s why he’s one of the nations best. Although this year’s roster looks average at best you can never underestimate Coach Painter. It’ll be interesting to see what the Boilers are able to do as they move forward without superstar Carsen Edwards.