If you read Gabi’s Tuesday homework article on Fletcher Loyer, this may seem like a bit of déjà vu. Braden Smith, alongside Fletcher Loyer, came to Purdue and started as a true freshman, something that doesn’t occur regularly in Matt Painter’s system. It took Braden Smith 3 games to set the tone, scoring 20 points on just 8 shots against Marquette. 2 games later against #6 Gonzaga, Smith put up 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists in the Phil Knight Legacy Tournament. This tournament put Purdue on notice so that the spotlight was shining on the Boilermakers and Braden Smith was shining back.
Off-Season Basketball Homework: Braden Smith
