5 Important Questions for Purdue Basketball and Matt Painter at Big Ten Media Days

College basketball is officially around the corner, with Big Ten Men’s Basketball Media Day set for Oct. 8 in Rosemont, Illinois.

Matt Painter will have plenty to address this offseason with a young team and a lot of new faces. Will this team be as competitive as what we’ve seen from Purdue in years past? It won’t take long to find out.

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Here are the biggest questions I have for Painter at Big Ten Media Days.

Has Daniel Jacobsen made the jump?

Purdue center Daniel Jacobsen (12) makes a move on Wisconsin forward Nolan Winter (31) during the first half of their game Saturday, January 3, 2026 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

In my opinion, the biggest individual factor in Purdue’s success this season will be the play of Daniel Jacobsen. Last year, he flashed plenty of potential but simply wasn’t physical or ready enough to consistently compete in the Big Ten. He finished the season averaging 5.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.

Without Oscar Cluff or another established big man alongside him, it’s largely going to be Jacobsen’s show this season. That means he has to become more competitive, not just on the boards, but also with his footwork and overall approach in the paint.

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Has Jacobsen made the necessary jump this offseason? I suppose only time will tell.

Can this frontcourt rebound well enough?

Dec 21, 2024; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Princeton Tigers forward Caden Pierce (3) looks to pass while being defended by Rutgers Scarlet Knights center Zach Martini (99) during the second half at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Tom Horak-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Building off the point about Jacobsen, there’s no doubt the biggest concern with this team is the frontcourt and its ability to rebound.

Fortunately for Purdue, the Boilermakers received some help with the addition of newly cleared big man Enzo Shahrvin. But will the Frenchman provide enough to help Purdue compete on the…

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Publish date : 2026-10-07 14:17:00

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