Depth to Survive a Long Season — But After One Breakout Practice Performance That Had Coaches Talking

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN — For much of the offseason, the conversation around Purdue basketball has centered on one pressing question: Do the Boilermakers have enough depth to withstand the grind of a long Big Ten season and make a deep March run?

After all, while Purdue enters the 2025-26 campaign with returning National Player of the Year Zach Edey now in the NBA and a strong core intact, questions lingered about who could step up beyond the usual names. Who’s next? Who’s ready? Who can make the leap?

Well, as of this week, the murmurs around the program suggest that at least one of those questions might finally have an answer.

According to multiple practice sources, a breakout performance by redshirt freshman guard Myles Colvin during a recent scrimmage has completely shifted the tone around Purdue’s bench depth — and possibly the season’s trajectory.

A Practice That Turned Heads

By all accounts, Colvin’s showing wasn’t just good — it was dominant. The 6’5″ athletic wing, who redshirted last season to develop his body and polish his game, reportedly torched the first-team defense for over 25 points in a scrimmage last week, displaying an explosive first step, confident shooting stroke, and aggressive finishes in transition.

“He looked like he was playing at a different speed,” one Purdue assistant coach said. “Not just physically, but mentally. It was like a light switch flipped.”

One teammate described the performance as “jaw-dropping,” adding: “He was hitting shots we didn’t even know he had. And the crazy part is, he did it against the starters.”

Another assistant reportedly told a scout, “If that version of Myles shows up in games, we just became a completely different team.”

From Question Mark to Potential X-Factor

Colvin came into Purdue as a high-upside recruit — raw but full of potential. With Edey dominating the paint and Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer, and Lance Jones commanding minutes in the backcourt last year, there was simply no rush to throw Colvin into the fire. Coach Matt Painter opted to preserve a year of eligibility and let Colvin focus on skill development, strength, and understanding the system.

Now, that patience might be paying off — in a big way.

If Colvin can carry this level of performance into the exhibition slate and early non-conference games, he could become a key rotation piece — or more. And in a year where Purdue is recalibrating after Edey’s departure, any unexpected breakout could mean the difference between a Sweet 16 and something much more.

Depth Concerns Were Justified — Until Now

Prior to this breakout, depth had been a major concern. With some veterans moving on, including the program-defining presence of Edey, much of Purdue’s national projection hinged on whether enough players could elevate their roles.

Questions included:

• Could Trey Kaufman-Renn take the leap as a featured frontcourt piece?

• Would Camden Heide develop into a reliable wing defender and shooter?

• Could freshmen or redshirt players bring meaningful contributions?

And perhaps most crucially: Would Purdue’s bench be able to provide reliable production in hostile environments and tournament pressure?

If Colvin continues to perform, he may answer that final question emphatically — and make Purdue’s rotation far more dangerous than initially assumed.

A Boost to Painter’s System

Coach Matt Painter is known for his structured, methodical system: sharp ball movement, disciplined spacing, and smart defensive rotations. But even his best teams have benefited from the occasional wildcard — that player who brings something a little unpredictable to the floor.

That’s exactly what Colvin could be.

He’s longer and more athletic than most guards on the roster, and if he can hit open threes and defend multiple positions, his ceiling is enormous. In other words, he’s the kind of player Painter doesn’t always have in abundance — and that could be a nightmare for opposing teams that game-plan for Purdue’s traditional offense.

“Painter doesn’t give minutes away,” said a Big Ten assistant familiar with Purdue’s program. “If a guy like Colvin starts seeing the floor consistently, it means he’s earned it. And that should scare the rest of the league.”

What It Means Moving Forward

Purdue fans should temper expectations — for now. One practice performance doesn’t guarantee in-game success. The jump from practice standout to game-night producer is a steep one, especially in the physical, grind-it-out world of Big Ten basketball.

But it’s hard to ignore the buzz coming out of West Lafayette this week.

Colvin isn’t alone, either. Other young players — including freshman big man Daniel Jacobsen and sophomore guard Will Berg — have reportedly had solid offseasons. Still, it’s Colvin’s name that’s generating the most conversation among those close to the team.

With a few exhibition games approaching and the regular season not far behind, all eyes will be on how Matt Painter manages this sudden injection of talent and energy.

One thing is clear: If Purdue’s biggest concern was depth, this week offered a very reassuring answer.

And if Myles Colvin’s emergence is real, the Boilermakers may once again find themselves in the thick of the national conversation — not just because of who they’ve been, but because of who’s stepping up now.