Purdue is going small with new starting lineup

Matt Painter has made a change to his starting lineup five games into the season. This is now the third iteration of a starting lineup in the early part of the season as Purdue prepares to host Marshall on Saturday afternoon. Daniel Jacobsen was the Painters’ opening day starting center, but the true freshman suffered a leg injury that will likely keep him out for the rest of the season.

That moved sophomore Will Berg into the starting lineup at the five, but despite the 4-1 record to start the season, the play of Purdue’s big men has been uneven.

Coming off a double-digit loss to Marquette on the road, Painter intends to start the game small and make two changes to his starting lineup. Out is Will Berg, which allows Trey Kaufman-Renn to slide over and play the five spot. TKR has said all summer that he prefers to play at the five as the primary big to give him room in the middle.

Berg will not be replaced by a traditional big. Instead, wing and forward Camden Heide will make his first career start as a redshirt sophomore.

Another change, Painter has taken true freshman Gicarri Harris out of the lineup in favor of Myles Colvin. Colvin, a true sophomore, will make his first career start. Colvin has earned this playing time with his expanded defensive focus to start the season. He has become a trusted stopper off the bench as well as one of Purdue’s best shot makers.

This small ball formation has been hinted at in the summer and has been on display in the final minutes during the start of the season. With Jacobsen out and Purdue not having a traditional rim protector on the roster, Painter will likely have to stick more with those offensive lineups unless a big step up to play alongside TKR.

Purdue is set to tip off at noon against Marshall today.