By Mitchell Rans
Sports Capital Journalism Program
INDIANAPOLIS – In the month of March when a season’s worth of preparation can help extend a season, the Purdue Boilermakers revealed another important part of their success.
The USC Trojans held Purdue’s Braden Smith, the Big Ten Player of the Year, to nine points in their only regular-season meeting. USC held Smith to 12, on 3-for-10 shooting, in the second round of the Big Ten men’s basketball tournament on Thursday night. Even with Trey Kaufman-Renn’s 30 points, third-highest for a Purdue player in Big Ten tournament history, the Boilermakers needed more.
Which is why Purdue’s 76-71 victory led to so much conversation about Camden Heide and Myles Colvin.
Heide, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, scored nine points on three 3-point shots and had 11 rebounds. Colvin, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, scored eight points with five rebounds.
In the first half when the Boilers were trailing 27-17, Heide hit two 3-point shots to help cut into the lead. Colvin also hit a 3-pointer and had an offensive rebound putback. Heide and Colvin combined to score 11 of Purdue’s last 17 points of the half and stepped up with Kaufman-Renn in foul trouble and the Trojans guarding Smith hard.
Purdue (22-10) moves on to play the Michigan Wolverines in a quarterfinal game Friday night.
The Boilers and Wolverines split their two games this year with each team winning on its home court.
Heide’s contribution became an important part of Purdue’s success. “Once we got down 10, we picked it up from there, and he was a big part of that,” said Purdue coach Matt Painter. “He was getting 50-50 balls, he was getting tap-backs.”
Heide was productive for the Boilers in the second half as well. With Purdue ahead 73-71 in the final half minute, Heide had two rebounds within a span of 14 seconds. The second, a defensive rebound following Desmond Claude’s missed shot, led to a Kaufman-Renn foul shot.
Kaufman-Renn spoke about the spark that Heide brought off the bench. “To have somebody really step it up, give us it all, defend and rebound, that’s what we need,” he said. “So we’re going to need him to continue doing that. We’ve got to get other guys too, me included, getting better energy to start the game.”
Purdue junior Fletcher Loyer would finish with 14 points along with three 3-pointers. Smith would also pick up nine assists to go along with his 12 points.
The Trojans (16-17) were led by Claude, who finished with 18 points, Wesley Yates III scored 13 points with seven rebounds. Rashaun Agee and Matt Knowling had 11 points for the Trojans.
The difference, at a decisive time of the season, was Heide’s contribution. “Cam was great,” Painter said. “He can keep shooting 100 percent from 3 and getting 11 rebounds. I think we’re going to benefit from it.”
