Ready to be excited? Good, because there is a lot to be stoked about when it comes to Purdue hoops.
The program is enjoying a nice run of success of late. The Boilers are coming off a school single-season record 30-win season, making the NCAA tourney each of the past four seasons and the Sweet 16 each of the last two with a Big Ten title in 2016-17 and trip to the league tourney title game last season.
And the good times figure to roll on this winter inside Mackey Arena. With Purdue tipping things off on Thursday at home vs. Marian University, here are nine reasons to be excited about the 2018-19 season in West Lafayette. Buckle up and let's have some fun!
1. Everybody's All-American.His name is Carsen. Carsen Edwards. And the junior is hailed by some as the nation's best player after testing the NBA draft waters last spring. The 6-1 Edwards flashed his dizzying array of skills last season, averaging 18.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists en route to earning second-team All-American honors while winning the Jerry West Award given to the nation's top shooting guard. Enjoy him while you can. This is one of the most special talents to matriculate through WL in years.
2. The new "kid."Some compare Evan Boudreaux's game to former Purdue great Brian Cardinal. (He already shares a hairline with him.) If that's the case, the Dartmouth transfer with a floor-diving style will quickly become a Mackey favorite. The 6-8 Boudreaux averaged 17.5 and 9.5 rebounds in his final season in the Ivy League before sitting out last season as a transfer. Best of all: Purdue will get the blue-collar Boudreaux. Maybe he can get some hair tips from Matt Haarms.
3. Hunger.Yes, Purdue's success in 13 seasons under Matt Painter is well-chronicled, winning two Big Ten regular-season titles (2010 and 2017) and one league tourney championship (2009) under the former Boiler guard. He also has 10 NCAA appearances in West Lafayette with four Sweet 16s. But the Boilermakers want more. Painter, too. He never has reached the Elite Eight. And the program hasn't reach the Final four since 1980.
4. Championship hair.Last season, fans got their first taste of the effervescent Matt Haarms, who has boundless energy and enthusiasm. And, the Mackey Maniacs loved it. The 7-3 Haarms' fist-pumping style incites foes and pumps up teammates, who feed off his mojo. If the sophomore develops a face-up game and 3-point shot to go along with his elite shot-swatting skills, look out. And then there's the hair, the oh-so-lovely coif that the oh-so-long Haarms is perpetually flipping. The most famous hair in West Lafayette needs its own fan club ... or Twitter account. Let's get this done.
5. Go-go style.With monolithic Isaac Haas gone, Purdue will be a quicker team that plays at fast pace. Yes, things could get hectic at times ... but they also could get exhilarating with players like Carsen Edwards, Nojel Eastern and freshman Eric Hunter pushing the pace. And don't be shocked to see redshirt freshman Aaron Wheeler impact. The lithe 6-9er can run the court and is an X-factor.
6. Bombs away!Yes, the team will miss the marksmanship of departure gunners Dakota Mathias, Vince Edwards and P.J. Thompson. But have no fear, Boiler fans: Purdue has some capable long-range shooters led by senior Ryan Cline. The silky Cline could be a wild card for the squad this season, playing an expanded role throwing down daggers from beyond the arc. And keep an eye on redshirt freshman Sasha Stefanovic, an Indiana native who has endless range from way downtown.
7. Team man.Let's hear if for Grady Eifert, the Swiss Army knife of this squad. Whatever the team needs on any given Tuesday night, the gritty and selfless senior can deliver ... defend, rebound, shoot, set picks, pass, hustle, broom the lane. Let's call him "Mr. Boilermaker."
8. The Mayor!His name, Tommy Luce. His role, fan favorite who sometimes gets in games, sometimes takes shots ... and sometimes makes them. Sorry, Carsen. But Luuuuuuuuuuuuuccccceeee may be the most popular player on this team.
9. Young and big.Freshmen big men Trevion Williams and Emmanuel Dowuona pass the eyeball test. The Boilers figure to need key minutes from one or both. Williams is a 6-9 mountain who needs to reshape his body. Dowuona is a ripped 6-11 prospect who is raw but drips with potential. It will be fun to watch them develop.