Purdue’s Braden Smith totes a new superlative heading into Wednesday night’s Big Ten game against Washington in West Lafayette, Ind.
The senior point guard for the fifth-ranked Boilermakers is just a few days removed from becoming the Big Ten leader in career assists.
Smith had 12 during an 89-73 victory at Wisconsin on Saturday to reach 893 for his career. That’s three more assists than Cassius Winston totaled at Michigan State from 2016-20.
To Smith, the record is “something cool to see and be a part of,” though he’d rather move past it in the same manner he has Winston.
“At the end of the day, I’m here for something bigger than that,” Smith said, “and that’s to win a national championship. That’s really our main focus.”
Depth and balance are among the team’s prominent calling cards as Purdue (13-1, 3-0) prepares for a potential title run. Four Boilermakers average in double figures in scoring: Fletcher Loyer (14.4 points a game), Trey Kaufman-Renn (13.8), Smith (12.6) and Oscar Cluff (11.4).
To coach Matt Painter, Smith’s skill and vision propel not only his individual accolades but the overall success of the Boilermakers, who have won five games in a row.
“If you’re out there by yourself and you don’t pass and you’re with a bunch of (players) that can’t shoot … you’re not going to get that record,” Painter said. “So it’s a great individual record, but it’s also a great team record.”
Washington (9-5, 1-2) will aim to salvage a split of a two-game conference road trip and even its record in conference play.
Games at Indiana and Purdue over a four-day span mark the first of three similar conference road trips. Washington coach Danny Sprinkle acknowledged after Sunday’s 90-80 loss at Indiana that the cross-country travel can present a challenge.
“Any time you’re playing in an environment like this, it brings energy, you know. Our guys are never tired once you show up to these Big Ten arenas,” he said. “But it is a long time being away from home.”
While the Huskies led the Hoosiers by as many as five points early in Sunday’s game, they struggled to maintain the pace. Washington slumped to 28.6% shooting from long range and trailed by 15 in the second half.
Quimari Peterson drilled three treys in the first half en route to 13 points. He was one of five Huskies to score in double figures.
“Being aggressive. We need him to hunt those threes. … That’s what he does,” Sprinkle said. “He can really shoot the basketball, and I thought he did a really good job of dribble penetrating, too.”
However, Washington went just 1-for-7 from beyond the arc after halftime.
Freshman forward Hannes Steinbach continues to be a force. He contributed 20 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth successive double-double and his ninth this season.
In the first meeting between the schools as Big Ten programs, the then-No. 17 Boilermakers defeated the host Huskies 69-58 last Jan. 15.
