Purdue basketball postgame vs Wisconsin Smith, Kaufman-Renn, Loyer
Hear what Purdue basketball seniors said postgame after a 97-93 loss to Wisconsin.
WEST LAFAYETTE − Braden Smith has joined an elite list of Purdue basketball players that hasn’t added company in the last 56 years.
The Boilermaker senior point guard was named first-team All-Big Ten on Tuesday.
It’s the third consecutive first-team honor for Smith, last year’s Big Ten Player of the Year.
Smith is the first Purdue player to earn first-team All-Big Ten recognition three times since Rick Mount (1968-70). Smith is the seventh Boiler with at least three first-team All-Big Ten recognitions in program history, joining also Dave Schellhase (1964-66), Terry Dischinger (1960-62), Paul Hoffman (1944-47), John Wooden (1930-32) and Charles “Stretch” Murphy (1928-30).
Smith was named first-team All-Big Ten by both media and coaches. He’s joined on both lists by Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg, Illinois’ Keaton Wagler and Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears. Nebraska’s Pryce Sandfort was a first-team selection by coaches and Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz was first-team by media.
On Monday, Smith was named one of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, which he won last season as the nation’s top point guard.
As a senior, Smith enters the postseason averaging 14.9 points, 8.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals. He averaged 16.5 points, 8.4 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals in conference games.
Currently the Big Ten’s all-time leader in assists, Smith’s 1,029 in his career are 48 shy of breaking the NCAA career record owned by former Duke guard Bobby Hurley.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
