Purdue Basketball Second Among High-Major Programs in Returning Minutes for 2021-22
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue basketball program is projected to be among the best in the country during the 2021-22 season, mostly due to the number of last year's starters returning to the team.
According to Barttorvick.com, the Boilermakers are returning 91.3% of their minutes this upcoming season, which ranks second among all high-major programs in the country.
Purdue and Butler are the only two high-major programs returning more than 90% of last year's minutes. Ohio State ranked second in the Big Ten Conference and eighth among high-major teams by returning 78.9% of its minutes.
The percentage assumes that center Trevion Williams returns to the team in favor of pursuing professional opportunities. Williams announced on April 12 he would declare for the NBA Draft but will retain his collegiate eligibility with Purdue.
In the 2020-21 season, Williams played in all 28 games for the Boilermakers and averaged 25.2 minutes per game. Only guards Eric Hunter (30.5) and Sasha Stefanovic (29.3) averaged more minutes per game.
So far, the Boilermakers have lost just two members of last year's roster, both via the transfer portal. Forward Aaron Wheeler will spend his next collegiate season at St. John's after four years with the program, and center Emmanuel Dowuona committed to Tennessee State.
Wheeler appeared in all 28 games for Purdue last season and contributed 18.3 minutes per game. Dowuona did not play due to injury.
Purdue Basketball Minutes in 2020-21
| Player | Games | Games Started | Total Minutes | Minutes Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Eric Hunter Jr., Guard | 24 | 23 | 733 | 30.5 |
Sasha Stefanovic, Guard | 25 | 21 | 732 | 29.3 |
Trevion Williams, Forward | 28 | 26 | 705 | 25.2 |
Brandon Newman, Guard | 28 | 23 | 666 | 23.8 |
Mason Gillis, Forward | 28 | 23 | 621 | 22.2 |
Jaden Ivey, Guard | 23 | 12 | 557 | 24.2 |
Aaron Wheeler, Forward | 28 | 5 | 512 | 18.3 |
Isaiah Thompson, Guard | 28 | 5 | 499 | 17.8 |
Zach Edey, Center | 28 | 2 | 410 | 14.6 |
Ethan Morton, Guard | 23 | 0 | 198 | 8.6 |
Matt Frost, Forward | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2.5 |
Jared Wulbrun, Guard | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2.5 |
Chase Martin, Guard | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2.5 |
Carson Barrett, Guard | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2.0 |
Top-10 High-Major Programs in Returning Minutes
- Butler — 94.1%
- Purdue — 91.3%
- Tulane — 87.5%
- UCF — 83.0%
- Xavier — 81.1%
- Notre Dame — 79.7%
- UCLA — 79.5%
- Ohio State — 78.9%
- Connecticut — 78.6%
- Washington State — 77.7%
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