Tag / Braden Smith

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Rolling To The League

For the first time since 2011, Purdue had two players selected in the NBA draft.  Braden Smith, the all-time NCAA assists leader, was selected as the 38th overall pick by the Bulls but was quickly traded to the Pacers.  With the 59th, and penultimate, pick, the Timberwolves selected Trey Kaufman-Renn.  Smith and Kaufman-Renn led Purdue to the national title game in 2024, the Sweet Sixteen in 2025, and the Elite Eight this past March.

Smith broke the Big Ten assists record in January before taking over the all-time NCAA record during the NCAA Tournament.  He finished his Purdue career with 1,932 points and 1,103 assists, averaging 13.0 and 7.4 per game, respectively.  Kaufman-Renn finished his career with 1,655 points, averaging 11.3 over his 147 career games.

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Standing Alone Atop The Mountain

On November 8, 2022, about eight minutes into his first game as a freshman, Braden Smith passed the ball to Trey Kaufman-Renn, who scored and gave Smith his first career assist.  Last night, about eight minutes into the first game of the NCAA Tournament as a senior, Braden Smith passed the ball to Trey Kaufman-Renn, who scored and gave Smith his record-breaking 1,077th career assist.  The play moved Smith past Duke’s Bobby Hurley for the NCAA’s career assists record; one Hurley had held since 1993.  Smith finished the game with eight assists, giving him 1,083 for his career.  He will attempt to add on to that total tomorrow as Purdue takes on Miami in the round of 32.

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Braden Watch

With eleven assists in yesterday’s Big Ten Tournament championship clincher over Michigan, Braden Smith now sits just one assist behind Duke’s Bobby Hurley for the NCAA’s career assists record.  Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Smith should break the record early in Purdue’s first round matchup against Queens in the NCAA Tournament.

1,076 – Bobby Hurley
1,075 – Braden Smith

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Braden Watch

Braden Smith moved closer to capturing the NCAA’s career assists record, adding another 9 in yesterday’s victory over UCLA in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament.  Smith is now just 12 assists away from tying Duke’s Bobby Hurley’s record of 1,076.  At his current pace of 9 assists per game, Smith would need Purdue to play just two more games between the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament in order to best Hurley, and both of those games are now guaranteed.

1,076 – Bobby Hurley
1,064 – Braden Smith

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Braden Watch

Braden Smith moved closer to capturing the NCAA’s career assists record, adding 10 in yesterday’s victory over Nebraska in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.  Smith is now just 21 assists away from tying Duke’s Bobby Hurley’s record of 1,076.  At his current pace of 9 assists per game, Smith would need Purdue to play three more games between the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament in order to best Hurley, with two of those games now guaranteed.

1,076 – Bobby Hurley
1,055 – Braden Smith

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Braden Watch

Tying his career high with 16 assists in yesterday’s victory over Northwestern in the third round of the Big Ten Tournament, Braden Smith has surpassed both Ed Cota and Chris Corchiani and now sits in second place on the NCAA’s career assists chart.  Smith is now just 31 assists away from tying Duke’s Bobby Hurley’s record of 1,076.  At his current pace of 8.9 assists per game, Smith would need Purdue to play four more games between the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament in order to best Hurley.  Suddenly, with two of those games guaranteed, this once again feels possible.

1,076 – Bobby Hurley
1,045 – Braden Smith

 

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Braden Watch

Braden Smith finished Big Ten Conference play with nine assists in Saturday’s loss to Wisconsin, keeping him in fourth place on the NCAA’s career assists chart.  Smith is now just one assists away from tying North Carolina’s Ed Cota for third place and 47 away from Bobby Hurley’s record of 1076 as we head into the Big Ten Tournament.  At his current pace of 8.7 assists per game, Smith would need Purdue to play at six games between the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament in order to best Hurley.  With the way they have been playing, that does not seem likely.

1,076 – Bobby Hurley
1,038 – Chris Corchiani
1,030 – Ed Cota
1,029 – Braden Smith

Smith ends his career with 585 assists in Big Ten Conference games, extending his record by 107 assists over Cassius Winston.  Purdue makes their first appearance in the Big Ten Conference Tournament on Thursday.

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Second To None

A disappointing senior day loss to Wisconsin yesterday did have one bright spot for Fletcher Loyer.  Making six three-pointers, he surpassed Carsen Edwards to become Purdue’s all-time leader in career three-pointers made with 282.  He also became the all-time leader in career three-pointers made at Mackey Arena with 148, passing David Teague’s 146.

Finishing with 23 points, Loyer ended the game with 1,704 career points, moving him moving into fifteenth place on the Purdue’s all-time scoring list.  Loyer and Braden Smith also played in their 141st career game, tying Dakota Mathias for the most games played in Purdue history.

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Braden Watch

With nine assists in yesterday’s victory over Northwestern, Braden Smith remains in fourth place on the NCAA’s career assists chart.  With just one regular season game remaining, Smith is now ten assists away from tying North Carolina’s Ed Cota for third place and 54 away from Bobby Hurley’s record of 1076.  At his current pace of 8.7 assists per game, Smith would need over six more games to reach Hurley, meaning Purdue would need to play at least five games between the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.

1,076 – Bobby Hurley
1,038 – Chris Corchiani
1,030 – Ed Cota
1,020 – Braden Smith

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Braden Watch

With seven assists in yesterday’s loss to Ohio State, Braden Smith has surpassed Jason Brickman and sits in fourth place on the NCAA’s career assists chart.  With two regular season games remaining, Smith is now 19 assists away from tying North Carolina’s Ed Cota for third place and 65 away from Bobby Hurley’s record of 1076.  At his current pace of 8.7 assists per game, Smith would need a nearly seven and a half more games to reach Hurley, meaning Purdue would need to play at least five games between the Big Ten Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.

1,076 – Bobby Hurley
1,038 – Chris Corchiani
1,030 – Ed Cota
1,011 – Braden Smith