Will Purdue's Deep Bench Provide Braden Smith More Rest? Matt Painter's Honest Answer

That might be the case, but Painter is not going to put a limit on the number of minutes Smith is on the court. If he feels the senior guard needs some time off the floor, the breaks are more likely to come at Cardinal Court than at Mackey Arena.

"I've never thought at the end of the game that it was that big of a deal," Painter said. "Maybe the wear and tear throughout the season. But I just don't understand why four minutes of play is going to make a big difference. You know what I mean? If that's the case, then scale back your practice. You control that."

Smith never slowed down despite registering such high minutes. He finished his junior season averaging 15.8 points, 8.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game. The point guard played all but one minute in Purdue's five postseason games — two in the Big Ten Tournament and three in the NCAA Tournament.

The Boilermakers were a bucket away from defeating top-seeded Houston in the Sweet 16 and advancing to the Elite Eight. So, no, the minutes never seemed to bother Smith or hinder Purdue's success.

Why pull Smith off the floor if he continues to be productive?

Painter talks about Purdue's depth

Painter's philosophy on Smith isn't much different from what we've seen in the past. During the 2023-24 season, 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey averaged 32 minutes per game. He wanted the most dominant player in the game on the floor for as long as possible.

That was the case for Smith last season and will continue into the 2025-26 season.

Yes, Purdue's depth is an advantage this season, but having a deeper rotation doesn't automatically result in reduced playing time for a starter, especially one of Smith's caliber.

"If something happens, it really helps you — foul trouble, injuries, things of that nature," Painter told Inside College Basketball Now. "If you stay out of foul trouble, you don't have injuries, the thing people don't understand about rotations, you're playing your best players less if you play more people. You want to keep that in perspective."

How Purdue's rotation works will be interesting to watch. There are several players on the roster skilled enough to see several minutes every night. But don't be surprised if Smith's minutes mirror his average from last year.