Purdue's Veteran Trio Leads Boilermakers to Home-State Final Four

Smith, Kaufman-Renn, and Loyer have been key to Purdue's deep NCAA Tournament run.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:40am

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Purdue's experienced trio of Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn, and Fletcher Loyer have been instrumental in leading the Boilermakers to the Final Four, which will be held in their home state of Indiana this year. The three players first joined Purdue together in 2023 and have steadily improved over the past few seasons, culminating in this deep NCAA Tournament run.

Why it matters

Purdue has long been one of the top basketball programs in the Big Ten, but has struggled to make it to the Final Four in recent years. This year's experienced squad, led by Smith, Kaufman-Renn, and Loyer, has the potential to break through and reach the national semifinals in front of a home crowd in Indiana.

The details

Smith, Kaufman-Renn, and Loyer first joined the Purdue program together in 2023 and have steadily improved over the past few seasons. This year, the trio has led the Boilermakers to a 32-5 record and a spot in the Final Four, which will be held in Indianapolis, just a few hours from Purdue's campus in West Lafayette. Smith, a senior point guard, has averaged 14.8 points and 5.9 assists per game, while Kaufman-Renn, a junior forward, has contributed 12.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest. Loyer, a sophomore guard, has provided a scoring punch off the bench, averaging 11.4 points per game.

  • Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn, and Fletcher Loyer first joined the Purdue program together in 2023.
  • This year, the 2025-26 season, Purdue has compiled a 32-5 record and reached the Final Four.

The players

Braden Smith

A senior point guard for Purdue, Smith has averaged 14.8 points and 5.9 assists per game this season.

Trey Kaufman-Renn

A junior forward for Purdue, Kaufman-Renn has contributed 12.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game this season.

Fletcher Loyer

A sophomore guard for Purdue, Loyer has provided a scoring punch off the bench, averaging 11.4 points per game.

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What they’re saying

“These three guys have been the heart and soul of our team for the past few years. Their leadership and experience have been invaluable in getting us to this point.”

— Matt Painter, Head Coach, Purdue University

What’s next

Purdue will face the winner of the other semifinal matchup in the Final Four in Indianapolis on April 5th, 2026.

The takeaway

Purdue's experienced trio of Smith, Kaufman-Renn, and Loyer have been the driving force behind the Boilermakers' deep NCAA Tournament run, and they will have the chance to compete for a national championship in their home state of Indiana.