Big Ten Rivals Suit Up as Teammates at PIT

Purdue's Trey Kaufman-Renn and Michigan's Nimari Burnett compete together at prestigious Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:36am

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A cubist-style painting depicting the overlapping, geometric forms of two basketball players in motion, representing the collaboration of former college rivals on the court.Former Big Ten foes Trey Kaufman-Renn and Nimari Burnett put aside their rivalry to showcase their skills as teammates at the prestigious Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.Norfolk Today

Trey Kaufman-Renn of Purdue and Nimari Burnett of Michigan, who were Big Ten rivals during the college basketball season, are now teammates playing for the Norfolk Sports Club team at the prestigious Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT). The two standouts are looking to impress NBA scouts and take the next step in their professional careers after memorable NCAA Tournament runs.

Why it matters

The PIT is a highly scouted pre-draft event that gives top college seniors a chance to showcase their skills in front of NBA teams. For Kaufman-Renn and Burnett, it's an opportunity to put aside their Big Ten rivalry and prove they can excel as teammates, which could boost their draft stock.

The details

Kaufman-Renn and Burnett are both coming off strong NCAA Tournament performances. Kaufman-Renn hit a game-winning tip-in to power Purdue past Texas in the Sweet 16, while Burnett helped lead Michigan to the national championship. Now, the two are adjusting to being teammates rather than rivals as they compete in the PIT in front of NBA scouts.

  • Kaufman-Renn and Burnett just wrapped up their college seasons a few weeks ago.
  • The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament is taking place this weekend (April 18-20, 2026).

The players

Trey Kaufman-Renn

A star forward who led Purdue to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Nimari Burnett

A standout guard who helped Michigan win the national championship less than two weeks ago.

Norfolk Sports Club

The team that Kaufman-Renn and Burnett are playing for at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“So many feelings you have with your team at Purdue. I took about four days off then went right back into the gym to prepare for this, so it's kind of been go, go, go.”

— Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue Forward

“It's been insane, I'm sure you can imagine. Just from packing to celebrating to doing more packing and more celebrating, it's been amazing. But I'm happy to be here and competing with the best seniors in the country.”

— Nimari Burnett, Michigan Guard

What’s next

The final day of the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament tips off on Saturday, April 20, 2026 at 12:30 p.m. local time.

The takeaway

The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament provides a unique opportunity for top college basketball seniors like Trey Kaufman-Renn and Nimari Burnett to put aside their Big Ten rivalry and showcase their skills as teammates in front of NBA scouts, potentially boosting their professional prospects.