“We have a young group. We signed six freshmen.” Purdue head coach Matt Painter remarked earlier this year. As the new NCAA basketball season approaches, expectations naturally soar for last year’s runner-ups. After all, last season was a historic one for both the team and its fans, marking their first trip to the championship game in 55 years. However, this time they will step out with one major outflux from their squad, their star player, Zach Edey. But unheeded by that fact, Painter’s young folks sound all loaded to embrace the challenge ahead.

Recently, Boilermakers guard duo Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer sat down with NBC Sports for an interview in anticipation of their upcoming season, which kicks off its regular season on November 4 against Texas. While the discussion covered various topics, the interviewer started by asking how their gameplay would change now that Zach Edey has moved on to the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. Well, both of them, who are ready to enter their junior year with Purdue, were swift to respond.

Fletcher Loyer kicked off his response by highlighting the importance of having a point guard on the floor, likely nodding toward his teammate Smith. He emphasized having an unselfish point guard who can distribute the ball and shoot effectively as being bonus for the team. Loyer also praised the coaching staff for their offensive strategies, saying “I think with the offense we run and PJ and Coach paint collaborating together, it’s a lot of special things and it’s going to be a lot of, a lot of room for our skill to show.”

While Loyer focused on Purdue’s current strengths in the absence of Edey, Smith offered a fresh perspective on how the departure of last year’s NCAA top scorer could create opportunities for others to step into the spotlight. “I think it just opens up so many more um, opportunities, and then I’m surrounded by a lot of shooters. I think everybody can shoot. So that obviously helps as well,” mentioned Smith via NBC Sports.

Smith’s confidence is well-founded, as even with Edey’s departure, Purdue still boasts four players who shot over 30% from three-point range last season, including stars like Smith and Loyer. But Loyer also highlighted another player who could step into a more significant role following Edey’s exit.

Who will shine for Purdue Boilermakers amid Zach Edey’s departure?

“Yeah, I think it just spreads the floor. Um, I think, gives a lot of other people opportunity like TK,” Smith shared, referring to his fellow junior teammate, Trey Kaufman-Renn. Although Kaufman-Renn averaged just 6.4 points last season, he played a crucial role by starting all 39 games for Purdue. However, his contributions often went under the radar, overshadowed by Zach Edey’s remarkable scoring talent.

But Smith’s further revelation on how TK even used to dominate Edey and scored on him hints that he has got the potential to prove his worth this year. After all, Kaufman-Renn is himself ready for the challenge. “It means everything, to be honest with you. I’ve waited so long for this. I’ve put in a lot of work for this, so I’m just excited. I don’t want to waste it, for sure,” told TK Indy Star last month.

If Smith’s words aren’t enough to highlight Kaufman-Renn’s readiness, Boilermakers head coach, Matt Painter, added his own endorsement. Painter confidently stated that it would be surprising if TK didn’t make the All-Big Ten list, which honors the top players in the conference.

While Kaufman-Renn will have a significant role to play, he won’t be shouldering the entire burden alone. He’ll have the support of teammates Smith and Loyer, who were among the top five scorers on the team last year. With less than a month until Purdue’s NCAA campaign kicks off, all eyes will be on whether Coach Matt Painter’s youngsters. Will they fire it all or the absence of Zach Edey will reveal that the team was overly reliant on a single star?