Who will be Purdue basketball’s starting lineup? Matt Painter announces first 5 before Kentucky game

WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue men’s basketball starting lineup is set for Fridays exhibition opener at Kentucky.

Whether this will be the Boilermakers’ long-term setup or merely the first attempt in a process to find the best fit remains to be seen.

C.J. Cox will be the starting shooting guard against the Wildcats. He joins 4-year starters Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer in the backcourt, veteran big man Trey Kaufman-Renn at the 4 and South Dakota State transfer Oscar Cluff at center.

Gicarri Harris, Omer Mayer and Antoine West Jr. were the other guards contending for a starting role.

Purdue notably used one starting lineup the entirety of its run to the NCAA championship game in 2023-24. Smith, Loyer and Lance Jones started in the backcourt. Zach Edey and Kaufman-Renn started down low. 

Last season, Painter shifted the starting lineup several times. By the end of the season, Cox was starting in the backcourt alongside Smith and Loyer. Harris opened the season as the starter.

This story will be updated.

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