Purdue fans can breathe a sigh of relief regarding Braden Smith’s calf.
Matt Painter directed both Chad Young, his longtime trainer, and his graduate assistants to closely monitor Braden Smith’s condition before Saturday’s game. Purdue’s standout point guard had battled a calf injury in Friday’s victory over Michigan State. Understanding the importance of Smith’s health and with Purdue’s secure position as a No. 1 seed in the Midwest NCAA tournament, Painter was cautious not to risk exacerbating the injury into a long-term issue if Smith showed any signs of discomfort.
“I told them, ‘You need to be honest. If he’s favoring it or not at 100%, he shouldn’t play,’” Painter explained after Saturday’s game. “They assured me he was fine.”
Despite concerns, Smith played without apparent issues in Purdue’s Big Ten tournament semifinal loss to Wisconsin, logging 36 minutes before fouling out in overtime. While he faced foul trouble throughout, the injury did not hinder his performance.
“Nope,” Smith responded simply when asked about his calf. “I played today, so it feels good.”
Painter’s cautious approach likely reassured Purdue fans, given the team’s aspirations for a deep NCAA tournament run. Beyond Zach Edey’s record-setting performance, Smith remains pivotal as Purdue’s sophomore floor general, contributing both scoring and playmaking abilities while demonstrating toughness and resilience despite injury concerns.
