Countdown to Purdue Basketball: Fletcher Loyer

Prepare for an extraordinary season as Loyer, the standout freshman, gears up to dominate the starting lineup for the Boilers.

• By
  
  JedWilkinson
  
• on November 4, 2023 10:00 am

Purdue Boilermaker Basketball is just 2 days away from their official start, which means we have the opportunity to reflect on one of last season’s most impressive freshman players, Fletcher Loyer.

Loyer surprised many with his remarkable three-point shooting and his ability to create scoring opportunities off the dribble. These skills are not easy to develop, especially for a freshman who was not highly ranked. However, this bodes well for his future development and Purdue’s hopes for a deep NCAA Tournament run in March.

Last season, Loyer averaged 11 points, 2.4 assists, and only 1.2 turnovers in nearly 29 minutes per game. Purdue expects this level of production to become the norm for Loyer throughout his career. However, with the emergence of Braden Smith as a primary scoring option this season, along with reliable players in the shooting guard and small forward positions such as Myles Colvin, Lance Jones, Cam Heide, and Brian Waddell, Loyer may face competition for minutes and the role of primary scorer. Yet, this additional support could also relieve some of the pressure that affected him in the second half of last season.

Loyer faced a freshman slump last season, struggling with shooting and defense. In the first 18 games, Loyer shot an impressive 37% from behind the arc (43-115), but in the final 17 games, his shooting dropped to just 24% (16-66). These numbers indicate a potential lack of confidence in his jump shot. The hope is that Loyer can regain the confidence and scoring prowess he displayed in the first half of the season and maintain it throughout the entire year. This, coupled with a stronger reliance on his teammates, is expected to alleviate the burden on Loyer.

Loyer currently holds the starting position at shooting guard, but he faces competition from Lance Jones and Myles Colvin, both of whom possess scoring abilities and excel defensively due to their size and athleticism. Loyer’s advantage lies in his ability to catch and shoot off screens. However, if he struggles again or fails to overcome obstacles, Purdue has the necessary options this season to replace him in the starting lineup.

Up Next: #1 Caleb Furst

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