INDIANAPOLIS — Purdue basketball’s addition of Oscar Cluff directly addresses one of coach Matt Painter’s top priorities in the wake of a season-ending Sweet 16 loss to Houston.
Standing outside the Boilermakers’ locker room inside Lucas Oil Stadium, Painter said his team was not physical enough, and placed blame for that deficiency on himself. Enter Cluff, a 6-foot-10, 260-pound Australian who became one of the most coveted players in the portal as soon as he entered from South Dakota State.
Cluff announced his commitment to the Boilermakers on Monday via social media.
Cluff took an official visit to West Lafayette over the weekend. He was originally scheduled to also visit Iowa State this week, but the Cyclones received a commitment from another big man, Blake Buchanan.
Cluff averaged 17.6 points, 12.3 rebounds and 0.8 blocks for the Jackrabbits in his second season. He has one season of eligibility remaining after beginning his career at Cochise College, a junior college program in Douglas, Ariz., and playing one season at Washington State.
His 22 double-doubles ranked among the nation's leaders, and he posted a 20-point, 15-rebound game or better six times. He opened the Summit League season with a 30-point, 19-rebound game against Denver. Perhaps more notably, he collected 21 points, 15 rebounds, two assists and a block in 24 minutes at Elite Eight team Alabama in late December.
Cluff also made 4 of 6 3-pointers, but played most of the season as a conventional center.
Cluff’s announcement came one day after Purdue third-year big man Will Berg entered his name in the portal. Regardless of that move, Painter was expected to add help to an already intriguing frontcourt situation.
Trey Kaufman-Renn blossomed into a first team All-Big Ten player this past season. Daniel Jacobsen, a 7-4 freshman expected to start at center, instead broke a leg bone two games in and missed the rest of the season. Another freshman Raleigh Burgess, played in 31 games off the bench and can help as either a big forward or center.
Cluff was a first team All-Summit League selection, as well as the conference’s Newcomer of the Year and a member of the all-defensive team.
Purdue notably took only two ...
