**West Lafayette Report : Former Purdue Head Coach Highlights Three Major Adjustments the Boilermakers Must Make This Season — And How to Do It**

**West Lafayette Report : Former Purdue Head Coach Highlights Three Major Adjustments the Boilermakers Must Make This Season — And How to Do It**

As Purdue gears up for another high-stakes college basketball season, a familiar voice from the program’s past has spoken up. A former Purdue head coach, who requested to remain unnamed but remains closely connected to the program, recently shared his insights on what the Boilermakers must fix to finally break through and win a national championship. In an exclusive conversation, he pointed to **three critical areas** Purdue needs to address — and laid out a blueprint for how they can make it happen.

### 1. **Handle Defensive Pressure Better in Big Moments**

The coach was blunt about one of Purdue’s recurring issues: struggling under high-intensity defensive pressure, especially in the NCAA Tournament. In recent years, Purdue has often fallen victim to teams that press hard, trap, or play chaotic, fast-paced defense. This disrupts their half-court sets and often forces turnovers or rushed shots.

**How to fix it:**
“Purdue needs to diversify their offense late in games. You can’t rely solely on post touches when the pressure ramps up,” the coach said. He recommended incorporating more high ball screens, quicker guard actions, and spacing strategies to give the ball-handlers more options. That means giving more freedom to the guards and working on late-game decision-making in practice — not just plays, but principles.

### 2. **Develop a Killer Instinct Against Lower Seeds**

Another area that came under fire: Purdue’s inability to put away teams they’re “supposed” to beat. Upsets in March Madness — including their shocking loss to a 16-seed — have haunted the program.

**How to fix it:**
“That’s a mindset issue as much as anything else,” the coach said. “You have to build that edge all season. Purdue should play like every game is the Final Four.” He advised building deeper player rotations during the regular season to keep legs fresh in March and running more competitive intra-squad scrimmages to simulate tournament pressure.

### 3. **More Perimeter Scoring Options**

While Purdue has consistently had dominant big men, there’s often been a lack of consistent perimeter scoring — particularly in high-pressure moments. When opposing teams collapse on the post, Purdue sometimes lacks shooters who can consistently make defenses pay.

**How to fix it:**
The coach emphasized the importance of developing multiple threats on the wing. “You can’t win in March if you’re not dangerous from outside,” he said. That means putting time into not only recruiting perimeter shooters but also giving returning players the green light to shoot and building confidence throughout the year. The arrival of a top transfer guard this season could help solve this, but he stressed the need for **at least three perimeter threats** on the floor at once.

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In closing, the former coach said Purdue isn’t far from winning it all. “They’ve got the size, the coaching, the fans — everything’s there. But championship teams adjust, grow, and finish games strong. That’s what Purdue has to prove this year.”

With high expectations yet again, the Boilermakers must take these hard truths seriously if they hope to avoid another early exit and finally hang that elusive national championship banner.