WEST LAFAYETTE — Jack Benter sat at the podium of the Mackey Arena media room on Thursday, Nov. 5 and said there was no cause for concern with Purdue‘s recent 3-point shooting woes.
This on the eve of Purdue basketball’s home opener against Valparaiso.
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“I don’t really feel like it’s that big of an issue,” Benter said. “I feel like we’re all really good shooters and eventually they’re going to fall. Just keep confident and just keep taking the good shots.”
Through two exhibition games, Purdue shot better than 41% from 3-point range in a pair of wins.
Since, the Boilermakers made just 2 of 25 at UConn in the exhibition finale and 5 of 28 against Gonzaga at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, both unfamiliar backdrops.
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This was at Mackey Arena.
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Purdue freshman guard Luke Ertel attempts to guard Lance Jones during a halfcourt 5-on-5 session at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Purdue freshman guard Luke Ertel attempts to guard Lance Jones during a halfcourt 5-on-5 session at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
C.J. Cox defends with his hands held high at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Sinan Huan, left, Daniel Jacobsen, center and Jacob Webber wait on the sideline for their turn in a drill at Purdue’s practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Sinan Huan, right, hands off a pass to Luke Ertel during a live drill at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Purdue guard Antione West Jr. drives to the lane at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Gicarri Harris fights through contact to finish a layup at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Antione West Jr. battles down the lane as he heads toward the basket at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Raleigh Burgess flushes a dunk during practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Rivers Knight bodies against a scout team defender during a drill at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Antione West Jr. shoots over a scout team player at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Enzo Shahvrin throws a pass mid-air during a scrimmage at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Purdue senior forward Enzo Shahvrin eyes a pass during a drill at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Gicarri Harris drives past Jace Rayl on his way to the basket during practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Omer Mayer looks for a teammate to pass to during practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Purdue guard Luke Ertel fights through the hand of Lance Jones while moving cross-court during practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Enzo Shahrvin flushes a reverse dunk during practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Purdue center Daniel Jacobsen shoots a turnaround jumper over Sam King during practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Purdue freshman forward Rivers Knight looks to pass to a teammate during practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Daniel Jacobsen eyes down a dunk during practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Caden Pierce chats with Purdue assistant coach Paul Lusk before practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Where does Purdue basketball rank in preseason coaches poll?
Purdue men’s head basketball coach Matt Painter exits the huddle to lead off practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Purdue guard Jacob Webber puts up a shot during a drill in practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Caden Pierce shoots a jump shot at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Purdue freshman guard Luke Ertel finishes his section of a drill with a jumpshot at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Purdue freshman center Sinan Huan drive to the lane during practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Rivers Knight shoots a corner three during a drill at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Enzo Shahrvin puts up a jumper during practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Rivers Knight defends the post against a drive during a drill at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Jacob Webber gets instruction from Purdue assistant coach Brandon Brantley at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
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Photos from last Tuesday’s Purdue basketball open practice.
Gicarri Harris stops the drive of Jace Rayl at practice on July 21, 2026, in West Lafayette, IN.
(Photos/Elijah Greene)
No excuses. And Purdue shoots 17.9% from 3-point range. That’s 16.2% over the three straight losses (including the UConn exhibition) and 20.4% over two regular season games.
“It’s alarming because it’s not a game,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said after the Valpo loss. “Sometimes if you have a game like this shooting the basketball you can look at it as an outlier. Three games in a row not shooting 3s well.”
Evidence over time does suggest the players taking those 3-pointers are not bad shooters.
The Boilermakers are still the team that made 30 3-pointers in their first two exhibition games and have proven scorers from beyond the arc.
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But Purdue has to find a way to generate points when 3-pointers aren’t falling.
Daniel Jacobsen was Purdue’s best option to win against Valparaiso, just as he was against Gonzaga. Painter lamented not getting Jacobsen more touches in both of those games, which already saw Jacobsen have a pretty healthy usage rate.
CJ Cox, a career 38.2% 3-point shooter over the previous two seasons on 249 attempts, is just 1 of 8 this season through two regular season games. After Friday’s stunning loss, he echoes Benter’s statement from a day prior.
Sort of.
“For us, if it’s a good shot, just continue to take it. It’s going to end up falling,” Cox said. “Maybe if shots aren’t falling, look to attack the hoop a little bit more. But, if it is a wide open shot, just keep continuing to take it.”
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Painter noted on Thursday, following up Benter’s meeting with the media, that he’d rather take 100% good shots over 50% great shots and 50% poor shots.
Many of the ones Purdue is taking from 3-point range right now are good looks by good shooters.
“Some guys struggling that are confident and that’s dangerous,” Painter said.
What’s the famous saying, though? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?
Not only did Jacobsen score at will, he drew fouls. Fouled out two Valparaiso centers, in fact.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 02: C.J. Cox #0 and Gicarri Harris #24 of the Purdue Boilermakers walk on the court during a stoppage in play in the first half of a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Series game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at T-Mobile Arena on November 02, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
But what his presence also did at Mackey Arena on Friday was open up driving lanes. The Boilermakers capitalized on that in the overtime periods, getting layups and going to the foul line for 14 attempts.
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Had they abandoned ship from 3-point range earlier, perhaps it never gets to that.
For now, we’re told Purdue is a good outside shooting team — and it’s probably true — but the statistics say otherwise. If it stays that way and Purdue continues on its current trajectory of 20-plus attempts a game, Valparaiso won’t be the last team to capitalize.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
