Weekend Wrap: Odds and ends
Prospect visits Katie Gearlds' program, Purdue football ended spring practice with a showcase event, who's coming back to Matt Painter's program and Luke Ertel wins Mr. Basketball
Welcome to a miscellaneous collection of random thoughts and items of interest:
PROSPECT ON CAMPUS
As Katie Gearlds looks to complete the 2026-27 roster, the Boilermakers had a potential addition on campus over the weekend.
Irene Oboavwoduo, a 5-foot-10 guard from Manchester, United Kingdom spent part of her visit at Saturday’s Spring Showcase at Ross-Ade Stadium. Oboavwoduo signed with Boston College but opted out after a coaching change.
She has a wealth of international experience, including receiving a call-up to the Great Britain Senior Women’s National Team last fall. She’s a one-time gymnast who switched to basketball about six years ago.
When Oboavwoduo signed with BC in the fall, then-head coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee said:
"Irene is a long, versatile wing with a natural feel for the game. She plays with a maturity beyond her years, has a smooth mid-range game, and is a relentless rebounder. Her instincts, pace, and unselfishness make her a great fit for our system.”
If Oboavwoduo signs with Purdue, she would join Gearlds’ all-international 2026 recruiting class. Two players have signed - Keona Douwstra (Netherlands) and Maya Zilbershlag (Israel). A third - Katarina Sediva (Slovakia) - is expected to sign this month.
Purdue currently has six players listed on its 2026-27 roster with the goal of reaching 15.
“NO PORTAL WINDOW”
It wasn’t Barry Odom’s intention to sound like coach Norman Dale from “Hoosiers” following Saturday’s showcase event at Ross-Ade Stadium. But he did.
The second-year coach didn’t need to say, ‘My team is on the floor,’ in reference to Gene Hackman’s line but it was nearly the equivalent. Unlike last spring, the football portal is closed for business until after the 2026 season.
For the most part, Purdue’s roster in the spring will be what it is in July when training camp begins. Last year, Odom signed 48 players - after spring practice. Every program in the country is operating under the same rules, but to know who’s on the roster in April gives Odom - and all coaches - a sense of continuity heading into the summer.
“Thank goodness we wake up (Sunday) and this is still our team, that there is no portal window at the end of of spring ball,” Odom said. “That has been exhilarating for our coaching staff knowing exactly who we have, how good can we get them, how much can we develop them, how much can we galvanize together.”
WBB: Jankovic joins coaching staff | New assistant, Karsh to portal |
Odom bypassed a traditional spring game for a practice. There were 11-on-11 periods, highlighting the newcomers at running back and on the offensive and defensive lines in scrimmage-like situations. Plenty of individual drills as players and coaches moved from station to station.
No. 1 quarterback Ryan Browne threw the ball well but wasn’t under pressure. Odom is banking on Browne making the necessary improvements - with the help from new receivers and upgrades on the offensive line - to push the Boilermakers out of the Big Ten’s basement.
And defensively, the Boilermaker must make strides. Defense is Odom’s strength and how much of his fingerprints will be on that side of the ball is one question heading into the season.
Plenty of questions remain, but at least Odom and his staff know who’s on the roster and can continue building in that direction.
FROM THE ICYMI FILE
—Under the headline, “Boilers are locked in. We’re back,” Purdue announced 10 of its 11 eligible men’s basketball players are returning for the 2026-27 season.
It was expected, but we live in a landscape where announcements about who’s coming back and who’s going into the transfer portal are equally important.
The 10 players returning are: Omer Mayer, Daniel Jacobsen, Raleigh Burgess, Jack Benter, Sam King, Jace Rayl, C.J. Cox, Gicarri Harris, Jack Lusk and Antoine West Jr.
Matt Painter has also signed Caden Pierce, a 6-foot-7 power forward who played three seasons at Princeton. During the 2023-24 season, Pierce was selected as the Ivy League Player of the Year.
Four players comprise the program’s 2026 recruiting class - Luke Ertel, Rivers Knight, Sinan Huan and Jacob Webber.
—Ertel was recently named Indiana’s Mr. Basketball. The standout led Mt. Vernon (Fortville) to the Class 4A state championship last month. Ertel is the 14th Boilermaker to win the award.
He averaged 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists while shooting 40% from 3-point range as a senior.
SWEEP
Purdue’s baseball team started the second half of the Big Ten season with a three-game sweep of Northwestern, including Sunday’s 8-3 victory. The win improves Purdue’s record to 12-6 in conference play, good enough for fourth place in the standings.
The Boilermakers and No. 1 UCLA are the only teams to win five consecutive Big Ten series this season.
Purdue received home runs from Sergio DeCello, Eli Anderson, CJ Richmond and Avery Moore and Austin Klug struck out eight as the Boilermakers knocked off the Wildcats. Richmond has a team-best eight home runs and 30 during his NCAA career.
Purdue hosts Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday (6 p.m.) and welcomes Ohio State for a three-game series starting Friday at Alexander Field. The Buckeyes are 9-6 in Big Ten games.
Alright—Here is my take on the football team—everything I read and I listen to the Coaches—after practice interviews—interviews with the players—ETC-ETC-ETC—everything is positive—so I am feeling very good about the team—I know for sure we are faster—bigger and stronger—and when I think about the Coaching differences from last year—-Rookie Coach—trying to find good assistants—and even started calling the plays—that was a picture of failure-what else could happen when you are Coaching in the top football league—we are better at every position—starting with the running back room and then the O-Line room—this is the most I have been excited in 3 years—so we will see how it plays out—the old saying—-“We Look Good On Paper”—Yes —my take is that we have something to look forward to this year—I am ready to watch them—you may say that I am getting ahead of myself—I don’t think so—the first 3 games will show where we are—and you know what—-starting off 3 and 0 would be great—-that is it from me—thank you for listening—Ed from Wanamaker——PS—keep an eye on our running game