Braden Smith was honored during Purdue’s game with Washington on Jan. 7 for breaking the all-time Big Ten assists record. He received a plaque and is shown here with Boilermakers coach Matt Painter. Smith then dished out seven assists in Purdue’s victory over Washington to reach 900 for his career. (Joshua Herd)
The REPORTER
Purdue basketball star Braden Smith broke the Big Ten assist record earlier this month.
It may be awhile before someone breaks Smith’s record, since he’s not done yet.
Smith, the 2022 Mr. Basketball from Westfield, officially eclipsed the record on Jan. 3 during the Boilermakers’ 89-73 win at Wisconsin. Smith dished out 12 assists that day, bringing his career total at the time to 893. The old record was held by Cassius Winston; he totaled 890 assists while playing for Michigan State from 2017 to 2020.
“It’s obviously a huge accomplishment and it’s awesome to have,” Smith said during an interview with FOX Sports after the game. “I was put around a lot of good teammates and guys that can put the ball in the hoop and make my job easier.”
Purdue’s next game was on Jan. 7 back at home at Mackey Arena, where Smith received a plaque honoring his accomplishment. He quickly added to that new record, handing out seven assists during the Boilers’ 81-73 win over Washington, reaching the 900-assist plateau.
Smith has dished out 31 assists over Purdue’s past four games, putting his career total at 931. The Boilers are 17-2 for the season and 7-1 in Big Ten play, dropping a 69-67 game at UCLA on Tuesday.
Purdue is back home on Saturday to host No. 11 Illinois.
(LEFT) Carmel’s Peter Suder has had much to celebrate during his senior season at Miami (Ohio). The senior has helped the RedHawks to a 20-0 record and is averaging 14.1 points per game. (RIGHT) Suder has scored 64 points in his past two games, starting with 37 against Buffalo on Jan. 17, then adding 27 against Kent State on Tuesday.
Suder leads undefeated Redhawks
The Miami (Ohio) men’s basketball team has been doing something this season that Peter Suder is used to doing: winning all the time.
Suder, a two-time state champion for Carmel, is enjoying a splendid senior campaign for the RedHawks. Miami is 20-0 and is getting national recognition, as the RedHawks are ranked No. 25 in this week’s Associated Press top 25 poll.
Suder has been a big part of the RedHawks’ success, averaging 14.1 points per game. His average went up dramatically over the past two games, as Suder scored 37 points in Miami’s 105-102 win over Buffalo on Jan. 17. Suder scored 27 points on Tuesday as the RedHawks defeated Kent State 107-101.
Suder spent two seasons at Bellarmine University before transferring to Miami last year. He immediately contributed to the RedHawks’ team, averaging 13.7 points last season.
(LEFT) Guerin Catholic’s Bryson Cardinal (left) is redshirting his freshman year with the Butler University men’s basketball team but is supporting his teammates during games. (RIGHT) Brebeuf Jesuit’s Evan Heyman, a Carmel resident, has made an impact for Butler during his sophomore season, averaging 7.9 points per game. (Mike Navarro)
Cardinal fitting in at Butler
Guerin Catholic graduate Bryson Cardinal is in the middle of his freshman year at Butler University and is a member of the Bulldogs’ men’s basketball team.
Cardinal hasn’t played yet, but that was his choice: he is red-shirting this year. But he is still a presence at the games, cheering on his Butler teammates.
Cardinal explained his decision during an interview with The Reporter last summer. “It was my personal decision, just because I know I’m not physically ready and physically at the point where I need to be to play,” he said. “If you watch a practice, you’ll see that as well.”
One of Cardinal’s Butler teammates is a player he became familiar with over his high school career. Evan Heyman, a Carmel resident, went to Brebeuf Jesuit, a frequent Circle City Conference rival of the Golden Eagles.
Heyman is in his sophomore year with the Bulldogs and is making an impact. Heyman averages 7.9 points per game and has reached double-digit scoring eight times, including an 18-point performance during Butler’s Dec. 13 win over Providence. He also dished out four assists in that game. Heyman has twice reached the five-rebound mark in games, pulling that number in the Bulldogs’ games against NJIT and Creighton.
