Redshirt season paying dividends for Purdue basketball's Trey Kaufman-Renn

WEST LAFAYETTE - Trey Kaufman-Renn wanted to be on the floor last season.

The Purdue coaching staff had to be honest.

He could see limited playing time as a true freshman.

Or, the former Silver Creek High School star could redshirt, see significantly more playing time the following season and still maintain four years of eligibility.

"Getting that redshirt year and sitting there and seeing a lot of things and not thinking it’s personal really allows you to grow and your intellect grows and now when you do get a chance, you’re going to be in a much better position," Purdue coach Matt Painter said after Sunday's win over Minnesota.

Purdue basketball:Boilermakers cruise past Minnesota in Big Ten opener

Now, as a redshirt freshman, Kaufman-Renn adds another front line presence on a Boilermaker team loaded with depth.

That proved pivotal Sunday against Minnesota.

With Mason Gillis out, need a Zach Edey backup

Starter Mason Gillis was out with a minor back injury suffered in the weight room, Caleb Furst was in foul trouble and someone had to spell Zach Edey.

Enter Kaufman-Renn, who gave Purdue 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal in 28 minutes in an 89-70 win over the Golden Gophers.

"I try to score the ball when I get the opportunity there," Kaufman-Renn said. "They just happen to run plays for me when Zach is out. Kind of a low post threat when Z is out. I try to take my opportunities to score when I can."

Edey also was an unsung hero in the first-round win over West Virginia in the Phil Knight Legacy tournament.

Through eight games, he's averaging 4.9 points and 3.0 rebounds.

Not eye-popping statistics, but exactly what every great team needs off the bench.

"I do think there’s a lot of learning from last year, but it’s more just kind of pace of the game, how hard you have to play and knowing the sets and the schemes of what we’re trying to do on the floor," Kaufman-Renn said. "And then you just go play basketball."

That's exactly what he's done, even if after a redshirt year he's still not getting consistent minutes.

Sunday's 28 minutes of action was an anomaly.

"When you have a deep front line like we do, there’s going to be a guy who may not quite get the minutes," Painter said. "It kind of shows you Trey Kaufman’s character.

"A lot of times when you play six, seven, eight minutes and you think you should play more, you get mad. Then when you get an opportunity, you don’t play well. Trey Kaufman hung in there and kept a good attitude."

Sunday's performance showed Kaufman-Renn's potential.

But the reason Painter wanted to redshirt him was because that potential is going to hopefully lend itself to becoming a star for the Boilermakers.

"At the end of the day, it’s where you’re at when you’re 22, 23 years old. You want to have that season (where you don't play much as a true freshman, or do you want to have an all-conference season at the end?" Painter said. "That’s what he is. He’s an all-conference caliber player. But it takes a mature person and mature people around you to see the big picture and see what is best for you."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

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This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue basketball's Trey Kaufman-Renn paying off for Boilermakers