'Winning is enough' | Caleb Furst's value goes beyond stats for Purdue basketball
CHICAGO − Caleb Furst was a major recruiting get when the Fort Wayne Blackhawk product committed to Purdue.
Indiana's 2021 Mr. Basketball, rated 55th in his class nationally by recruiting service Rivals, is one of the most high profile recruits on Purdue's roster.
But, as a sophomore, his impact may appear miniscule with just 5.9 points and 5 rebounds per game in less than 20 minutes on average.
What Boilermaker coach Matt Painter always does is value more than just stat sheet production and in Furst it's easy to see.
"Everybody on your team should be a rebounder and a defender. Everybody should fit into that and understand that and accept that," Painter said. "Caleb has really given us a spark with his ability to defend and rebound."
Painter's eventual end to his description of Furst was they key takeaway from it all.
"Helps us win."
Stats aside, Furst is a major catalyst for a 26-5 team that celebrated winning the Big Ten regular season championship.
He knows it, and like many of his Purdue teammates, Furst accepts his role and what he can offer.
Text Gregg Doyel:Become a text buddy with Indy sports columnist Gregg Doyel
"At the end of the day, it's just all about winning. Coach Paint talks about that a lot," Furst said. "Winning is enough. That is the mindset all of us guys have tried to take."
It's not that Furst can't fill a stat sheet.
He has three double-doubles this season, against Duke, Davidson and Iowa.
Furst has scored double-digit points seven times.
"He is huge. He gives us those extra possessions," freshman point guard Braden Smith said. "He's able to knock down a shot here and there and he crashes really well. Being able to kind of have that, if Mason (Gillis) isn't playing well or shooting great, having that other option is great to have."
As a high school star, Furst offered everything.
He scored 1,599 points in his final three seasons. As a senior, Furst averaged 21.4 points, 14.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.2 blocked shots per game and helped his team win its second straight state championship.
He brings all those traits to the Boilermakers, even if in a lesser role.
But the main one is winning.
Furst won in high school and he's won in his first two seasons of college basketball, while expanding his game to the perimeter with Purdue having a 7-foot-4 post presence, allowing the 6-10 Furst to play off a big man rather than be the big man.
"Zach (Edey) is going to do what he does," Furst said. "Depending on the game, depending on matchups and how it goes, roles and what each guy needs to do will fluctuate game by game. We just focus on doing our job and doing what we can to help the team win.
"It's not about points. It's not about all these other things. It's about winning."
Especially now.
The regular season is over. Purdue will hope to use Friday's Big Ten tournament quarterfinal at the United Center as the jumpstart to a hopeful long NCAA tournament run.
Winning in the postseason becomes what players, coaches and teams are ultimately gauged on.
"I look at it as a breath of fresh air. The Big Ten season is a grind," Furst said. "I say it's like Groundhog Day. You're doing the same thing every day and it's hard. It's tough. But at the end of the day, we are getting to do something we love, play basketball.
"That doesn't change once we get to this. It's the same thing with a little bit higher stakes. That is how we are going to try to approach it."
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Caleb Furst adds value to Purdue basketball beyond stat sheet
