When junior guard Braden Smith is in attack mode, No. 20 Purdue can beat anyone. In the Boilermakers' three-game winning streak, the Big Ten Conference's preseason Player of the Year has averaged 25.3 points and 9.

In three Big Ten conference games on Thursday, Jan. 9, five intriguing prospects stood out with strong performances.

Trey Kaufman-Renn added 16 points for the 20th-ranked Boilermakers (12-4, 4-1), who shot 50 percent from the field in a slowly-paced game. Kaufman-Renn dunked off a Smith pass with 4:18 left that gave Purdue a 62-46 lead and sealed the outcome. Fletcher Loyer chipped in 13 points for the Boilermakers.

The Boilermakers harassed high-scoring Wildcats duo Nick Martinelli and Brooks Barnhizer, holding two players each averaging 20.1 points per game to a combined 1-of-10 with seven turnovers in the first half. The duo finished 6-of-23 from the field.

Braden Smith had another double-double Thursday, scoring 16 points and dishing out 14 assists. Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell called the junior a 'special player.'

Braden Smith scored a career high 34 points. But he didn't lose his role as a facilitator for Purdue in doing so. Can that carry into Big Ten play?

Braden Smith was named the Big Ten Player of the Week on Jan. 6, after leading Purdue to blowout wins over Minnesota and Northwestern.

WEST LAFAYETTE − Braden Smith has spent three seasons racking up accolades during his Purdue basketball career. Now the junior point guard has another. Big Ten Player of the Week. Smith earned ...

Braden Smith was named the Big Ten Player of the Week on Jan. 6, after leading Purdue to blowout wins over Minnesota and Northwestern. Purdue guard Braden Smith has been named the Big Ten Player ...

WEST LAFAYETTE — Braden Smith continued to remind the Big Ten how good he is. Purdue basketball also gave Northwestern a reminder that its foundation is built on defense. The Boilermakers ...

those who cover the league still believed that a conference crown went through Purdue. Junior point guard Braden Smith, who those same voters chose as the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year.