(This story has been updated to correct a misspelling/typo.)

WEST LAFAYETTE - Purdue men's basketball practice began in earnest Monday.

Per the NCAA calendar, the Boilermakers officially broke the seal on the 2024-25 in-season calendar. In reality, coach Matt Painter used his team's allowed summer practice time to hold practices in June and July. It helped cut the learning gap for a team which brought in five freshmen and will elevate other young returnees into bigger roles.

An organic process will unfold which leads last year's national runner-up to a new identity in the post-Zach Edey era.

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This "first" practice was held Monday afternoon. Painter said the team also goes twice a week from 6-7 a.m., installing its numerous offensive sets and other schematic aspects.

"That's what we've done for the past 10 years is really treat it like a class," Painter said. "Make sure they understand what they're doing. Just that collective intelligence, I think, really helps."

Then for the afternoon sessions, Purdue ramps up the intensity with numerous competitive periods. Each one typically ends with a 20-30 minute scrimmage session. Monday, a team of younger players fought hard against one which included returning starters Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn.

The vets pulled it out thanks to a single late turnover.

Other news and notes from Monday's practice:

Front and center

Senior post player Caleb Furst missed practice with illness. He is part of a frontcourt competition including Kaufman-Renn, 7-4 freshman Daniel Jacobsen, second-year center Will Berg and freshman Raleigh Burgess.

Burgess drew an enthusiastic compliment from Painter for a 3-pointer during one drill.

"Raleigh Burgess has looked really good," Painter said. "Where he ends up in his first year, I don't know yet, but he's looked really good and been very productive."

Painter said he would be "shocked" if Kaufman-Renn is not an All-Big Ten player after the work he put in to become a featured player. The fourth-year player from Silver Creek will play forward and center this season as the Boilermakers shift lineups to create favorable matchups.

Painter said Jacobsen has made "really good strides" and must continue to get stronger and refine his offensive skills around the basket.

"His ability to block shots has got to be a weapon for us," Painter said.

Finding a lineup

Myles Colvin and Camden Heide headline the list of players hoping to transition from role player to featured role. Freshmen such as Gicarri Harris are making rotation minutes a true competition.

"You're just kind of waiting to see who's productive," Painter said. "They've all had good days. Just trying to see that consistency."

Painter likes the depth he has to handle different scenarios. Colvin and Heide can play the 4 in small lineups. Harris or fellow freshman C.J. Cox can join point guard Braden Smith on the floor when an extra ballhandler is needed. Each of the big men brings some unique factors to the mix.

What Painter expects to see, though, is one or more players who demand to stay on the floor due to their consistency.

"Overall, you can sit there and kind of angle everything," Painter said. "But it's the guys that are the most productive, right?

"I think matchups matter. I think blending guys matter. But I think production supersedes that. So some guy's just going to go out there and be great defensively, great rebounding, make good decisions, make shots. He's going to find his way."

Follow IndyStar Purdue Insider Nathan Baird on X at @nwbaird.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue basketball evolving as practice ramps up for post-Zach Edey era