GLENDALE, Ariz. – Caleb Furst has played just nine total minutes in Purdue's four NCAA Tournament games.
Yes, the former Indy Star Mr. Basketball wants to play more. Who wouldn't?
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“Obviously, it's never easy in some ways,” Furst said Thursday from the locker room at State Farm Stadium. On Saturday, Purdue will face North Carolina State in the first game of the national semifinals. “We all want to play because we're all so competitive. But I think at the end of the day, it's about recognizing that it's bigger than yourself.”
The 6-10 Furst, who won Mr. Basketball in 2021 at Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian, played more in his first two seasons, starting 33 games as a freshman and sophomore. He averaged 5.5 points and 4.6 rebounds last season, started 21 games and played over 18 minutes per game.
Furst averaged 14 minutes in a similar role throughout the nonconference season. But back-to-back National Player of the Year Zach Eady took center stage and redshirt 6-9 sophomore Trey Kaufman-Len was left behind as he began to play a bigger role in the frontcourt. The time available is limited.
“To some degree, everyone has to show a certain amount of humility and selflessness when you're on a team. It's about more than just yourself,” said Furst, who didn't play at all in Detroit's game against Gonzaga last weekend. Because I understand that.” And Tennessee. “I think that's kind of my focus and just trying to have joy through everything. Whether it's on the court, cheering on my teammates on the bench, in practice, whatever I do. You just have to play the role to the best of your ability and do it with joy, because at the end of the day, this is something pretty special. If you had asked me as a kid if this is what I wanted to do, I would have said absolutely yes. .”
Furst is averaging 2.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in about nine minutes per game this season. The former Blackhawk Christian star, who defeated Silver Creek's Kaufmanlen for Mr. Basketball in 2021, has often reflected on the perspective he learned from former high school coach Mark Davidson, who passed away in May 2022, this season. He said he is doing so. Fight against cancer.
“I wish he was still around and that I could reach out to him, text him, call him,” Furst said. “But to have such a great coach and, more importantly, what a great person he is off the court, I'm so grateful and thankful to have had him in my life.” That’s the thing.”
Furst said he is most pleased that current coach Matt Painter has broken through and made it to the Final Four. “We've always believed in him,” Furst said. “I don’t think anyone deserves it more.”
No matter what his role is on Saturday or potentially in the national championship game on Monday, Furst said he's ready. His big-man coach, Brandon Brantley, expects Furst to play a key role in the program going forward.
“Caleb is willing to comply,” Brantley said. “There are no bad kids in this locker room and that's part of the reason. When you play team sports, one minute you're in the game and the next minute you're out. Caleb is a very smart kid and knows what he has to do, especially in a game like NC State or a guy like (DJ) Burns who is accumulating fouls. There's never going to be a time when his name is called. He's going to be ready for that game.”
Colestar reporter Kyle Neddenlieb (317) 444-6649.