Purdue Player Review: Spike Albrecht

We’re down to our last player review for the season, and it is the old man of the Big Ten:

Spike Albrecht – Grad Transfer

1.6 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.3 apg, 26.8% FG, 23.1%3FG, 94.7% FT, 12.5 mpg

I wasn’t sure what to expect when Spike Albrecht agreed to come to Purdue for his final year of eligibility. After double hip surgery that very nearly ended his career early it was unlikely we were going to get the 7.5 points and 3.9 assists per game that Michigan got in 2014-15 when he played 32 minutes a night. I wasn’t even sure we needed him for point guard depth with Carsen Edwards and P.J. Thompson.

As it turns out, we did need him. Purdue only had eight scholarship players at the end of the season, and Spike was a nice little insurance policy to have. He averaged 12.5 minutes per night and provided steady play at the point. Sure, he struggled shooting the ball and actually scoring, but he had only nine turnovers the entire season in 28 games played.

How good is that? In the final eight games of the year Spike played 95 minutes and did not turn the ball over once. He only had 10 assists and 8 points in that time, but no turnovers in 95 minutes is damned impressive. Purdue was 5-3 in those games, losing twice to Michigan and once to Kansas, but Spike played 20 minutes at Northwestern and helped beat a tournament team on the road.

Spike’s highest scoring output of the season was seven in two different games. He scored 7 against McNeese State and 7 against Michigan State in West Lafayette. He did not core at all in the NCAA Tournament, but played 32 out of 120 possible minutes and again, did not have a single turnover.

As the only regular contributor that is 100% for sure gone after this year it is hard to say what we will miss without him. Most of his contributions were intangible. He was an invaluable leader off the floor and when he did play, you knew he was not going to screw things up. Sometimes that is what you need. He was a kid that played with all heart and hustle and gave everything he had when he could.

Casey said it best in our chat this morning:

He was everything we needed from him. Could literally see him calm the team at times.

Well said, Casey.

Grade: A