Purdue coach Matt Painter critical of Matt Haarms for transferring

Purdue is losing two transfers this summer, and coach Matt Painter is critical of those who have left.

Painter was a guest on “The Dan Dakich Show” on The Fan in Indianapolis on Wednesday. In the interview, Painter discussed losing center Matt Haarms, who transferred to BYU, and guard Nojel Eastern, who entered the transfer portal.

Painter is critical of players leaving the program rather than fighting through adversity.

“I don’t mean to hurt anybody’s feelings, because I like the guys who have left my program,” Painter said, via 247 Sports. “I like both of them. But transfers don’t get drafted pretty much. It’s a very, very small percentage. … What I look at more than anything is embrace problems and embrace adversity and fight it. Don’t run from it. 

"When you run from it and your work ethic isn’t at a high, high level like a Carsen Edwards or a Caleb Swanigan … that’s the one thing that’s not gonna change.”

Painter says he doesn’t consider Haarms to be a true Boilermarker. The reason has to do with Haarms’ decision and work ethic.

“You might’ve got your degree from Purdue, but you’re not a Boilermaker if you walk out the door at the end and say, ‘Hey, I want to make the league.’ Well, guys who make the league work hard like Carsen Edwards and Caleb Swanigan. I didn’t see that from him. Did he work hard in practice? Sure. Did he work hard in games? Sure. Was he a good player for us? Yes. 

"But if you take him and rank him against those guys I just mentioned, where would you rank him? So Trevion Williams beat him out and if he wants to move on, then that’s his choice.”

Trevion Williams beat out Haarms and was Purdue’s leading scorer and rebounder last season.

Going to BYU will give Haarms more playing time, but like Painter says, transferring generally does not help a player’s NBA draft status. Haarms is a 7-foot-3, 250-pound center and has averaged 7.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks during his college career.