In the wake of the University of Wisconsin\u2019s recent lawsuit against the University of Miami for alleged tampering with cornerback Xavier Lucs, the issue of recruit tampering is at the forefront of college athletics.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just a problem in college football, according to Purdue men\u2019s basketball head coach Matt Painter.<\/a><\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cI never try to recruit somebody off of somebody else’s team, but yet, we have people who try to recruit our guys,” Painter said in a July 7 interview with Big Ten Network<\/a>. \u201cThen they see you on the road, text you, or whatever and act like they’re friends.\u201d<\/p>\n The Boilermakers\u2019 coach didn\u2019t specify what programs or coaches he\u2019s had issues with, but rather urged his fellow coaches not to engage in tampering with student-athletes. To Painter, it\u2019s a matter of being truthful and acting as role models for their players.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that’s the one thing that you’ve got to be able to do, you have to be honest with your players, but you also have to be honest with your peers,\u201d Painter said. \u201cIt’s not just something that’s happening to me or Purdue basketball, it’s happening to a lot of people. You can’t become one of those people, you have to set the example for your guys.\u201d<\/p>\n Painter may be experiencing tampering attempts, but the Boilermakers are returning 86% of their offensive production from last season, Sports Illustrated\u2019s Dustin Schutte noted<\/a>. They will return Braden Smith (Big Ten Player of the Year), Trey Kaufman-Renn (first-team All-Big Ten) and Fletcher Loyer (All-Big Ten honorable mention).<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Purdue is expected to lead the Big Ten this season<\/a>, though college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein sees the Boilermakers having a sizable challenge in the Michigan Wolverines<\/a>.<\/p>\n