Nate Oats, the Alabama coach, learned a valuable lesson last season. He was introduced to Matt Painter's latest find, CJ Cox, who has been a game-changer for Purdue basketball. In a Friday night showdown against the second-ranked Crimson Tide, Cox's explosive performance of nine points in 52 seconds and 11 overall from the combo guard position helped Purdue secure a victory. Oats admitted that Cox wasn't a focal point on the scouting report, but it didn't surprise those in the Boilermakers' locker room.

Off the Bench, Making an Impact

Coming off the bench has allowed Cox to ease into college basketball. He believes he brings a unique energy and enthusiasm to the game, especially with his offensive aggressiveness that often surprises. Trey Kaufman-Renn described Cox as a confident person who was ready from the start, whether in open gyms or during practice.When Braden Smith took a brief break last Friday, Cox's shot-first mentality swung the game in Purdue's favor. He sank three consecutive 3-pointers in consecutive offensive possessions, creating a deafening roar from the sold-out Mackey Arena, which Cox said was the loudest eruption he had experienced.

Discovering Cox by Accident

Painter discovered Cox by chance at an AAU tournament in Las Vegas. He went there to watch Travis Perry, now a freshman at Kentucky. But after seeing Cox for the first time, Painter was fascinated not only by his shot-making ability but also by how he interacted with teammates and how they responded to him. After some background research, Painter offered and landed Cox as his only major offer. Aside from Purdue, Cox's options were mostly Ivy League schools.When Cox committed in October 2023, Purdue was coming off a Big Ten championship season and was ready for another. Competing against high-caliber teams on Purdue's schedule drew Cox to the Boilermakers.

Eagerness to Face Tough Opponents

Last Thursday, before the Alabama game, Cox expressed his eagerness to face Alabama and Marquette in a span of five days. He believed that playing against these high-ranked teams early could showcase the team's strength and prepare them for later in the season when they faced good teams in the Big Ten.Cox has always played with the same mindset. He doesn't see a reason to change just because of the level of play. Kaufman-Renn emphasized that having a go-to guy like Cox, who can get a good shot up, is something the team can rely on.Although Cox wasn't a major focus on Alabama's scouting report, he will surely be on Marquette's when Purdue plays their first regular season road game in Milwaukee on Tuesday.Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.