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Matt Painter, Tom Crean react to premature passing of Caleb Swanigan
By Ethan Stone
Published:
The horrible news broke early Tuesday morning: Caleb Swanigan, 2017 B1G player of the year and 1st-round draft pick passed away at the age of 25 late Monday night.
It’s a devastating loss for not only Purdue, but the entire basketball community.
💔 Devastated.
Our thoughts and prayers to Caleb Swanigan’s family and friends. The world lost a gentle soul last night.
Love you Biggie. pic.twitter.com/spU2hQtJdi
— Purdue Mens Basketball (@BoilerBall) June 21, 2022
Current Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter addressed the news on social media.
Terribly saddened by this,” Painter said via Twitter. “Biggie had a positive influence in everyone’s life. Was such a thoughtful person and gentle soul who had to overcome so much in his life. He will be greatly missed.”
Painter coached Swanigan from 2015-2017, guiding him as he became one of the most dominant players in the country his sophomore season. Swanigan and freshman guard Carsen Edwards led the Boilermakers to a Sweet 16 berth in his final season of college ball.
Former Purdue rival Tom Crean weighed in on the sad news as well Tuesday evening with the Twitter post below:
Caleb Swanigan was someone I truly rooted for. No matter if it was his work ethic to change his game and weight or when he got his degree at @LifeAtPurdue The connection that Matt Painter and @BoilerBall had with Caleb brought the best out in all of them. God bless his soul.
— Tom Crean (@TomCrean) June 21, 2022
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Tradition.