GoldandBlack.com - Woods, Wilson a go; more hoops notes

November 6, 2009

Kyle Charters
GoldandBlack.com Staff Writer

Purdue will have a couple players at its disposal for its exhibition that perhaps it didn't expect only a few weeks ago.

Forwards Sam Woods, who will be suspended the first two regular-season games, and Ashley Wilson, who's recovering from off-season injury, will get minutes in Sunday's exhibition vs. Lindsay Wilson College.

Woods is suspended for the season's first two games - a ruling handed down by the NCAA - due to her playing in a non-public scrimmage vs. Ball State last season. Although it was only a couple minutes or so against the Cardinals, her decision to redshirt because of academic class scheduling conflicts shortly thereafter led to some eligibility issues.

Had she been a freshman, the issue wouldn't have been an issue. But as a sophomore, her playing led to the two-game ban, but apparently not for the exhibition.

"I've double, triple, quadruple checked with (NCAA compliance officer) Tom (Reiter)," Coach Sharon Versyp said of Woods' status for the exhibition. "It doesn't make sense to me, doesn't make sense to the media, doesn't make sense to the real world, but she can play in the exhibition, but two normal games is the punishment. Whatever that is.

"It's a student welfare issue, and I don't know why you'd punish someone who played two minutes in a scrimmage. It is what it is. But at least she gets to play in the exhibition, which will be good."

Wilson will too. The freshman had missed much of preseason conditioning due to her recovering from a stress fracture that kept her on the shelf for the summer. But she's been rounding back into form for a few weeks now.

"She will play in the exhibition game," Versyp said. "I don't know how many minutes. We'll wait and see. She's been trying to practice as much as possible this week.

"She's been doing good things, but obviously her rhythm's off. She always going to play hard and always going to go after the boards. She makes up for a lot just because of her defense and offensive board skills."

Versyp says she'd like to get Wilson, a critical player due to her versatility on Purdue's short bench, 15 minutes of playing time.

"I'll try to get her to at least 10, because I want to see how her leg will handle that type of situation," the fourth-year coach said. "? If we can get her to 15, that would be great, but I don't want to push it too soon."

And the starters are ?

As of Thursday, Versyp said she hadn't yet decided who would start Sunday. But one would have to think long-time starters FahKara Malone and Jodi Howell would be among the five, as would sophomore Brittany Rayburn.

But the Boilers could go in a number of directions up front. Sophomore Chelsea Jones would seem likely to get one of the two spots, as Purdue's only true back-to-the-basket post presence.

With Alex Guyton out 'til mid-December, Purdue's got an open "power forward" spot, which could be filled by a forward, or Versyp could go in a different direction.

"I'm not really sure," she said. "I don't know if I'll go four guards and one post, or start Sam and Chelsea (together). I'll probably have a better idea (Friday). We're going to scrimmage today and kind of put whoever wants to play hard out and see what happens."

The options are many. Woods could start, but considering she's out the first two games, maybe it'd be best for her to come off the bench. Wilson could too, but she's limited due to the injury.

Versatile freshman Sam Ostarello is an option, but it's thought Purdue wants to bring her along as gradually as possible. Purdue could also go with point guard KK Houser, to give them a very guard-oriented quick starting five.

"Its difficult, because you have to piece it all together with Ashley and Sam and people getting back," Versyp said. "But I'm playing at least the first half like I'd play a normal game."

Whatever the lineup is Sunday, it might not stay that way throughout the season.

"We have a capability of having our starting lineup change a lot, especially this year," Versyp said. "I don't think there will be a solid lineup unless they get us off to a great start. It might not always been the best five, but whoever can get us off to a really good start in the first four minutes."

Ball State recap

The Boilers held their second closed-door scrimmage with the Cardinals in as many years last week, with Versyp getting the first feel of her new team.

"(It) showed us that we're running a little bit better than we have been," Versyp said, assessing the game, "because we have more speed with FahKara and KK on the floor at the same time, but also Brittany and Jodi's in the best shape she's ever been and looking great. So I thought that was really, really positive. We shot the basketball very well.

"Obviously your timing on offense and things like that need to improve when other people are guarding you, besides your own teammates.

"They probably out-physicaled us in certain areas, but we probably beat them in certain areas. ? Ball State's post players all shoot the 3, which is atypical of Big Ten teams, so you have to try to make adjustments. Overall I thought there were times we got behind but really battled and did some great things. I was pretty happy."

Wilson played only in the halfcourt, and Purdue's two transfers worked out on their own as they're not yet eligible due to NCAA rules.

Malone says the scrimmage was particularly important for Purdue's freshmen.

"It's just learning the plays right now," said the co-captain, "and just knowing what to do in certain situations, which takes some time. But in your freshman year, you don't really know what's going on. They're just gradually picking up on where they need to be."

Lindsay (Wisdom) College

The common joke is that Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton has graduated, formed her own team, and is back to take on the Boilers in a one-game winner-take-all exhibition.

But it's Wilson, not Wisdom.

"I think everybody says that," Malone said laughing. "Even if they know it's Lindsay Wilson, they say Lindsay Wisdom just because. They do it anyway."

Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2009. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited. E-mail GoldandBlack.com/Boilers, Inc.

Check out GoldandBlack.com on

Purdue NEWS

[More]

Latest Headlines:

Resources:

FEATURED PRODUCT

Nike Purdue Boilermakers White Classic Logo Hoody Sweatshirt


			Quick links: Latest Team Rankings Free Text Alerts Member Services