Purdue women's basketball report: 10 thoughts before 2024-25 season tips
As the season begins Wednesday night against Purdue Fort Wayne, the Boilermakers look to parlay a mix of transfers, newcomers and returners into a successful year
NOTE: Would you prefer a running chat similar to the exhibition game or a quick recap? Leave your thoughts in the comment section.
By now, you’re familiar with the new faces, including four transfers.
You know the non-conference schedule. You’ve seen the Big Ten schedule and the challenges that await with four new teams.
You know Purdue is coming off a losing season and a WNIT postseason bid, but a step forward is necessary as Katie Gearlds starts her fourth year.
As the program’s 50th season is set to start, here are 10 thoughts about what to watch for and what to expect.
Which transfer will have the biggest impact?
All four - Reagan Bass, Mahri Petree, Ella Collier, and Destini Lombard - will play. Bass is a likely starter from Day 1, and the others will find their way into the lineup at some point. Bass gives the Boilermakers a versatile offensive threat and can move to the perimeter, and Collier has a skill set that can help in many areas. Petree can play multiple positions and has the athletic ability to score one night and hit the boards hard in another game. Lombard is an intriguing player. She brings stellar defensive credentials, which will be on display, but Lombard has demonstrated her ability to score on multiple occasions during the offseason. She can get to the rim off the dribble, but Lombard may become one of the team’s better 3-point shooters. Lombard and Rashunda Jones will likely team up to create chaos on the defensive end.
Having Sophie Swanson for the entire season will boost the offense
Swanson didn’t start playing full-time until the end of December during her freshman year after knee surgery in high school. We began to see Swanson’s impact later in the year as she became more comfortable on the floor, and the hesitation disappeared. Swanson made 41 3-pointers in 27 games, averaging 12.6 minutes. She’s more than just a 3-pointer shooter, evident by her ability to put the ball on the floor, but her outside shooting is a strength and an area the Boilermakers must ride for most of the season. Putting Swanson and Collier in the same lineup gives the offense two legitimate perimeter shooters, forcing the defense to pay attention, and that should create opportunities elsewhere.
PHOTO GALLERY: Chad Krockover Photography | Dave Wegiel Photography
Purdue will make the NCAA tournament if …
It takes care of business in the non-conference season and holds up in Big Ten play. On paper, there’s an opportunity, but the schedule provides little margin for error during the non-conference portion. Notre Dame, Kentucky, and South Carolina will be favored, but the Boilermakers must take care of the other eight games. The pressure to win those games is greater than facing the three ranked teams. Seven of those games are at home - the one actual road game is at Miami (Ohio). To hold serve, Purdue must exit the non-conference schedule with at least an 8-3 record.
Is .500 a realistic goal in the Big Ten?
It’s a lofty challenge. A slow start in conference action could put Purdue behind the pace since it’s facing Maryland, Iowa, Michigan State, UCLA, and Michigan before heading to Oregon and Washington. We’ll know by mid-January where things stand for the Boilermakers to reach that mark. Three of the first five Big Ten games are at home, but Purdue must pick up some road victories to find a spot in the middle of the standings.
Either Lana McCarthy or Kendall Puryear - maybe both - will land on the league’s All-Freshman Team
They’re going to play a lot of minutes. Sometimes together. Most other times with Bass at power forward. If early observations are accurate, keeping them out of foul trouble is the priority. They embrace the physicality in the post and aren’t backing down from anyone. It’s the right attitude. They must harness that physical play and learn to play smart to stay on the floor for long stretches. They’re needed to crash the boards and give the offense a strong inside presence.
Don’t sleep on Amiyah Reynolds
No one in the program is, and the redshirt freshman continues to work her way back from a severe ankle injury at the end of her high school career at South Bend Washington. The plan is to use Reynolds as the point guard, a position she can handle. When the Boilermakers played in Spain and Portugal, it was Reynolds’ first game in 17 months. She participated in a full offseason of workouts and practice and played in the scrimmage against Butler and the exhibition game against Indiana Tech. She’s yet to flash her talent, which made her a consensus top 50 player in the country in high school and a one-time commitment to Maryland. Reynolds isn’t expected to be in the starting lineup, at least Wednesday, as Gearlds continues to ease her back into the rotation. Purdue needs her to be a special player at some point.
Out to prove something
The four transfers came from non-Power 4 programs. Bass played at Akron. Lombard was at Stephen F. Austin. Petree transferred from UTEP, and Collier brings impressive credentials, but that was at Marian University, an NAIA program. Collier was named two-time NAIA National Player of the Year, but outsiders are skeptical her game will translate to the Big Ten. All four are out to prove they can play at this level, which should be a good sign for the Boilermakers since they’re motivated. They’ve taken on leadership roles throughout the summer and used that experience to guide the younger players.
Does the losing streak to Indiana finally end?
The skid has reached 11 straight losses in the rivalry series. The Boilermakers’ last victory was at Mackey Arena in 2019, and Indiana has featured the better team since then. Purdue is also looking to snap an 11-game losing streak in Assembly Hall. The Boilermakers haven’t won in Bloomington since 2013.
Does Jayla Smith have a role?
Where she fits into the rotation, and for how long are looming questions. Now a senior, Smith’s career hasn’t panned out as expected, especially for an Indiana Miss Basketball from Lawrence North. She’s been passed over by other recruits and transfers. Watch her play in practice, and the exhibition game, and the talent is there, even for short stretches. Granted, the exhibition game was against an NAIA program, and Smith should’ve had an advantage. But it’s more than talent that has held Smith back.
Jordyn Poole will make an impact when she’s healthy
The freshman guard from Fort Wayne Snider hasn’t participated in a regular practice since June. She’s been sidelined with a stress fracture and is slowly working her way back. Poole is taking part in shooting drills and other individual workouts, but until she’s involved in team activities, she’ll remain on the bench. When healthy, Poole brings plenty of quickness, ballhandling, and the ability to score from different levels. She’s a solid defender, joining Lombard and Jones in that category, and could create havoc in fullcourt situations to help improve Purdue’s defense.
WEDNESDAY’S GAME
Purdue Fort Wayne at Purdue
Time: 7 p.m.
Stream: B1G+
Radio: 95.3 BOB-FM
I didn’t get signed up until halftime but loved the information you were providing. It was somewhat distracting because of my slow reading and typing skills. Either option is great! Keep up the outstanding work!