Purdue women's basketball report: Karsh's status, summer workouts underway, Puryear, Layden return timetable
The Boilermakers have nine of their 13 players available
Items of interest after the team’s first summer practice on Thursday:
• Incoming freshman guard Hila Karsh remains in Israel due to the conflict in the Middle East. Katie Gearlds said the coaching staff is in constant contact with Karsh, a 5-foot-8 combo guard.
“She's in our group messages,” Gearlds said. “I think she's got a great spirit about her. She's sent us video of her working out. She's with her family, and the most important thing right now is that Hila is safe. As soon as those airways open up, hopefully we can get her over here.”
• The Boilermakers started workouts earlier in the week, but spent time in the weight room and focused on strength and conditioning. Thursday was the first actual basketball practice.
MORE: Chad Krockover Photography | Mark Elsner Photography | Dave Wegiel Photography | Katie Gearlds interview video | Evaluting point guard options
Gearlds put her team through regular shooting drills before the players split into two teams and played pickup games. Gearlds needs to learn about her transfers and how they interact with each other.
“Studying them in the portal with their previous teams, we knew what they could do with those teams,” Gearlds said. “(We) want to see what they naturally love to go to.
“Are we a team that's going to run dribble drive motion? Are we a team that needs a little bit more sets or quick hitters? We’ll see what they naturally fall into here and then next week we’ll get back into knocking down the fundamentals with our principles on what we want to do.”
• During an eight-week period, NCAA teams are permitted to practice four hours a week in the summer. Last summer, Purdue had 10 extra practices because of its overseas trip.
“I think we've collectively got a group that is just going to love to be in the gym,” Gearlds said. “So the extra work, the individual skill improvement, I think that's going to be getting done organically, because I think that's how this group is made.”
Transfer Taylor Feldman provided an example on Wednesday night.
“My power was out with the storm, and I was here until 10 o'clock,” Gearlds said. “And Taylor is working out. She's been in the gym, working her tail off. She’s a kid that's hungry. Most of our kids got a little chip on their shoulder, and they're ready to prove that they belong.”
• Similar to other teams in the athletic department, Gearlds has her players take the Profile behavioral test, administrated by alumnus Chad Brown and his group.
The results?
“Competitiveness was a quality that came up quite a bit on everybody's report,” Gearlds said. “I want to say we had two people where those words came up last year. I think we've got a few more competitive folks out here that are ready to play with a chip on their shoulder.”
• Not much to glean from the pickup games but Feldman and Kiki Smith could give the offense a 3-point shooting boost based on the limited possessions Thursday.
Smith shot 40.6% at Arkansas and Feldman made 36% from beyond the arc at Northern Arizona. Purdue welcomes back Madison Layden-Zay, who shot 39.3% the last time she played for the Boilermakers two years ago.
Purdue shot 32.1% from 3-point range last year and must show improvement.
• Don’t look for Kendall Puryear and McKenna Layden to be full-go until the end of the summer. Puryear underwent reconstrutive ankle surgery and Layden had a procedure on her foot.
The Boilermakers had nine players available during their pickup games.
“I think we don't want to push it too hard,” Gearlds said. “I think they're on pretty good pace to get back. They’re off to the side, doing extra rehab in the training room.
“What’s important to us is that they’re out here with their leadership and understanding what we want to do.”
Puryear played pickelball two weeks ago, which was “against her mother’s wishes,” Gearlds said.
Here is what I like about this team this year— mostly all new— I don’t really know what to expect—to me that is a good thing— we didn’t win many— or at least not enough games last year. —- And then when I heard that the PORTAL BUS had Left IU with all of their Players but three(3) and was headed to Purdue— I thought— I wonder—-How many will get on the bus from Purdue ?— Not many I thought—Maybe one (1) at the very best— We have loyal players— we’ll show IU that they don’t leave at Purdue— they are Boilermakers for life— WRONG-!! And what is worst— it looks like two (2) of our good Men’s Basketball players are are getting on with them—- WOW!!— shows you what I know about loyalty— I won’t be writing a book about it.— Anyway— for this season— I am ready to see what Katie puts on the floor— Go Boilers— Hammer Down !!
Taylor Feldman— I read your stats and I have to say-Wow!—Very good— we are hurting for a point guard and from what I read you could be the answer.. Hear is what I think — A point guard is very important when it comes to winning— Look at the men’s game— who runs the show (THE POINT GUARD)— and that was missing here— plus—we need a point guard that can score-HELLO— You might be just what we are looking for..—Not taking away from any of the other positions—— BUT—look at football —- can you win without a good quarterback——Hmmmm-NO—Period.— You started 33 out of 34 games—averaged 16 plus points—-29 games in the double figures— there is more— but you get the drift—she is good—— soooo— welcome to Purdue— I wish you the very best— and remember— you’ll always be a Boiler Maker from now on out.. I have to tell you— I’m really high on the team that Katie has assembled and you will be a big part of it.— I already hear that you are a gym rat— things are looking up.—-Ed from Wanamaker