What's next for Purdue women's basketball? Back-to-back losing seasons bring hard look at program's direction
The Boilermakers are in a new position, failing to qualify for the Big Ten tournament, and now face several offseason questions
What’s next for Katie Gearlds and the program following a 10-19 season and 3-15 record in the Big Ten?
“I think that all starts (Monday) if it hasn't started already,” Gearlds said.
Purdue won’t participate in the conference tournament for the first time after finishing tied for 15th but losing the tiebreaker to Rutgers because of a nine-point setback to the Scarlet Knights in early February.
The program with the most league tournament wins (46) and championships (9) will watch from home. It certainly will be a different tournament without the Boilermakers playing in Indianapolis, a venue and city where they’ve enjoyed tremendous success.
Here are five thoughts going into the offseason:
GEARLDS’ STATUS
"Feel good about that, Mike," Gearlds said following Sunday’s loss.
She responded to my question about whether she’s been given assurances that she’ll be back next season. Despite signing a contract extension in the summer that will take her through the 2028-29 season, Gearlds’ situation must be addressed. She has the support of her bosses, but for how long with the current results?
For the first time in four decades, the program has suffered consecutive losing seasons. Lopsided defeat after lopsided defeat, starting the Big Ten season 0-10, and seeing the losing streak against Indiana reach 13 after Sunday’s setback have left those who closely follow the program questioning if progress is happening. If it’s there, it’s been hard to see from the outside.
A step forward was expected with the addition of four transfers, three incoming recruits, and a current sophomore class that gained plenty of experience in 2023-24. Remember Gearlds took over the program in a distressed state following the sudden retirement of Sharon Versyp, who left less than two weeks before the start of the 2021-22 season. The situation played a role early in her tenure, but it didn’t stop the Boilermakers from making three consecutive postseason appearances, including the NCAA play-in game in 2023. She had steadied the program during another rocky period and was poised to start moving forward.
She changed the coaching staff to boost recruiting and add more basketball knowledge. But Purdue slogged through a 5-13 conference record a year ago and a worse mark this season.
The contract extension was needed to add stability and a vote of confidence to the direction but now complicates matters. The administration doesn’t have the appetite to pay a $2 million buyout and start over. Money shouldn’t be the reason, but it’s a factor. You can’t blame them when every dollar is needed to pay athletes and maintain resources for the two revenue-generating sports. You can pay former football coach Ryan Walters to go away and fix the hiring mistake since Purdue will recoup that money through various avenues. That doesn’t happen in women’s basketball.
MORE: Boilermakers lose 13th straight to Indiana | Dave Wegiel Photography | Mark Elsner Photography | Chad Krockover Photography | Podcast
With revenue-sharing starting, shouldn’t Gearlds be allowed to restock the roster? She didn’t have revenue-sharing during the last offseason and barely had enough NIL money to make a small dent. Leaning solely on the portal isn’t how to build and maintain college athletic programs, but it can provide a jumpstart if you find the right matches. Every portal addition is a risk. Some pay off. Others don’t.
Revenue-sharing isn’t unique to Purdue, and Gearlds will be battling schools with a similar war chest. She’ll have money to offer, but Gearlds will need to sell prospects and future recruits on the plan to return this program to consistently winning in a league that has quickly become unforgiving.
ATTRITION
It will happen. Players from the current roster are likely headed to the portal. How many? Hard to tell right now. Brace yourself and watch it unfold. The reasons won’t matter because players don’t need a reason. Money. Playing time. Closer to home. Just check a box.
Last year, Gearlds received a last-minute surprise when Mary Ashley Stevenson jumped in the portal at the end of the period. It can happen at any moment. Changes on the coaching staff wouldn’t be a surprise.
“SITTING IN IT”
This should be an uncomfortable offseason. No one inside the program is happy about how the situation has crumbled. Gearlds and everyone involved must own the 30-, 40-, and 50-point losses, missing the conference tournament and seeing the season end on March 2.
Don’t run from what happened, and ignore the current state. Gearlds can’t exit this season and say everything is fine. This wasn’t a one-game flop or a bad stretch in January.
A hard reset is needed.
She’ll take a page from men’s coach Matt Painter.
“You listen to Matt kind of say some things like sitting in it and finding a way out of it, but first, we’ve got to sit in it for a while,” Gearlds said. “You look at ourselves and figure something out, and obviously, that starts with me.
“We’ve got to make sure we get the right people here to elevate our program and help get it back. Is that going to happen miraculously? Probably not. We think we’ve got a plan in place to feel really good about it.”
FINDING A POINT GUARD
The No. 1 priority is adding a versatile, experienced point guard who can score, run an offense, and make plays independently of the scheme and system. Purdue isn’t leaving the Big Ten basement without one. Gearlds will likely have to use a significant chunk of her revenue share and overpay to lure a difference-maker to West Lafayette.
Ideally, Gearlds will land a point guard who brings a talented skillset and helps improve everyone on the roster. The Boilermakers need an “Alpha” type player who commands attention from opposing defenses and is willing to put the team on their back and carry them to the finish line. Of course, taking care of the ball since turnovers were a major issue.
The lack of a point guard was noticeable. Bringing in a point guard allows Gearlds to shift Rashunda Jones to shooting guard, which is her natural position. Jones played point guard by default since no one stepped into the role.
“I love Spider for everything that she is,” Gearlds said. “I just told her I was gonna promise to find her a point guard so she could play off the ball. There's not a doubt in my mind that the kid gave me everything she had.”
MORE IS NEEDED
Fixing the point guard position is necessary but doesn’t solve every issue.
Improving the roster's overall athletic ability must be priority 1A. The Boilermakers were overwhelmed too often by opponents with a higher level of athleticism. Whether inside or on the perimeter, the current roster lacked the skills to consistently match up with the better teams and players in the Big Ten and the elite teams on the non-conference schedule.
After point guard, finding an athletic wing, more perimeter shooters, and a power forward who can stretch the floor are part of the wish list. Could the current roster address some of those needs? Maybe, but a significant focus on player development needs to ramp up. However, player development is a two-way street, and the responsibility doesn't always rest with one side.
“The most important thing is when we go in (the portal), we've got to find people that are going to do it the Purdue way,” Gearlds said. “We've got to make sure we're diligent in our homework and finding the right pieces that can help elevate our program.”
It’s too early to know who’s available since the portal window doesn’t open until later this month. But deals are often made through back channels, and Gearlds and her staff are likely aware of who’s ready to transfer. Can they secure a player or two before they put their name in the portal, giving them a head start?
Just because Purdue wants a player doesn’t mean the player wants to be part of this program. Could a former player or two be part of the mix? The options are there since the portal will have plenty of choices, but it’s about finding the right pieces.
The team's lack of success on the floor is a factor, and things are moving in a direction that should help the program become more attractive to transfers and future high school recruits. Gearlds must find a way to combat the win-loss record to entice marquee talent to help push the situation in the right direction.
There needs to be some some major changes made in the offseason. Maybe one particular major change, if you get my drift. A few little tweaks aren't going to cut it.
Purdue is not the place that you want to get blown out by a lot of points time after time— that’s the problem— people could not see any improvement— look at some of the first games and then look at the last one— Indiana is not a world beater and Purdue can not show any improvement— could not compete— why— well —- here is where the responsibility lays— its up to Katie to show team improvement—Right ?—Yes— and she is the one that has to answer— I am not being a mean person for saying this— I supported her all year—one thing-there was some players that were on the team that she would never sit on the bench— why ? —- I think that she did not want to admit a mistake— so she kept player them. This is one place where i disagree with her. The old saying— “keep doing the same thing over and over and expect difference results” — there it is—“PERIOD”— As they say——- the ball is in her court and now we’ll see what she does.—-in ending— I want to say one thing. We have a lot of talent on this team—-just like the football team —and we had a big problem with the coaching there—- You figure it out. —- I want to thank you for letting me post my opinion thru the year— GO BOILERS —-ED from Wanamaker