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GRADING THE BOILERMAKERS Offense: Purdue's altered its offense this season to take advantage of its guard-heavy roster, going to a fourout, one-in approach. It's designed to set up more one-on-one opportunities for the Boilermakers, utilizing guards' quickness to either get into the lane and shoot, or to get there and distribute. And finding more openings on the outside could be beneficial, considering the Boilers could be a good three-point shooting team. Last season, Purdue hit nearly 36 percent of its triples, the second-best percentage in the Big Ten, and had three players — returnees Courtney Moses, KK Houser and April Wilson — shoot better than 35 percent. Although the Boilers scored 67.9 points per game, the fourth-best average in the league, they broke down at times against better, more physical competition. Allowing more freedom might help to alleviate those issues. However, Purdue has very little proven scoring on the interior, with only 2.6 points per game back from a year ago. The play of Whitney Bays, a former high school All-American, will factor in. If she can be a consistent factor, it will help balance the Boilermakers' scoring. But Purdue too needs to find a way to score some easy junk points, too, and it plans to try to do so by sending more on the offensive glass for second-chance points and putbacks. Grade: BDefense: The quality of Purdue's defense will depend on what it can do in the interior. Matching up against physical, tall opponents will be a difficulty for the Boilermakers, who have only three post players listed at taller than 6-foot. The development of 6-foot-4 Camille Redmon, who has the ability to adjust opponents' shots because of her long arms, is a must. And Liza Clemons, who doesn't mind mixing it up inside, has to stay out of foul trouble, and more importantly, be healthy after a couple years of injury and illness that kept her from 100 percent. Look for the Boilermakers to press at times, trying to take advantage of quick guards who could create turnovers on the ball or in the passing lanes. And Purdue likely will zone more this season than last, when its interior length allowed it to often match up one-on-one. A zone, too, will help the Boilermakers sag to help in the interior. Over the last seven years, personnel has come and gone, but Purdue's defense has largely been a strength. But last season, when the Boilers picked up the pace offensively, f they gave up 61.4 points per game, only the eighth-best average in the Big Ten. Grade: C+ Rebounding: Now, this is the big question. The Boilermakers will try to make up for their lack of size by sending extra guards inside to board. And over the years, Moses and Houser have proven adept at doing so, despite their relative lack of size, combining to average nearly seven rebounds per game in 2012-13. But guards alone can't make up for what the Boilermakers lost on the glass from last season, when Sam Ostarello averaged 10 per game and Drey Mingo six. Frontcourt players, like Clemons, Bays and Redmon must pick up the slack, and at least keep the Boilermakers close to even with their opponents. But this will likely be a challenge all season long. Grade: C Depth: Purdue potentially has good guard depth, with Wilson capable of making significant contributions due to her abilities at the point and in scoring from the perimeter. But freshman Ashley Morrissette and Bridget Perry could find roles, too; Perry, in particular, seems like she could be a valuable weapon early in her Purdue tenure, because she gives the Boilermakers scoring options from the small forward position. Up front, Redmon played very little last season, only about 3.2 minutes per outing in 18 games. But she's thought to be much improved, and Purdue needs her to add depth. Fellow interior players, albeit undersized ones, Torrie Thornton and Joslyn Massey are unknowns. Grade: CIntangibles It's said that teams often win when they have experienced backcourts, and it's hard to find any with more than the Boilermakers. Moses, Houser and Williams will be asked to lead the way, and that's not a bad thing. The trio has heaps of experience, knows how to win and has the ability to lead Purdue. But the frontcourt leave plenty of questions and lowered outside expectations. Perhaps that will play in the Boilermakers' favor. Grade: B — Kyle Charters IllustrateD volume 24, issue 2 69