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GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 23 • 17 BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com T he Boilermakers had a week to prepare for Ne- braska, knowing that a win would get them a bye in this week's Big Ten Tournament. And Purdue used those extra prep days well, taking it to the Cornhuskers early and blowing out the visitors. Fol- lowing are observations from the week. S Purdue heads to the Big Ten Tournament with all sorts of momentum, prob- ably the hottest team in the league with a six-game win- ning streak. Let's be honest: After KK Houser's injury, most would have hoped for the Boilermak- ers to finish 3-3, leaving them .500 in the Big Ten and with a good shot to get into the NCAA T o u r n a m e n t . But they've far exceeded that, win- ning all six. The most im- pressive was against Nebraska. Purdue simply walloped the Cornhuskers in the first half, beating them in transition for points and leaving them scratching their heads for what to do on offense. If Purdue keeps up its play, it will be a tough out this week in Indianapolis. S Sharon Versyp is pushing the right buttons with this team right now. Houser's in- sertion into the start- ing lineup on senior day gave the Boilers an emotional lift, and they started on a 10-0 spurt. Later, when Nebraska simply wasn't guarding Dee Dee Wil- liams, Ver- syp shifted the senior to point guard — she had start- ed at power forward — to give the Boiler- makers better scorers on the wings. Williams finished with six assists and only a turnover. When coach and players are connecting as this group is, it makes for fundamentally sound basketball. S Purdue's fun to watch, particularly when it gets in transition and moves the ball on offense. And the Boilermak- ers are doing both right now. In the first half against Ne- braska, when Purdue scored 43 points, the ball was dart- ing through the offense, with players taking few dribbles, until it found an opening. And it flowed through Moses. Either she could shoot, or the defense would follow her and she'd find an open teammate. She might be one of Pur- due's best-ever in transition as well, being able to pull up for three-pointers or explode to the basket. S Hayden Hamby can play, it appears. Confidence might do the sophomore very well. Sunday, she looked like she belonged and that hasn't always appeared the case the last two years. j Flash Forward Opponent: Iowa or Illinois Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis) When: 2:30 p.m. Friday Notables: Purdue plays the winner of the 5 vs. 12 seed match of Iowa against Illinois. That game is at approximately 2:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon. … The Boilermakers were 2-0 vs. the two potential opponents this season, beating Iowa in a thrilling come-from-behind win in Mackey Arena in February and win- ning easily at Illinois in January. … The Hawkeyes, who will be heavily favored Thursday, beat the Illini 81-56 on Sunday, to tie Purdue at 11-5 in the league. The Boilermakers earned the fourth seed, and a bye, due to their victory in the lone meeting be- tween the schools. … Iowa has won three straight since its loss at Purdue. Tom Campbell Courtney Moses scored 29 points against the Cornhuskers, one short of her career high. w o m e n ' s b a s k e t b a l l g o l d b o x e s l i n k t o g a m e s t o r y A Look BACk At the LAst week of BAsketBALL