GBI Express

Gold & Black Express: Vol 24, EX 27

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GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 27 • 18 BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com C hristy Smith is returning to the place she became an All- American. After spending three seasons on the Boilermakers' sideline, Smith was hired as the top assis- tant at Arkansas, which she helped guide to the Final Four as an All- America point guard in 1998, on Monday. She'll join former ESPN play-by-play man Jimmy Dykes, who called Purdue's NCAA Tour- nament games in Mackey Arena last month, in his first season as the head coach at Arkansas. "I knew right away when I spoke with Christy that she shared the same passion and commitment to the Razorbacks that I do," Dykes said in an Arkan- sas release. "She knows what it is like to be a Razorback and she has taken that experience as a player and poured it into her coaching career in her home state of Indi- ana. I feel like Christy is return- ing to her second home here in Arkansas and I can't wait to begin working with her. Christy proved herself as an elite level player at Arkansas and in the WNBA and has continued to achieve at that same high level as an assistant coach. She is a home run hire for the entire Razorback nation." Smith leaves Purdue after helping the Boilermakers to con- secutive NCAA Tournaments and back-to-back Big Ten Tournament titles in 2012 and '13. Prior to her time in West Lafayette, the Ox- ford, Ind., native who played at Benton Central, spent three seasons at Valparaiso as an assistant and recruiting coordina- tor with the Crusaders. "We couldn't be more thrilled for Coach Smith to have this op- portunity," Coach Sha- ron Versyp said in a Purdue release. "Being able to return to your alma mater in a coach- ing role is a very special thing, and we wish her the best in her new role at Arkansas." Smith was inducted into the University of Arkansas Hall of Honor in 2005, the fifth women's basketball player at the school to receive such an honor. She has two degrees from Arkansas, graduat- ing with a bachelor's degree in ex- ercise science in 1998 and went on to earn a master's degree in biome- chanics in 2001. Massey Transfers Joslyn Massey is transferring from Purdue. After playing in 23 games dur- ing the last two seasons in West La- fayette, the sopho- more forward will finish her collegiate career elsewhere, Purdue announced last week. "We wish Jos- lyn the best of luck in her future endeavors, aca- demically and athletically, and thank her for all the hard work over the past two seasons," Versyp said in a release. Massey, a 6-foot Detroit native, averaged 3.1 minutes in her 23 games as a Boiler- maker. Last season, she played in only 13 games, scoring 11 total points. With more depth adding to Purdue's front line next sea- son, Massey is likely looking for an opportunity for more playing time. "I would like to thank Purdue University and our coaching staff for the opportunity to play the last two years here," Massey said in a release. "My journey as a Boilermaker has been awesome and definitely un- forgettable. All of the connections and relationships I have made here w o m e n ' s ba s k e t ba l l : n e w s a n d n ot e s Double vertime smith leaving for alma mater Tom Campbell Assistant coach Christy Smith will join Jimmy Dykes at her alma mater Arkansas. Smith spent three years at Purdue. Tom Campbell Joslyn Massey has decided to transfer from Purdue after playing in 13 games last season. AP Top 25 (March 17) 1. Connecticut (36) 2. Notre Dame 3. Tennessee 4. Louisville 5. Baylor 6. Stanford 7. West Virginia 8. South Carolina 9. Duke 10. Kentucky 11. Maryland 12. North Carolina 13. Nebraska 14. Penn State 15. Texas A&M 16. N.C. State 17. PURDUE 18. Gonzaga 19. Iowa 20. Michigan State 21. Oklahoma State 22. Middle Tennessee 23. DePaul 24. California 25. USC USA Today Top 25 (April 7) 1. Connecticut (32) 2. Notre Dame 3. Stanford 4. Maryland 5. Louisville 6. Baylor 7. North Carolina 8. Tennessee 9. South Carolina 10. Texas A&M 11. Kentucky 12. West Virginia 13. Duke 14. Penn State 15. Oklahoma State 16. DePaul 17. Nebraska 18. BYU 19. PURDUE 20. California 21. N.C. State 22. Gonzaga 23. Michigan State 24. LSU 25. Oregon State

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