GBI Magazine

Gold and Black Illustrated, May/June 2014

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IllustrateD volume 24, issue 5 75 f score more by allowing guards move- ment without defensive harassment. Versyp wants to be able to continue to take advantage of the new rules. "You have to be able to score the ball," the ninth-year coach said. "If (the NCAA) is going to put everything on offense, you have to be a great of- fensive team, you have to. And free throws. Those are things that we've always done, it's not going to change. "… In the summer, you've got to become a great offensive player, work your game to another level, then it's up to us to teach defense when we all get together." Purdue's roster might not yet be complete. Versyp spent the spring actively recruiting a couple potential late additions, and highly regarded ones, too. On con- secutive weekends in late April, Purdue welcomed 5-11 Australian point guard Kristy Wallace and 6-4 post Adut Bulgak, a native of Canada who last played for Trinity Valley Community College. Wallace is considering Purdue, Louisville, Baylor and others, while Bulgak is thought to be looking at Purdue, Michigan, California, Texas, Florida State and more. Versyp also has been busy looking for a new assistant coach, after Christy Smith left the program after three years to take a job as the top assistant at Arkansas, her alma ma- ter, under first-year coach Jimmy Dykes. Also, in late April, Nadine Morgan was promoted to associate head coach. Versyp is trying to get the pieces in the right place, coaches as well as players. Purdue could be young in the backcourt next season, making leadership — and the Boilermakers lose a ton of it with Moses, Houser and Williams departing — a top priority. "I think we have some leaders who can take over, but our guards are going to be green and you've got to have guards that are not green," Versyp said. "Your guard spots have to be good, and I think we're there, it's just how quickly are they going to improve and embrace that opportunity?" Purdue will enter an expanded Big Ten next season, too, with Maryland, a Final Four par- ticipant last year, and Rutgers joining the new 14-team league. It'll make winning more challenging, but the goals remain the same. "We're always trying to strive for that Big Ten cham- pionship," Versyp said. "Is it getting tougher? Absolute- ly. More talented teams are being added to the puzzle. But as a program, we're exactly where we need to be, but we need to make that next step. And everybody knows that and everybody wants to do that." j CERAMIC • ENGINEERED hARDwooD LAMINATES • MARbLE CARPETING Specializing in • Homes • Businesses • Churches • Schools Where Contractors Buy Their Flooring Builders! Call our Contract Department and ask for our Contract Specialist 3437 State Road 26 E. 765-447-9393 800-403-6889 FAX 765-448-9978 Across from the Post Office go boilers go boilers

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