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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 9 • 39 BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com P urdue thinks its size this season — six players who stand 6-foot- 2 or taller — can help it on the de- fensive end. And the Boilermakers need help there, after ranking among the bottom of the Big Ten last year, fin- ishing No. 10 in points allowed (68 per game) and eighth in field goal percentage (.406). It might not have been a huge hindrance then, as the Boilermakers frequently won with offense, averaging nearly 75 points per game. But that offense was led by now-departed seniors Courtney Moses and KK Houser. "I think sometimes last year, we had so many offensive threats dur- ing the season, especially when KK was in, that sometimes we really didn't have to play defense like that," senior forward Whitney Bays said. "So defense will be the emphasis." And Purdue expects to be able to vary its looks this season. Last sea- son, it stuck primarily with its man- to-man, partly because it lacked the size inside — and the length — on the perimeter to be able to play a zone effectively. But not now. Coach Sharon Versyp says she plans to use the man as a base but mix in a 1-2-2 zone, similar to the one she used, with great success, early in her tenure at Purdue, as well as a 2-3 zone. The Boilermakers, who ad - vanced to two Elite Eights in a three- year span in the late 2000s, excelled in zones because they had the abil- ity to extend into passing lanes. "They just understood it and trusted what we were teaching them," Versyp said of those Elite teams, led by Katie Gearlds in 2006- 07 and Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton in '08-09. "And understood that they may be out of position, but that they could get there. "… Our post players have to trust that and believe in what we're trying to do. And understand that we want the ball to come inside. We want it to come inside to have the element of surprise with the dou - ble-team and then our guards have to do a great job on the rebounding side. We've been doing it and it's been looking better and better all the time, but it's a defense you have to trust 100 percent." Of course, officiating had a bit to do with Purdue's statistical slide in defense last season, the same as it did for teams across the country. With officials emphasizing a more free-flowing game — and not al - lowing contact on the perimeter — scoring was up. "That's why you're seeing a lot of zone," Versyp said. "I think we can be effective. I think last year in man-to-man we were effective because our players really started understanding the concepts of what the officials were calling." SUNDAY TICKET PACKAGE AVAILABLE Purdue is of- fering a Sunday ticket package to bring families to Mackey Arena. For $40, the "Celebrate Sunday" package includes four tickets and a $20 conces- sions voucher for the Boilermak- ers' six home games. Also, the Boilermakers will hold a family fun fest, starting an hour and half before tipoff, in Holloway Gymna- sium before the Sunday games. Each fun fest — a ticket is needed for entry — will include interac- tive games for children, crafts, music and opportunities to con- nect with the Boilermakers. Other important dates on the Boilermakers' home schedule include "Dunks After Work" (Dec. 11), Elementary School Day (Dec. 19), Stephanie White Bobble- head Night (Feb. 21) and Nation- al Girls and Women in Sports Day (Feb. 28). j Tom Campbell Whitney Bays says the Boilermakers are going to be more focused on the defensive end this season. 2014-15 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent Time Nov. 9 FINDLAY (exb.) (BTN Plus) 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at Ball State 7 p.m. Nov. 19 GREEN BAY 5:30 p.m. Nov. 23 TOLEDO (BTN Plus) 2 p.m. Junkanoo Jam, Freeport, Bahamas Nov. 28 Texas Tech 3:15 p.m. Nov. 29 Geo. Washington/N Carolina 1/3:15 p.m. Big Ten/ACC Challenge Dec. 3 FLORIDA STATE (BTN Plus) 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at Dayton 2 p.m. Dec. 11 KANSAS (BTN Plus) 7 p.m. World Vision Classic Dec. 19 UC IRVINE Noon Dec. 20 DENVER 2:30 p.m. Dec. 21 WRIGHT STATE 2:30 p.m. Dec. 28 at Illinois (BTN Plus) 3 p.m. Jan. 1 MINNESOTA (BTN Plus) 2 p.m. Jan. 4 INDIANA (BTN Plus) 2 p.m. Jan. 8 at Maryland (BTN) 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at Iowa (BTN) TBA Jan. 15 WISCONSIN (BTN Plus) 7 p.m. Jan. 19 at Nebraska (BTN) 7 p.m. Jan. 22 at Minnesota (BTN Plus) 8 p.m. Jan. 25 OHIO STATE (BTN Plus) 2 p.m. Jan. 29 RUTGERS (BTN) 7 p.m. Feb. 2 at Indiana (BTN) 8:30 p.m. Feb. 8 PENN STATE (BTN Plus) 2 p.m. Feb. 11 NORTHWESTERN (BTN Plus) 7 p.m. Feb. 14 at Rutgers (BTN) Noon Feb. 17 at Ohio State (BTN) 7 p.m. Feb. 21 ILLINOIS (BTN/BTN Plus) TBA Feb. 24 at Michigan (BTN) 7 p.m. Feb. 28 MICHIGAN STATE (BTN) 2 p.m. March 4-8 Big Ten Tournament* TBA * Sears Centre, Hoffman Estates, Ill. All times ET 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 UPPING THE DEFENSE