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Tom Campbell Purdue hasn't had a player lead the Big Ten in rebounding since Joy Holmes did it in 1990-91. Through the first 11 games this season, Ostarello's 9.2 was second in league. Not that Ostarello's definition of playing well would match up. When she's reviewing the game tape, sometimes she'll have Skype up with friends in the background for "company." It's not uncommon for them to make fun of her reactions. She scrunches her face, intensely viewing her play. She throws her hands out and yells, "What are you doing?" She sighs. A lot. But she just rewinds the game, pauses it, takes notes, rewinds again, pauses. It's a constant cycle, striving for perfection. When pressed, she admits she'd be happy to average a double-double for the season, mainly because it'd show consistency, "definitely an area I need to get better at." She'd like to lead the league in rebounding, a goal she set before the season. But, even if that happens, don't expect Ostarello to brag or rave. Somehow, it won't be good enough. "I think what she doesn't want it to do to consume her. She knows she's good, but she doesn't want the fact that she can become complacent because of it," Dan Ostarello said. "That's why she's judgmental on herself. It's one of those bars that she always sets higher each time. "I haven't seen her fail yet." j ways at the gym. I know you hear that about everybody gets a little bit more down on herself. It shows good who plays, but she really was. I used to have to drive character that she really cares and wants to do well her into school in the morning at 5 so she could do for her team." open gym." As she's progressed in her basketball career, the Inside the life challenges simply have evolved. S Maybe someone will "take a risk" and give Sam Ostarello a chance to continue her basketball Since at Purdue, she was determined to not be a career overseas or here in the States. "weak" player, so she hit the weight room nearly every Maybe she will opt to use a fifth year of athletic eligibility and compete in the high jump somewhere. day of the week as a junior last season and packed on Maybe she will take her Purdue degree in movement and sports sciences and find a stellar gig. 12 pounds of muscle. Maybe she'll just take time to travel and take off without telling anyone where she's headed. She knew she should be averaging more points, so Really, though, Ostarello isn't quite sure what her future holds post-Purdue. she worked on her shot and post moves especially this And she's not worried. offseason and has made a concerted effort to run the "Leaving it open for whatever. I think right now, that's kind of my mindset," she said. "I don't have a floor this year to get easy buckets. She's averaging a set plan for anything, which is awfully awesome. At the same time, it's, eh, I probably should figure it out." career-high 9.0 points per game. S It started out innocently enough. She's devoting hours a week to watching film now, Ostarello, a freshman in high school at the time, was at a Walmart and snatched up a fleece blanket picking apart her game and others, and Coach Shathat looked cool and happened to have Spiderman on it. ron Versyp said she's been impressed with Ostarello's And the obsession began. growth in that area. Plates, cups — um, even a kid's sippy cup with straw — blankets, sheets, watches and bracelets. Her She starts her pregame shooting routine 30 minsister bought her a toaster last year that burns Spiderman's emblem into the bread. Friends have bought utes before any of her teammates, taking a variety of her iPhone cases with Spiderman on them. shots, including a 15-foot jumper that she's striving to She has a "ridiculous amount" of T-shirts with the super hero. make consistently. "Everyone supports my habit," she said. "I wish I had smaller feet for those Spiderman light-up shoes. The list of challenges is exhaustive. So jealous. And the rain boots, there's some at Walmart, I want them." "I think the biggest thing is now that she's a seToo bad she wears a men's size 13 shoe. nior, she realizes she's got a little bit of pressure and S The music that fuels Ostarello's pregame warmup routine maybe isn't what people would think. a lot of eyes on her and she feels she needs to step When she takes the court 30 minutes before the rest of the team, working on shots solo on one end up for this team," said Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton, who of the court with Beats headphones securely on, it isn't heavy rap music flowing. It isn't edgy alternative has worked with Ostarello for years, even before she blaring on repeat. moved into a full-time assistant coach role this seaOstarello's pregame list is labeled, "Balling for Him" and is loaded with Christian music. Chaz Miles' son. "When she doesn't do things correctly, it gets to "Showcase" with its uptempo beat and Hillsong United's "Like an Avalanche," essentially a worship song, her a bit more. We all get on her because we expect are most often stuck on repeat. so much from her because she is a senior and she — Stacy Clardie should be that leader down low. That's the only thing I've noticed, when things aren't going right that she GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com Gold & Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 3 • 53