In mid-December, Karissa McLaughlin had back-to-back seven-turnover games. Two games later, she gave the ball away six times.
Those days seem so long ago now.
The freshman has seen her performances escalate recently, particularly her handle of the ball, highlighted by a 10-point, 11-assist game in late January that served as a catalyst.
“She’s grown probably more than anybody,” said Coach Sharon Versyp, whose team takes on Minnesota at 7 p.m. Thursday in Mackey Arena. “Because early on, she was scoring but not understanding the system and what we needed. Then she went through, trying to understand the system and didn’t get the shots, but now it’s all come together. And that’s usually how it goes.
“But she studies it and we meet, obviously, talking game and personnel, what she needs to do and what’s available. It’s a lot. Before, she was thinking a lot and now she’s just playing and understands the concept of our offense and what needs to be done.”
And it shows up on the court. In the last three games, all Purdue wins, McLaughlin has 18 assists against seven turnovers — her total in the first seven Big Ten games was 21 assists to 18 turnovers — plus she’s averaged 14.3 points per outing. Her double-double vs. Penn State was the first by a true freshman since Sam Ostarello in 2009.
“Lately, it’s been all up,” the Fort Wayne native said. “Just settling down and gaining confidence in what my role is and what my team needs me to do. Right now, we’re just letting the game come to us. Personally, I think that’s what I’ve been doing, letting the game come to me and relaxing and playing the game of basketball.”
That wasn’t happening as much early in the season. The Homestead graduate, who came to Purdue more of a combination guard, has been pushed into the point No. 1, because she’s capable and No. 2, because the Boilermakers lack other options.
There were hurdles, more than even what shows up in the statistics. Early, McLaughlin looked hesitant at times within the offense, dribbling too much at the top of the circle rather than whipping the ball from one side to the other or finding openings.
But she’s done those things more recently.
“When you have some games that build confidence, it’s really helpful,” Versyp said. “And now she’s understanding when her shots come and when she needs to direct, and that’s the hardest thing as a point guard, especially as a freshman. She’s gone through it and right now I said if she can start shooting the ball well for us, we could cause some problems and we did at Michigan because of that.”
The confidence is helping with McLaughlin’s shot. She’s hit 10 three-pointers in the last three games, making 45 percent of her attempts, including the two big ones in overtime of the win at Michigan. She’d gone a stretch in early January in which she missed nine straight.
“You can tell if I’m thinking about it. It’s not very good,” she said. “But if I’m in the groove of the game and not thinking about anything, I know it’s going to go in. It makes it a lot easier, and not so stressful, like hoping the ball is going to go in. I know it’s going to go in.”
Double bye?
If Purdue wins its final four home games — Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan State — it’s likely to get a double bye in the Big Ten Tournament.
It’d need some help, like a couple losses by Iowa and/or Nebraska, but it’s doable. And that would have seemed unlikely for the Boilermakers after an uneven nonconference and start to the league schedule.
But after starting 10-7, with losses in two of their first three Big Ten games, the Boilermakers have won six of their last seven, including three vs. ranked opponents. Now, Purdue is in fourth place in the league, tied for second in the loss column.
“When you have 10 freshmen and sophomores, you’re going to have hiccups early,” Versyp said. “Our players are starting to just play and that’s what you want this time of year. We just have to do what we can do.”
Of course, Purdue (16-8 overall, 7-3 in the Big Ten) takes on a tough Minnesota (17-6, 6-4) to start the final six-game stretch, which includes a back-to-back road trip to Ohio State and Maryland.
“We’re just worried about Minnesota right now,” Versyp said. “But if we can do some good things at home, we’ll be in pretty good shape.”
Slowing the Gophers
The Gophers average 84.5 points per game, only 1.5 less than the Big Ten’s top-scoring team Ohio State, and they rank third in the conference in three-point shooting, hitting 37.5 percent.
Four players average double-figures, led by guard Kenisha Bell, who averages 20 points, 6.3 assists and 5.5 rebounds. Carlie Wagner averaged 18 points.
“I’m hoping we can play a little defense,” Versyp said. “I think that’s obviously going to be really important for us. They can score lights out. They can push the ball and shoot it pretty quickly. We have to manage the game. We have to try to contain some of their three-point shooters, but they really do well off the dribble too.”
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