Early in the season, the Boilermakers talked of learning lessons following close losses.
Looking back now, as Purdue (7-4) starts the Big Ten season, it feels like it did so, turning those close losses into victories; the Boilermakers take a four-game winning streak into league play, which starts Sunday when they travel to take on Illinois.
"They were tough losses, only losing by a handful of points," Wilson said, referring specifically to overtime loses to Green Bay and Florida State and a close loss at Dayton. "It was good, so that we could see all the things that we were doing wrong and all the things we could improve on. I think that's why we finished out non-conference better."
The biggest difference between Purdue's start - it was 3-4 after the Dec. 7 loss to Dayton - and the four-game winning streak is defense. In the four wins, Purdue gave up more than 50 only once, and that was the 51 vs. Denver in a 14-point victory. In the wins, Purdue allowed an average of only 47 points per game on less than 32-percent shooting.
"Defense is going to be the key," Wilson said. "That's how we won these last four games and how we lost the other three games, because we hadn't been playing defense. Defense and transition offense will definitely be the key."
Purdue's offense might be the question. The Boilermakers' shooting has been sporadic, only 39 percent on the season, but has been near 43 percent or above in two of the last four games. The key, as Wilson alluded, has been the ability to score in transition.
In the four-game winning streak, the Boilermakers have been better able to get out and go on the break.
Still, the offense needs to be better. After Purdue's win over Denver on Dec. 20, Coach Sharon Versyp said opponents should play zone against the Boilermakers, packing into the paint. Purdue's not shot well from the outside, making only 31 percent of its three-pointers, with only two - Bridget Perry and Andreona Keys - making at least 40 percent.
"We need one kid who can flat-out shoot the 3," Versyp said. "We need to extend the floor. And that will happen. It's just taken longer than what they want and what we want. But that will start to shore things up if you start knocking down outside shots. People will have to play you differently. Right now, they're just clogging it in and not letting Liza (Clemons) and Whitney (Bays) have the ball. I think they've handled things really well and have scored differently and have improved in that area and finding shots, but we've got to be able to knock down the 3."
• At 14.9 turnovers per game, the Boilermakers are on pace for one of their top ball security seasons in school history. The Purdue record was 14.7 turnovers per game in 2001-02.
"We don't take a ton of risk, and that's not a bad thing," Versyp said. "We're a little more fundamental in certain areas. But what was really good to see is that we still ran the last couple games and we took care of the basketball. So that was great."
Wilson, Purdue's primary point guard, is 2.6 turnovers per game, with a near 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
• Purdue had hoped freshman Haley Bodnar would be back available by the start of Big Ten play.
But that's not happening. The forward is still rehabbing from a stress fracture in her foot, with a timetable of around the end of January before a debut could be possible.
Looking back now, as Purdue (7-4) starts the Big Ten season, it feels like it did so, turning those close losses into victories; the Boilermakers take a four-game winning streak into league play, which starts Sunday when they travel to take on Illinois.
"They were tough losses, only losing by a handful of points," Wilson said, referring specifically to overtime loses to Green Bay and Florida State and a close loss at Dayton. "It was good, so that we could see all the things that we were doing wrong and all the things we could improve on. I think that's why we finished out non-conference better."
The biggest difference between Purdue's start - it was 3-4 after the Dec. 7 loss to Dayton - and the four-game winning streak is defense. In the four wins, Purdue gave up more than 50 only once, and that was the 51 vs. Denver in a 14-point victory. In the wins, Purdue allowed an average of only 47 points per game on less than 32-percent shooting.
"Defense is going to be the key," Wilson said. "That's how we won these last four games and how we lost the other three games, because we hadn't been playing defense. Defense and transition offense will definitely be the key."
Purdue's offense might be the question. The Boilermakers' shooting has been sporadic, only 39 percent on the season, but has been near 43 percent or above in two of the last four games. The key, as Wilson alluded, has been the ability to score in transition.
In the four-game winning streak, the Boilermakers have been better able to get out and go on the break.
Still, the offense needs to be better. After Purdue's win over Denver on Dec. 20, Coach Sharon Versyp said opponents should play zone against the Boilermakers, packing into the paint. Purdue's not shot well from the outside, making only 31 percent of its three-pointers, with only two - Bridget Perry and Andreona Keys - making at least 40 percent.
"We need one kid who can flat-out shoot the 3," Versyp said. "We need to extend the floor. And that will happen. It's just taken longer than what they want and what we want. But that will start to shore things up if you start knocking down outside shots. People will have to play you differently. Right now, they're just clogging it in and not letting Liza (Clemons) and Whitney (Bays) have the ball. I think they've handled things really well and have scored differently and have improved in that area and finding shots, but we've got to be able to knock down the 3."
• At 14.9 turnovers per game, the Boilermakers are on pace for one of their top ball security seasons in school history. The Purdue record was 14.7 turnovers per game in 2001-02.
"We don't take a ton of risk, and that's not a bad thing," Versyp said. "We're a little more fundamental in certain areas. But what was really good to see is that we still ran the last couple games and we took care of the basketball. So that was great."
Wilson, Purdue's primary point guard, is 2.6 turnovers per game, with a near 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
• Purdue had hoped freshman Haley Bodnar would be back available by the start of Big Ten play.
But that's not happening. The forward is still rehabbing from a stress fracture in her foot, with a timetable of around the end of January before a debut could be possible.
