Purdue's a different team when Camille Redmon's on the court.
It's easy to see why. The center stands at a height of 6-foot-4, with long arms that can swat away shots by opponents. She has 44 blocks this season, and numerous other alterations, also, probably too many to count.
"When you have somebody back there who has your back, can block, or even alter the shot - there's so many shots that she alters, just crazy shots (that) she forces them to throw up - (it's a great advantage)," said assistant coach Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton, a former Boilermaker player who knows a thing about guarding the lane.
That Redmon's able to make such an impact might be a bit of a surprise, considering how far she's come as a player since the beginning of the season. Then, fouls - mainly her ability to pick them up at an alarming rate - were a huge hindrance to her staying on the court.
But gradually, the junior has worked to clean up the issue. It crops up still - four fouls against Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament game hurt the Boilermakers in the final minutes - but overall is much improved.
Since the start of the Big Ten season, Redmon's played a pivotal role for the Boilermakers, making 12 of her 14 starts and averaging 4.6 points and 6.2 rebounds in just more than 17 minutes per game. In the nonconference, she averaged only 3.1 points and three rebounds, in only about half as many minutes.
Reducing fouls has been a reason why.
Purdue wants Redmon to guard "straight-up" on the ball, not going after blocks on players she's defending. Wisdom-Hylton likened it to instructions for her former teammate, Danielle Campbell, who had a similar style and body type to Redmon.
"we kind of prefer her to be a Danielle Campbell, just two hands straight up, make them shoot over you," said Wisdom-Hylton, Purdue's career blocks leader. "But when she's weak-side or going to help, it's when we want her to use her abilities. We don't want to limit what our kids can do, and if she's a great shot-blocker, we need to capitalize on that. We tell her go ahead and swat it away."
Purdue's done well in empowering Redmon to do what she does best. Her presence has caused issues for opponents who have similar bigs, like Iowa or Penn State or Northwestern. Yet, the Boilermakers' defense isn't necessarily designed to funnel players her direction.
"Definitely not, because that's where fouls come from," Redmon said, smiling. "But our plan is to limit certain people's touches, play good perimeter defense and not let anyone drive on us."
Consider the Boilermakers' opponent in the first round - and its potential second-round foe - the matchup could be difficult for Redmon. No. 13-seed Akron, which fourth-seeded Purdue plays at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Mackey Arena, plays small, with only one starter taller than 6-foot. Its tallest regular is 6-2 reserve Carly Young.
Even Oklahoma State has only one starter taller than 6-foot.
But the Boilermakers say they're not planning to change their style.
"We're obviously not going to just sit her, we're going to use her abilities," Wisdom-Hylton said. "But we have to also be smart with who they have on the court and who she can defend."
It's easy to see why. The center stands at a height of 6-foot-4, with long arms that can swat away shots by opponents. She has 44 blocks this season, and numerous other alterations, also, probably too many to count.
"When you have somebody back there who has your back, can block, or even alter the shot - there's so many shots that she alters, just crazy shots (that) she forces them to throw up - (it's a great advantage)," said assistant coach Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton, a former Boilermaker player who knows a thing about guarding the lane.
That Redmon's able to make such an impact might be a bit of a surprise, considering how far she's come as a player since the beginning of the season. Then, fouls - mainly her ability to pick them up at an alarming rate - were a huge hindrance to her staying on the court.
But gradually, the junior has worked to clean up the issue. It crops up still - four fouls against Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament game hurt the Boilermakers in the final minutes - but overall is much improved.
Since the start of the Big Ten season, Redmon's played a pivotal role for the Boilermakers, making 12 of her 14 starts and averaging 4.6 points and 6.2 rebounds in just more than 17 minutes per game. In the nonconference, she averaged only 3.1 points and three rebounds, in only about half as many minutes.
Reducing fouls has been a reason why.
Purdue wants Redmon to guard "straight-up" on the ball, not going after blocks on players she's defending. Wisdom-Hylton likened it to instructions for her former teammate, Danielle Campbell, who had a similar style and body type to Redmon.
"we kind of prefer her to be a Danielle Campbell, just two hands straight up, make them shoot over you," said Wisdom-Hylton, Purdue's career blocks leader. "But when she's weak-side or going to help, it's when we want her to use her abilities. We don't want to limit what our kids can do, and if she's a great shot-blocker, we need to capitalize on that. We tell her go ahead and swat it away."
Purdue's done well in empowering Redmon to do what she does best. Her presence has caused issues for opponents who have similar bigs, like Iowa or Penn State or Northwestern. Yet, the Boilermakers' defense isn't necessarily designed to funnel players her direction.
"Definitely not, because that's where fouls come from," Redmon said, smiling. "But our plan is to limit certain people's touches, play good perimeter defense and not let anyone drive on us."
Consider the Boilermakers' opponent in the first round - and its potential second-round foe - the matchup could be difficult for Redmon. No. 13-seed Akron, which fourth-seeded Purdue plays at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Mackey Arena, plays small, with only one starter taller than 6-foot. Its tallest regular is 6-2 reserve Carly Young.
Even Oklahoma State has only one starter taller than 6-foot.
But the Boilermakers say they're not planning to change their style.
"We're obviously not going to just sit her, we're going to use her abilities," Wisdom-Hylton said. "But we have to also be smart with who they have on the court and who she can defend."
