Boiler coaches consider overtime win a 'blessing'

By Anne McLaren
Assistant Sports Editor

Coaches Kristy and Kelly Curry are calling Sunday’s 75-70 overtime victory over Wisconsin a "blessing in disguise."

The Boilers (19-3, 9-0 Big Ten) remain No. 6 in the latest Associated Press poll, a position they have held for the last five weeks. Purdue’s overall winning streak is 11 games.

"We’re just happy to still be on top and without a loss," said Kelly.

Including last season’s Big Ten tournament, the Boilers have won 14 straight games over conference opponents. The last conference loss came Feb. 17, 2000, at Michigan State.

Against Wisconsin on Sunday, Purdue trailed for much of the contest and was down 37-31 at halftime.

"No one will probably believe this and I’m not sure it’s entirely true, but there was a part of me that wasn’t even upset that we were down," said Kelly, "because you want those kinds of challenges. Don’t get me wrong, I’d just as soon win by 25 or 30 every game. But I think they’re good for your team and it’s a learning process. Our freshmen hadn’t been in that situation in the Big Ten."

With seven games left in the conference, the Boilers hold a three-game advantage in the conference standings. No. 16 Penn State (14-6, 6-3) and No. 25 Wisconsin (12-7, 6-3) are tied for second, while Michigan (13-7, 6-4), Iowa (10-8, 5-3) and Illinois (10-10, 6-4) are 3 1/2 games back. Indiana (14-6, 5-4) is four games back.

"Purdue has certainly proven that they can play anywhere in the country," said Wisconsin coach Jane Albright. "But I’m not conceding it to them. I don’t have anything to do with it the rest of the year. I think there are some very, very good teams in the Big Ten."

Kristy agreed.

"I don’t really feel like we’re in control," said Kristy. "I think anything can happen. We’ve got four games at home, three on the road."

Purdue’s remaining contests include matchups with Illinois at home on Thursday and Michigan at home on Sunday. Then the Boilers travel to Iowa on Feb. 8 and Ohio State (13-6, 3-6) on Feb. 11. The next two games are at home on Feb. 15 and Feb. 18 against Indiana and Minnesota (8-11, 1-7), respectively. The last regular-season Big Ten contest is at Penn State on Feb. 22. The Boilers’ second bye of the season comes on the last eligible day of competition, so Purdue will have an extra week to prepare for the Big Ten tournament, which is being held March 1 to 4 in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Wisconsin is one team who the Boilers may face in the tournament. Two of the three Badgers' conference losses have come to the Boilers.

"Next time, and hopefully there will be a next time, we’d love to try another shot," said Albright.

"As long as we take care of business the rest of the year, our year can still be what we want it to be. Maybe you don’t get the regular season Big Ten title but last I heard, the winner at the tournament is the Big Ten champs and the one that gets to go to the (NCAA) tournament."

Albright said each team in the Big Ten has two goals — to win the conference and go to the NCAA tournament.

"But only one team gets to win the conference," she said. "And if you don’t get that, then you certainly channel your energy in the direction of the next thing you’ve got to do."

Though the game against Wisconsin was close, Kelly views it as a good test for his team.

"Anytime you can win in overtime, you’ve got to be happy," he said. "That in itself is a good experience for us. Anytime we can go through that experience we’re going to try to take it and learn from it.

"The good thing is that we get to go and watch film on that and we’re doing that after a win. That’s the important thing. There are some areas that we want to improve on."

Kelly said when the team played at Minnesota Thursday, the coaching staff discussed Purdue’s slim 63-61 win over the Gophers during its national championship season as motivation for Purdue to not look ahead.

"You just try to keep them focused and take it one game at a time because that’s all you can do," he said. "And the older ones help."

Senior captain Katie Douglas, who led the Boilers with a season-high 24 points against Wisconsin, said that she and some of her teammates were relaxed against the Badgers because the game was at home.

"We kind of take that for granted," said Douglas. "We know how easy it is and how anyone’s capable of beating anyone on any given night. So we just got to come in and know that we’re capable of being beaten on any night and just come out more aggressive."

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Assistant sports editor:
Anne McLaren

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