Basketball teams hold first
practice
From Staff Reports
The Purdue men's and women's basketball teams held
their first official practices of the season on Saturday in Mackey Arena.
Although Saturday was the first day teams could
hold practice according to NCAA rules, neither Purdue team held any
sort of "Midnight Madness" event Friday night as most of the major colleges
around the country did. However, Purdue will hold the "Boilermaker Hoops
Sneak Preview" at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Mackey Arena.
Gene Keady, who's beginning his 22nd year as Purdue
men's basketball coach, said he's excited about the beginning of the
season.
"It feels good to get out here on the court again
and begin coaching this team," Keady said in a press release. "I wasn't
able to watch this team when they played pickup games in the summer
and fall, so it's nice to see what these guys can do."
Three players had their first official practices
as Boilers: junior college transfer Darmetreis Kilgore, freshman Brandon
McKnight and freshman Matt Carroll.
The Boilermakers' first exhibition game is Nov.
5 in Mackey Arena against International Select.
The Purdue women’s basketball team, last year’s
Big Ten champions and NCAA runners-up, also began practice on Saturday.
Coach Kristy Curry, in her third year as Purdue
women's basketball coach, said her team had a good first day of practice.
"I was happy with how we handled things today,"
Curry said. "We have a great group of kids that is ready and willing
to work hard and sacrifice for each other. They all understand how to
win and what it takes to win. That’s a great place to start."
Three women were practicing as Boilers for the
first time Saturday: junior college transfer Mandy Davis, freshman Emily
Heikes and Connecticut transfer Kennitra Johnson. Johnson, a New Albany,
Ind., native, will practice with the Boilermakers but will not be able
to play in games this year.
The Boilers lost six letterwinners and three starters
from last year's team, two of whom are now on WNBA rosters. The Purdue
roster has only 10 active players, which is why the team will hold walk-on
tryouts at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in Mackey Arena.
The women's team opens its exhibition season on
Nov. 4 in Mackey Arena against an opponent yet to be determined.
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