2024-25 Team Preview: Purdue
What does year one of a new era look like for the Boilermakers?
Not sure if anyone’s heard, but the Olympics are on and have been at least somewhat enjoyable I would argue!
While there’s a million storylines going on, I wanted to shout out a future Hoopla player, Syla Swords. Swords, who will be a freshman at Michigan this upcoming season, was on Canada’s women’s basketball roster, and despite the winless record for the unit, Swords is worth the headlines for not only being on the roster — the youngest in Canada basketball history at the Olympics — but for earning a sizable role on that roster.
Swords averaged 15 minutes per game and averaged 3.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in Canada’s three contests. To do that at 18, before playing a single collegiate game? That’s absolutely worth celebrating, but this preview isn’t about Michigan so I’ll leave it at that.
Last Week’s Preview:
Overview
Last year was supposed to be a big one for Purdue. It was the most veteran group head coach Katie Geralds had since taking over as head coach, with four seniors or super seniors as the core of the team and a handful of freshman to provide depth and a spark.
The Boilermakers were not a bad team last season, but it was an underwhelming performance from a group that had reason to have expectations. There was just not an area where Purdue excelled, outside of having a free throw percentage that ranked 10th in the nation (78.8%).
The Big Ten ranks above really tell the whole picture. Even as a team that often could muck games up and slow top teams down, the Boilermakers were consistently ranked below average across the board, and it led to 10 single-digit losses on the season.
It’s the type of season that leaves Purdue in an odd spot heading into 24-25. There’s a great energy within the program and I feel Geralds’ belief in a big way, but this was also not the result that I, and likely others, expected for the unit. I guess the good and bad thing about having a fully veteran core is that it makes things easier to enter a new era when things don’t go exactly right.
Here's last year’s Purdue roster, sorted by Her Hoop Stats win shares:
Departures
As alluded to, the core of Abbey Ellis, Caitlyn Harper, Jeanae Terry and Madison Layden all leave, and Purdue only lost two others through the portal.
First, the vets. Ellis has consistently been Purdue’s best scorer, and her shooting ability will be missed as they move forward. The same can be said for Harper on the interior, with her departure being especially painful with how it ended: A season-ending injury right before postseason play.
Madison Layden had some difficult seasons with efficiency, but really put it together last year as Purdue’s key deep threat. Finally, Jeanae Terry, truly one of my favorite players to watch in the conference. Her defensive energy, tremendous playmaking and rebounding as a guard, it was all so key for the Boilermakers even when she wasn’t scoring.
Those losses hurt, but Mary Ashley Stevenson’s transfer is massive. She was co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year and was quick to adapt to the college game. Her move to Stanford should be a sign of the potential she holds.
Returnees
Fortunately for Purdue, a different first-year player started to show some star potential late in the season, and that is Rashunda Jones.
Jones started the year strong as well, with two 20-point performances in non-conference play and a 23-point outing on Jan. 18 against Penn State. Then, Jones ended the regular season with 16 points against Michigan, then followed it with a heroic 19-point effort to take down Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament.
That Northwestern performance specifically stood out to me, as she looked the part of a real primary scoring option. There’s also Sophie Swanson, who was a wildly high-volume scorer in limited action as a freshman last season. Swanson put up 7.1 PPG in 12.6 MPG. Her 22.7 points per 36 minutes was in the top 100 of all players nationally. This sophomore duo of Swanson and Jones could be exactly what Purdue needs as it moves into a bit of a new era with this roster.
I’m very interested to see what role the Reynolds sisters — Mila and Amiyah — will bring to the table in 24-25. Mila Reynolds was available last season, but was only used in limited minutes and struggled to find her shot. Another year under her belt with Purdue, plus the addition of Amiyah, a top-50 recruit, should help for a boost.
Incoming Players
I really like the offseason Purdue had, which was absolutely needed with so much experience departing.
Reagan Bass and Destini Lombard are proven collegiate vets who should bring said experience to the table from the efforts at their respective mid-majors, with Bass bringing needed interior scoring and rebounding, while Lombard helps replace Terry’s playmaking and pesky defending.
Ella Collier is maybe the most interesting wild card add in the whole conference. She’s played her whole career at the lower NAIA level, but was the best player in the country at that level for multiple seasons. Her efficiency feels like a typo, as she clears the 50/40/90 level with EASE and has hit those marks all four seasons of her career. For the record, only 11 players have hit those marks playing at least 20 MPG and 10 games across all of Division I since the 2009-10 season.
Will Collier’s game translate easily? I’m not entirely sure, but I am fascinated to find out. At the least, she could be a deadly pairing with Swanson as major scoring options at guard.
Each of the incoming freshman should have an opportunity to earn a key role on this roster. Four-star guard Jordyn Poole certainly stands out, and if anyone could have a Stevenson-level first year it would be her. Both Lana McCarthy and Kendall Puryear have the right skillsets to make some early marks as well, with McCarthy’s steal numbers and Puryear’s rebounding jumping off the page.
Outlook
Projected Starters
Destini Lombard - G
Rashunda Jones - G
Sophie Swanson - G
Kendall Puryear - F
Reagan Bass - F
Projected Big Ten Finish: 15th
It feels like Purdue should be taking a big step back with all of that experience departing, and even though I have them ranked down at No. 15, I don’t really see this program as in a bad spot. There is a lot of talent that remains on this roster, helped out by a big-time transfer portal and freshman class exactly when the program needed it.
I’d be surprised if Lombard, Jones or Bass was held out of the starting lineup to begin the season. Lombard and Bass were key starters last year, and Jones has too much potential to keep on the bench in year two. Swanson I would like to see get an expanded role after thriving in a very limited capacity.
While Poole is the highest-rated incoming freshman, I could see a player like Puryear getting early starts as another rebounder and efficient inside scorer. I wonder if Collier will immediately start, but regardless, there is really solid depth at guard for the Boilermakers to use this season.
There’s still plenty to be excited about with Purdue, but it’s also hard to see a major step forward happening this year unless there’s a massive breakout from Jones and Swanson, or from one of the first-year options. This should be a competitive year for the unit, and hopefully it’s a season where some of the younger talent can really find a role and show promise that will help down the line.
That’s not to say postseason dreams are out of the question for Purdue, if all the newcomers mesh and young talent develops fast, I think the Boilermakers could be a real pain for a lot of the Big Ten, but the Big Ten’s outrageous depth makes it feels like a lofty goal to reach for now.
Photo Credit: Purdue Athletics
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