Quotes from Purdue head coach Kristy Curry

On the progress of Erika Valek after playing injured as a sophomore: "Night and day just doesn't even really come close to describing it. I think that she holds a lot in her hands as far as how our season goes, and I think that she welcomes those expectations. She's been showing incredible leadership and she's been a difference-maker for us in practice with her verbal ability. She's not afraid to say the hard thing, and that's what this team needs. I think she's learned from some really good (leaders) before, and now its her turn. She could be the reason why we have a special year."

On leadership: "I'm expecting (leadership) to come from Erika and Shereka (Wright), along with Mary Jo (Noon), and for Beth (Jones) and Lindsey (Hicks) to do what they can. I think it's extremely difficult for a post player to lead sometimes because they don't have the ball in their hands and they don't have control of the situation. Erika and Shereka are going to have to lend a hand to Mary Jo and step up and be verbal. I think Shereka Wright is an incredible action leader, obviously, but I'm expecting her to be more verbal.

On the progress of the freshman class: "I think there have been days when they have been overwhelmed. Expectations are extremely high any time you suit up for us. I think the biggest adjustment they've had has just been execution-wise. We've probably put in more things offensively than they had in an entire senior season where they were."

On Mary Jo Noon's health: "(Mary Jo) is doing great today. She broke her foot about six weeks ago and we thought she'd be out for six weeks, but she was only out for four and has rebounded really well. We're hoping that she can have another injury-free year."

On Purdue's backcourt: "I think it's going to be a special backcourt. Anytime you have Erika Valek leading the way as healthy as she is, and Shereka Wright, and a possiblity of a Beth Jones, Missy Taylor, Sharika Webb, and Ashley Mays ... We're going to have some depth. We're going to have some athleticism and the ability to get the ball up and down the floor and press and run. I love our backcourt. I love the versatility of it. I love the size.

On depth: "(We have) probably more depth than we've had since I've been here. It'll be interesting to see how this (freshman) class responds. We'll see how they respond when the lights go on."

On her team's personality: "This is probably the most enjoyable team (I've had) since I've been here. They've always got a smile on their face. They're a fun team to be around. They're good people; they study hard and work hard. That's all you can ask. To me, that makes it easy it coach. That makes you look forward to getting in there every day with them."

On a tough non-conference schedule: "Sometimes I wonder if we've overscheduled. But I know that we put ourselves in this position every year to prepare us for the league. I think our schedule last year did that. I think the tough preseason prepares us for a lot of different environments."

On who will fill the vacancies in the starting lineup: "I think initially that our older kids understand the system, and that puts them a step ahead. Come December and January, I think it will be interesting to see if any of the freshmen emerge. It's not so much with me who starts, but who finishes. (Sometimes) if kids don't start they end up not playing well. It's always really interesting to see who is team and who really cares about that. I think (for players on this team) that it doesn't matter who starts. We just want to win."

Player Quotes

Mary Jo Noon on injuries: "Injuries to me are nothing new. I've asked the question, 'Why me?' But I've just learned not to ask that question anymore. Things happen for a reason. I think that all my injuries have made me a better person and a better player. I don't think they've set me back, but they have kept me from things that I've wanted to do. (Missing the national championship as a true freshman) is the one thing that hurt me the most. That drives me so much every day in practice. Every day I have I'll do the things I need to do to take my team to Atlanta in April."

Erika Valek on being selfless: "I feel like I've learned that no matter what you're asked to do, you do what's best for the team. In the long run, the decisions the coaches make and the positions you're put in are what's best for the team."

Shereka Wright on the freshman class: "I think they'll all make impacts in their own ways. I think once the season starts and gets going, everybody will be able to make their own opinion about who will be an impact player. I think all of them are going to play great roles. They're going to help us out a lot with depth."

Wright on improving her outside game: "My outside game was not where it needed to be last year. I think that is going to be a dimension that I need to step up this year (in order to be) an all-around player. Once that is intact, I'll be the player that I think I should be. I should be the Shereka that everybody expects of me."

Emily Heikes on team chemistry: "I think it's been good. We've been together since the summer. All the freshmen came in and we took classes and had workouts in the morning. Since the beginning of school we've been together doing individual (workouts) and conditioning. I think our chemistry is good, and it'll stay that way."

Heikes on her role: I think my role isn't set right now. I just want to go out and help with whatever I can and play my best. If my role is to come off the bench and be a spark, I'm happy with that."

Missy Taylor on getting back after missing her senior year of high school with a knee injury: "It's been hard because now that I'm on the floor I don't feel like I have as much confidence. But it's coming. Each day I notice that I'm getting more confident, and doing more things and getting back to the things that I was able to do. It's just going to take time to get my confidence back and to feel comfortable on the court."