Instead of starting on the court, Walter started on the sideline after taking an elbow to the jaw in practice before Hoosier Hysteria in mid-October.
The injury caused her to miss the team’s opener and limited her minutes throughout the next nine games.
She didn’t make a start until the final non-conference game against Yale in late December, where she tallied five points with one assist and one steal.
Now with IU’s conference record dropping to 1-3 after a Purdue loss in West Lafayette, Walter and the Hoosiers will welcome the Michigan State Spartans into Assembly Hall on Wednesday with the sophomore guard in the starting lineup for the sixth time this season.
“I think I’ve responded well to the opportunity,” Walter said regarding her first five starts of the season. “I’m just trying to do the best with the minutes that I’m given.”
Walter received her opportunity in the starting lineup after junior transfer guard Tyshee Towner started the first 11 games, shooting only 25 percent from the field and averaging just 2.2 points per game.
Coach Teri Moren described Towner as a “slasher” coming into the season, where her game wasn’t the strongest outside of the arc.
But with Buss driving in the lane as the point guard and junior guard Alexis Gassion taking more shots as the scoring threat on the team, Towner found the adjustment to her role to be a difficult one early in the season, Moren said.
“That three-spot has been a pain in the rear end for us honestly,” Moren said. “Trying to figure out the rotation between Karlee (McBride), Tyshee and Jess. We’ve got to find a guard in the three-spot to help us out.”
Enter Walter.
With Walter’s most lucrative performance coming from the loss to No. 5 Ohio State, where she converted on three 3-point shots and scored 11 points, she has combined for just 14 points in her four other starts.
Walter said that she is gaining confidence in her shot as she gains more playing time.
She struggled with her shot in non-conference play, having a mere 30.8 percent field goal percentage this season.
“I think that’s what the non-conference season is for,” Walter said about finding a rhythm in her game this season. “I think the Yale game was good prep for the Big Ten season, but it’s not that hard to get back into the swing of things playing wise.”
Moren said that while Walter can get momentum in her shot every now and then, it’s her defense and decision-making that needs to improve in order for the Hoosiers’ supporting cast to get a jump start around Buss, Gassion and sophomore forward Amanda Cahill.
“She played pretty well against Ohio State from the standpoint that she made shots,” Moren said. “Scoring is one thing, but it’s also taking care of the basketball. It’s facilitating. It’s being a playmaker, getting the ball to your scorers, in addition to being able to defend.”
Moren said that none of the three guards have shown the consistency in all of the listed aspects needed to keep the starting spot.
McBride can knock down 3-point shots and provide energy and leadership on the court. Towner provides defensive effort and the ability to drive. Walter has a 3-point shot and the size as a guard.
For now, the starter in the three-spot is Walter, something that Buss said will help Walter and herself gain confidence in the backcourt.
“She just needs to get out there and knock down those shots that we know she can knock down,” Buss said about Walter. “She’s starting to become the Jess that we know she is.”
