With the departure of Mackenzie Holmes and Sara Scalia, Indiana women’s basketball needed a new leader. It needed someone who can get the dependable buckets that exited the team after the Sweet 16 loss to the University of South Carolina on March 29.
Even with the additions it made in the transfer portal, the Hoosiers always had that piece right in front of them. That piece is fifth-year senior guard Sydney Parrish.
Miss Basketball in Indiana in 2020, Parrish has always had great scoring and leadership in her.
While this advanced role is very much in the cards, these waters are uncharted for the Fishers native.
But in her first game as the face that runs the place, against Brown University on Monday, Parrish looked the part with a 20-point 10 rebound double-double. Both stats led the team Monday in Indiana’s 82-60 victory.
“I kind of have a history of starting the season off pretty poorly, so coming into today I knew I needed to start off strong,” Parrish said postgame. “We (Parrish and graduate student Chloe Moore-McNeil) were both ready to come in and lead this team to where we are at.”
Now, if things go according to plan, could Parrish turn her basketball career on its head? Could Parrish find herself in a position as an All-Big Ten, or even an All-American selection?
The good news for Parrish is that this role fits a player of her play style perfectly.
Parrish can play all but one position on the floor, which means she creates spacing for the other four Hoosiers on the floor. We have seen her score in all areas offensively. Last season, she shot 45% from the field and 40% from 3-point range. She complimented those stats with 57% shooting on Monday.
This team's ceiling, and floor for that matter, depend the most on Parrish as the most experienced scorer and whether she can produce consistently.
This consistency is so important because Parrish can produce from inside and outside the arc. Until this season is fully sunk in, and we can judge this team from a decent sample size, fans are going to be comparing these expectations to what they saw in the past, most specifically what they lost.
Until multiple bodies can prove that they are an option from deep alongside Parrish and junior guard Yarden Garzon, she will be the catalyst and the number one option.
Thankfully, Parrish won’t have to do everything inside the arc because, to the surprise of many, junior and senior forwards Lilly Meister and Karoline Striplin have fit in right where Holmes left off. The two bigs combined for 30 points Monday night, highlighted by Meister’s jumper and Striplin’s physicality in the paint.
Interestingly, when Parrish was asked if she could give a letter grade for the team’s performance, she replied with a “C” grade. Parrish gave that response due to Indiana allowing lots of three-point attempts and makes. Brown went 11-36 from beyond the arc.
“Playing Big Ten teams, that will definitely hurt us down the stretch,” Parrish said.
Parrish will be the focal point of the Hoosiers season, and rightfully so. The team's success, or lack there-of, will depend on her. That’s what comes with being a fifth-year senior leader.
Should Hoosier fans be comfortable with that? Absolutely. Parrish is a larger than life teammate and a proven winner in her two years at Indiana.
