Fate keeps Parker, Wisdom-Hylton apart

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The dateline for the first and second round of the women's NCAA tournament might read Indiana, but any Chicago gym would do just as well as Mackey Arena.

For Tennessee forward Candace Parker, who grew up in the Chicago suburb of Naperville, Ill., this weekend has been a reunion of sorts for players who grew up in the Land of Lincoln.

All of Sunday's first-round winners (Purdue, Notre Dame Oklahoma and Tennessee) feature players from Illinois. Even Parker's high school point guard, Tiffany Hudson, was here with Illinois State on Saturday and Sunday.

"It's funny because I don't think people realize how many people from Illinois basketball are here this weekend," Parker said Monday. "Even in the stands and watching."

About the only thing that would make top-seeded Tennessee's trip better - besides claiming a spot in next weekend's Oklahoma City regional - would be for one more of those Chicago spectators to be in uniform and on the court.

For the second time in four seasons, college basketball will miss out on a marquee matchup.

And Parker won't get a chance to face one of her future bridesmaids on the court.

Purdue's Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton, one of Parker's best friends and an All-Big Ten forward, won't be on the court for tonight's 7 p.m. tipoff after sufferening a torn ACL while in Russia with USA Basketball over the summer.

It's the exact opposite of what happened when Purdue faced Tennessee in the second round of the 2005 tournament in Knoxville. That year, Parker redshirted while recovering from an ACL injury.

Besides their Chicago roots and time as AAU teammates, the two are bound by matching scars on their knees.

"I called her up and told her it's not a club many people want to be in, but you just have to attack it and rehab properly," Parker said. "I can definitely sympathize. She texted me, and I hit her up immediately prior to her having surgery and told her I'm here."

Tonight they'll both be in the same building on Purdue's campus. Later this year, Wisdom-Hylton will be in Parker's wedding.

They just won't have a chance to face each other on the court as they did three times as prep stars and Parade All-Americans growing up in Chicago.

"It sucks," Wisdom-Hylton said. "Each game it gets a little bit easier. When tournament time comes, you want to be out there even more, especially when you're playing friends. Things happen for a reason, and I'll be here next year."

Thanks to a redshirt, Wisdom-Hylton gets one more year with the Boilermakers. By then, though, Parker will be in the WNBA.

This week, the two have exchanged phone calls and text messages lamenting their luck.

"I really thought that we were going to be able to play (each other)," Wisdom-Hylton said. "You're given two chances in college to play against each other, and neither of us being able to play, it's kind of sad."

Still, Parker will see plenty of another familiar face from way back when.

Purdue center Danielle Campbell once played on a summer team with Parker and coached by Parker's dad, Larry.

"She's always been great," Campbell said of Parker. "But now she's at another level."

Both players remember each other, but they haven't kept in touch the way Parker and Wisdom-Hylton have.

And while Campbell is a major contributor for the Boilermakers, that matchup won't carry the weight of two elite players who just happen to be best friends going toe-to-toe for a spot in the Sweet 16.

"I think it would have been great for women's basketball," Parker said. "But it's still going to be Tennessee versus Purdue. There's still going to be a lot people coming out to the game."

No doubt many of those will still make the two-hour trip down from Chicago, even without a blast-from-the-past rematch.

"We'll never have that opportunity, so I'm kind of upset about that," Wisdom-Hylton said. "But our team is focused on playing whoever's next on the list. We're all excited for the game."

Drew Edwards may be reached at 865-342-6274.