Purdue coach Sharon Versyp considers herself the parent of 13 daughters, the ones who play for her on the Boilermakers women's basketball team.

To hear her talk Monday afternoon about nearly losing one of them this season, then having her team recover in time to earn an NCAA tournament berth, was one of the stories the NCAA tournament is all about.

Purdue junior forward Drey Mingo was hospitalized in critical condition on Nov. 23, 2010, suffering from bacterial meningitis. The team was scheduled to leave on Nov. 24 for the Caribbean Challenge in Cancun, Mexico, but canceled the trip, as the players and coaching staff gathered at the hospital.

Versyp recalls overhearing medical professionals say that Mingo would never play basketball again and would lose her hearing permanently.

Mingo was at Monday's press conference with the Boilermakers, who take on UConn tonight in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Gampel Pavilion. She is back to starting for Purdue, averaging 12.1 points and a team-high 5.9 rebounds per game, and has regained 60 percent of the hearing in her right ear, Versyp said.

Versyp said Mingo wasn't feeling well the day she fell ill, but a 103 degree fever had gone down to 100 the last time she saw the team doctor on the morning of the 23rd. Mingo went home to rest and was supposed to return to see the doctor at 1:30 p.m. When she didn't arrive and didn't answer her cell phone, team trainer Jessica Lipsett went to check on her. At the hospital, Mingo, who had not only meningitis, but mononucleosis and strep throat simultaneously, was given a 50 percent chance to survive.

Versyp said through the ordeal, Mingo was very positive and never felt sorry for herself. Losing her hearing, though, and the strong possibility it was permanent, is what finally caused her to lose her composure.

"They told her she would never get her hearing back and she did look at me and was obviously very upset and crying and asked if she would ever be able to play basketball again," the coach said. "I told her, 'I'm not sure about this year, probably next year, but you have dreams, you're going to be a doctor still. Right now we just need to get you healthy. Basketball is the last thing.'"

Now, basketball is the first thing. Mingo, who has hearing aids in both ears although not when she plays, is back on the court with her team.

Her concern Monday: UConn.

"We're gonna have to be very efficient in everything that we do," Mingo said. "We'll have to make very few mistakes with the No. 1 team on their home court. I think it will be a challenge for us."