Fun Day At The Hall. More To Come
1/29/2018 11:43:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By: Andy Graham, IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana – Indiana honored Victor Oladipo 10 minutes before Sunday afternoon's tipoff with Purdue.
IU then wouldn't have minded him heading for the locker room to suit up.
Or De'Ron Davis and Collin Hartman, for that matter.
Because the magnitude of Sunday's challenge was manifest. Purdue, a veteran and physically imposing club, entered ranked No. 3 nationally and unbeaten in Big Ten play.
And Purdue exited 21-2 with what is now a school-record 17-game winning streak.
But not before the undersized and undermanned Hoosiers clawed their way into contention all day till the final minute of a 74-67 decision that was closer than the score indicates.
"I thought we rose to the occasion in front of an amazing crowd at our disposal tonight," IU coach Archie Miller said, "and guys really competed, played hard, and fought … I don't think anybody left the arena tonight and said those guys didn't bring it.
"I thought we played really, really hard today, so that's the positive. The disappointing thing is that it's about winning."
Purdue prevailed as Indiana couldn't quite completely climb the mountain – specifically, in this case, climb over 7-foot-2, 290-pound Boilermaker senior Isaac Haas.
Haas constituted a gigantic safety net for the visitors in front a howling Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall throng. Whenever the Boilers really needed a bucket, they could always go to Haas inside.
After a Vince Edwards free throw put Purdue in front 63-62 with 4:49 to play, Haas scored Purdue's next six points, providing the Boilers a decisive 69-64 cushion heading into the final 1:29.
"The big fella was the difference," Miller said of Haas, who led all scorers by matching his career-high with 26 points. "We're in a Catch 22 there with the big fella (in terms of how do defend him).
"He's a tough cover, especially for our guys in terms of the size differential. But we battled. We gave ourselves a chance to win the game and, like I told the team afterwards, I'm very disappointed we didn't come through."
It wasn't from lack of trying.
There were indeed signs aplenty from both sides that battle was well and truly joined.
Indiana hit Purdue with a 14-4 haymaker to start – the largest deficit the Boilermakers have faced during their winning streak – to send the crowd into a frenzy.
But Purdue, which starts four talented and tough battle-hardened seniors, not only didn't panic but forged a pair of first-half leads and trailed just 37-35 at intermission.
And when Purdue sophomore Carsen Edwards subsequently made a backcourt steal and sailed in for a thunderous left-handed slam while drawing a foul from IU's Josh Newkirk, Edwards punctuated the play by then slashing his hand across his own Adam's apple in a "cut-throat" gesture.
That sequence was part of a 7-0 Purdue run that made it 44-39, Boilermakers, with 16:13 to play.
But Indiana responded big-time.
Just four minutes later, Hoosier hustle kept a possession alive that concluded with a conventional 3-point play inside from Juwan Morgan that made it 50-48, IU – and had Indiana Pacers NBA All-Star and 2013 IU All-American Oladipo up out of his courtside seat and onto the court cheering.
It was take-no-prisoners stuff, with nine lead-changes and 10 ties by the time it was over, perhaps serving notice of a gratifying future:
A pending resurrection of peak Purdue-IU rivalry.
A status at least harkening back to the Gene Keady-Bob Knight days when both teams were tough as nails and ranked nationally. Annually.
Purdue will graduate a ton of talent from its current club, but coach Matt Painter has it going on in West Lafayette. He'll get key guys on the perimeter and in the paint back in Carsen Edwards and Matt Haarms. The Boilermakers won't just go away next season.
And Miller is already building something in Bloomington of lasting value during his first season at the Hoosier helm.
It's clear that Miller's present players – most recruited for a very different approach to play at both ends of the court – are progressing. IU is already a much better defensive team than it was at season's start.
"I thought Indiana's defense was great, caused us a lot of problems, and I thought our guys made some plays down the stretch," Painter said post-game. "Obviously, going to Isaac is a huge weapon for us … but I thought Indiana played really hard.
"They are good players. Juwan Morgan is the most improved guy we've seen all year."
Junior frontliner Morgan is looking like a First Team All-Big Ten player, having had to carry a huge load up front after 6-10 teammate Davis was lost for the season through an Achilles tendon tear.
Morgan had 24 points and a co-game-high seven boards Sunday in the wake scoring 28 at Illinois and 25 against Maryland.
Robert Johnson, with 21 points Sunday for IU, is playing strongly on both ends of the court down the stretch run of his senior season.
The Hoosiers are improving. Miller is clearly one of the reasons why.
Miller is showing he can recruit, too. His 2018 recruiting class, which could well still add a player or two, is already ranked 19th nationally by 24/7 Sports.
Painter also deserves credit for recruiting and fostering a group of seniors who opted to cast their lot with Purdue even as the Boilermakers uncharacteristically finishing last in the league in 2013-14.
They've seen things go from worst to first, and are embarked on a campaign that could well end up in the Final Four.
As powerful as this Purdue team can be offensively, a Painter staple is defense. IU's offense couldn't execute consistently against it in Sunday's final and crucial couple of minutes.
Asked about his impressions of Purdue, Morgan replied:
"Just the way they play off each other, really how they used their big guys. They're just shooting the ball at a tremendous rate (this season). Just the way they play defense. They're really tight, really connected to one another on that side of the ball."
Purdue has now won six of the past seven games in the series, including the last three straight in Bloomington.
"It's a huge feather in the cap," Painter said of the success at Assembly Hall. "That's an unbelievable environment.
"Anytime anybody ever asks me what's the toughest place to play, it's an easy answer for me. This is the toughest place to play in the league."
Especially for Purdue.
As it should be.
Knight and Keady are deserved Hall of Famers, and that kind of heyday is hard to replicate under any circumstances.
But Miller and Painter can coach.
Purdue is established as a consistently competitive program.
Indiana is likely to get very tough very soon. And for quite a while.
This rivalry could get really fun for an extended period of time.
And fully regain its exalted status as one of college basketball's truly and consistently elite matchups.
Befitting this basketball-crazed state.
As it should be.
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana – Indiana honored Victor Oladipo 10 minutes before Sunday afternoon's tipoff with Purdue.
IU then wouldn't have minded him heading for the locker room to suit up.
Or De'Ron Davis and Collin Hartman, for that matter.
Because the magnitude of Sunday's challenge was manifest. Purdue, a veteran and physically imposing club, entered ranked No. 3 nationally and unbeaten in Big Ten play.
And Purdue exited 21-2 with what is now a school-record 17-game winning streak.
But not before the undersized and undermanned Hoosiers clawed their way into contention all day till the final minute of a 74-67 decision that was closer than the score indicates.
"I thought we rose to the occasion in front of an amazing crowd at our disposal tonight," IU coach Archie Miller said, "and guys really competed, played hard, and fought … I don't think anybody left the arena tonight and said those guys didn't bring it.
"I thought we played really, really hard today, so that's the positive. The disappointing thing is that it's about winning."
Purdue prevailed as Indiana couldn't quite completely climb the mountain – specifically, in this case, climb over 7-foot-2, 290-pound Boilermaker senior Isaac Haas.
Haas constituted a gigantic safety net for the visitors in front a howling Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall throng. Whenever the Boilers really needed a bucket, they could always go to Haas inside.
After a Vince Edwards free throw put Purdue in front 63-62 with 4:49 to play, Haas scored Purdue's next six points, providing the Boilers a decisive 69-64 cushion heading into the final 1:29.
"The big fella was the difference," Miller said of Haas, who led all scorers by matching his career-high with 26 points. "We're in a Catch 22 there with the big fella (in terms of how do defend him).
"He's a tough cover, especially for our guys in terms of the size differential. But we battled. We gave ourselves a chance to win the game and, like I told the team afterwards, I'm very disappointed we didn't come through."
It wasn't from lack of trying.
There were indeed signs aplenty from both sides that battle was well and truly joined.
Indiana hit Purdue with a 14-4 haymaker to start – the largest deficit the Boilermakers have faced during their winning streak – to send the crowd into a frenzy.
But Purdue, which starts four talented and tough battle-hardened seniors, not only didn't panic but forged a pair of first-half leads and trailed just 37-35 at intermission.
And when Purdue sophomore Carsen Edwards subsequently made a backcourt steal and sailed in for a thunderous left-handed slam while drawing a foul from IU's Josh Newkirk, Edwards punctuated the play by then slashing his hand across his own Adam's apple in a "cut-throat" gesture.
That sequence was part of a 7-0 Purdue run that made it 44-39, Boilermakers, with 16:13 to play.
But Indiana responded big-time.
Just four minutes later, Hoosier hustle kept a possession alive that concluded with a conventional 3-point play inside from Juwan Morgan that made it 50-48, IU – and had Indiana Pacers NBA All-Star and 2013 IU All-American Oladipo up out of his courtside seat and onto the court cheering.
It was take-no-prisoners stuff, with nine lead-changes and 10 ties by the time it was over, perhaps serving notice of a gratifying future:
A pending resurrection of peak Purdue-IU rivalry.
A status at least harkening back to the Gene Keady-Bob Knight days when both teams were tough as nails and ranked nationally. Annually.
Purdue will graduate a ton of talent from its current club, but coach Matt Painter has it going on in West Lafayette. He'll get key guys on the perimeter and in the paint back in Carsen Edwards and Matt Haarms. The Boilermakers won't just go away next season.
And Miller is already building something in Bloomington of lasting value during his first season at the Hoosier helm.
It's clear that Miller's present players – most recruited for a very different approach to play at both ends of the court – are progressing. IU is already a much better defensive team than it was at season's start.
"I thought Indiana's defense was great, caused us a lot of problems, and I thought our guys made some plays down the stretch," Painter said post-game. "Obviously, going to Isaac is a huge weapon for us … but I thought Indiana played really hard.
"They are good players. Juwan Morgan is the most improved guy we've seen all year."
Junior frontliner Morgan is looking like a First Team All-Big Ten player, having had to carry a huge load up front after 6-10 teammate Davis was lost for the season through an Achilles tendon tear.
Morgan had 24 points and a co-game-high seven boards Sunday in the wake scoring 28 at Illinois and 25 against Maryland.
Robert Johnson, with 21 points Sunday for IU, is playing strongly on both ends of the court down the stretch run of his senior season.
The Hoosiers are improving. Miller is clearly one of the reasons why.
Miller is showing he can recruit, too. His 2018 recruiting class, which could well still add a player or two, is already ranked 19th nationally by 24/7 Sports.
Painter also deserves credit for recruiting and fostering a group of seniors who opted to cast their lot with Purdue even as the Boilermakers uncharacteristically finishing last in the league in 2013-14.
They've seen things go from worst to first, and are embarked on a campaign that could well end up in the Final Four.
As powerful as this Purdue team can be offensively, a Painter staple is defense. IU's offense couldn't execute consistently against it in Sunday's final and crucial couple of minutes.
Asked about his impressions of Purdue, Morgan replied:
"Just the way they play off each other, really how they used their big guys. They're just shooting the ball at a tremendous rate (this season). Just the way they play defense. They're really tight, really connected to one another on that side of the ball."
Purdue has now won six of the past seven games in the series, including the last three straight in Bloomington.
"It's a huge feather in the cap," Painter said of the success at Assembly Hall. "That's an unbelievable environment.
"Anytime anybody ever asks me what's the toughest place to play, it's an easy answer for me. This is the toughest place to play in the league."
Especially for Purdue.
As it should be.
Knight and Keady are deserved Hall of Famers, and that kind of heyday is hard to replicate under any circumstances.
But Miller and Painter can coach.
Purdue is established as a consistently competitive program.
Indiana is likely to get very tough very soon. And for quite a while.
This rivalry could get really fun for an extended period of time.
And fully regain its exalted status as one of college basketball's truly and consistently elite matchups.
Befitting this basketball-crazed state.
As it should be.
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