Indiana University Athletics
DIPRIMIO: Toughness Test – IU Faces Big Challenge at Purdue
2/27/2020 12:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The villain role looms for Indiana. The Hoosiers know that. Mackey Arena will be most unfriendly Thursday night in as fierce a Big Ten venue as they will face.
But with three victories in their last four games, two against ranked teams, with a mindset that seems ready to crush season-long inconsistency for good, the formula is set.
Purdue is the test case.
"It's the overall effort level," forward Race Thompson said about the improved play. "Just continue to play as hard as we can. Be the toughest team for the longest time. That's how we win."
And then, in case you missed that point …
"Find a way to be as tough as we can," Thompson added. "Coach has been preaching being the tougher team for a longer period of time."
That would be coach Archie Miller, whose emphasis on effort and defensive focus has the Hoosiers (18-8 overall, 8-8 in the Big Ten) peaking at the right time.
Sustaining it, guard Devonte Green said, is all about repetition.
"We have to continue to play hard and stick to what we do because it's been going really well for us," he said. "We're getting used to playing the way we've been playing. I think we can string a couple (of wins) together."
IU has strung six straight losses against Purdue, the most ever against its biggest rival. It has lost nine of the last 10 meetings in the series.
Payback would be sweet, especially after the 74-62 loss to the Boilers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall earlier this month during the emotional return of former coach Bob Knight.
"Every time we play, Purdue especially, we come in with a chip on our shoulders," Green said. "There's probably a little bit of emotion because of the past games."
Indiana's fierce resiliency -- on Sunday it blew a 19-point lead to then-No. 9 Penn State, fell behind by six and then rallied for victory -- bodes well for Thursday night, and the three other regular-season games.
"Our guys have a good mindset right now," Miller said. "Great attitude. Great work ethic. Tremendous effort level. If we do those things, we'll be fine."
A strong finish could propel Indiana to at least one bye, and perhaps two, in the upcoming Big Ten tourney, and jump start a big NCAA Tournament run.
"This is the time of year when you have to be ready, and we've been ready," Miller said. "I don't anticipate that changing. We have a lot on the line. We are playing at an exciting time."
Excitement comes with this beat-Purdue mandate:
"We are going to have to play a lot harder than we did in the first game," Miller said.
Hoosier resurgence after a 1-5 stretch comes through depth. Yes, forward Trayce Jackson-Davis is playing his way to Big Ten freshman-of-the-year honors (more on this in a moment), but it goes beyond that.
The 6-8 Thompson has become a physical factor all over the court. Green has reigned in his high-risk nature. Aljami Durham, Rob Phinisee, De'Ron Davis, Armaan Franklin and Joey Brunk are all contributing.
"Guys have seen the value of just staying with it and having their moments in games," Miller said.
"Every single guy on our team, whether they play a minute, or don't play, they are bringing it in practice. That gives you the confidence to compete.
"De'Ron has had his moments. Jerome has had his moments. Armaan did a good job hanging in at Minnesota. Devonte coming off the bench has been there for us.
"Now we're going to need those guys to stay with it."
You can't overestimate the importance of the 6-9 Jackson-Davis. He is a freshman with a senior's do-it-all burden living up to the hype. He leads IU in scoring (14.1), rebounding (8.1), shooting (58.3 percent) and blocked shots (1.9).
He has nine double-doubles this season, including two straight. IU is 9-0 in those games.
After a monster week in which he averaged 20 points and 13 rebounds in wins over Minnesota and Penn State, he was named CBS Sports-USBWA national freshman of the week.
CBS Sports rates him as the nation's sixth-best freshman.
"Trayce's impact on our team, his play, has been second to none," Miller said.
"He's national freshman of the week. He continues to want to learn and get better. He's doing a great job."
So is Thompson, who has battled through enough injuries for five players. He was limited in the first meeting with Purdue, playing just eight minutes after returning from a back injury.
Now he's playing the best of his career. He had 10 points against Iowa, nine points and 10 rebounds against Minnesota, eight points and four rebounds against Penn State.
"Everyone has seen the value of Race's physicality," Miller said. "Per minute played, he's probably our best rebounder. He gives you the hustle plays. He competes at a pretty high level.
"He'll play a big role coming down the stretch."
Added Thompson: "I knew I had it in me. I think the team knew I had it in me. I don't think it's a surprise to anyone on the team. It's every day in practice. It's confidence. When it comes to games, confidence is the main thing."
IU found itself after losing to Purdue. The Boilers (14-14, 7-10) got lost after the same game.
Since then they've lost four straight, including two straight at Mackey Arena.
While much of that reflects strong conference competition, some comes from poor play, which has caused coach Matt Painter to say, while he likes his players and the overall pieces he has, he doesn't like the way they sometimes fit together.
The offense has all but disappeared, totaling 52, 65 and 63 points in the last three games as Boiler postseason prospects have taken a steep dive.
Still, the roster has talent.
Forward Trevion Williams averages 11.4 points and 7.7 rebounds. Guard Eric Hunter is at 10.0 points and 3.1 rebounds, and has 72 assists.
Miller is well aware of the way Purdue carved up Indiana's defense in the first meeting.
"Purdue is a precision execution team," Miller said. "They pick on you, pick on your rules, pick on your guys. They are as good as it gets in terms of picking on you with their motion.
"For us, it's finding a way to get as much out of everyone as we can. That usually comes with attitude and effort.
"If you have a great attitude and you're working your butt off, good things happen. We have a lot of that going right for us right now."
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The villain role looms for Indiana. The Hoosiers know that. Mackey Arena will be most unfriendly Thursday night in as fierce a Big Ten venue as they will face.
But with three victories in their last four games, two against ranked teams, with a mindset that seems ready to crush season-long inconsistency for good, the formula is set.
Purdue is the test case.
"It's the overall effort level," forward Race Thompson said about the improved play. "Just continue to play as hard as we can. Be the toughest team for the longest time. That's how we win."
And then, in case you missed that point …
"Find a way to be as tough as we can," Thompson added. "Coach has been preaching being the tougher team for a longer period of time."
That would be coach Archie Miller, whose emphasis on effort and defensive focus has the Hoosiers (18-8 overall, 8-8 in the Big Ten) peaking at the right time.
Sustaining it, guard Devonte Green said, is all about repetition.
"We have to continue to play hard and stick to what we do because it's been going really well for us," he said. "We're getting used to playing the way we've been playing. I think we can string a couple (of wins) together."
IU has strung six straight losses against Purdue, the most ever against its biggest rival. It has lost nine of the last 10 meetings in the series.
Payback would be sweet, especially after the 74-62 loss to the Boilers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall earlier this month during the emotional return of former coach Bob Knight.
"Every time we play, Purdue especially, we come in with a chip on our shoulders," Green said. "There's probably a little bit of emotion because of the past games."
Indiana's fierce resiliency -- on Sunday it blew a 19-point lead to then-No. 9 Penn State, fell behind by six and then rallied for victory -- bodes well for Thursday night, and the three other regular-season games.
"Our guys have a good mindset right now," Miller said. "Great attitude. Great work ethic. Tremendous effort level. If we do those things, we'll be fine."
A strong finish could propel Indiana to at least one bye, and perhaps two, in the upcoming Big Ten tourney, and jump start a big NCAA Tournament run.
"This is the time of year when you have to be ready, and we've been ready," Miller said. "I don't anticipate that changing. We have a lot on the line. We are playing at an exciting time."
Excitement comes with this beat-Purdue mandate:
"We are going to have to play a lot harder than we did in the first game," Miller said.
Hoosier resurgence after a 1-5 stretch comes through depth. Yes, forward Trayce Jackson-Davis is playing his way to Big Ten freshman-of-the-year honors (more on this in a moment), but it goes beyond that.
The 6-8 Thompson has become a physical factor all over the court. Green has reigned in his high-risk nature. Aljami Durham, Rob Phinisee, De'Ron Davis, Armaan Franklin and Joey Brunk are all contributing.
"Guys have seen the value of just staying with it and having their moments in games," Miller said.
"Every single guy on our team, whether they play a minute, or don't play, they are bringing it in practice. That gives you the confidence to compete.
"De'Ron has had his moments. Jerome has had his moments. Armaan did a good job hanging in at Minnesota. Devonte coming off the bench has been there for us.
"Now we're going to need those guys to stay with it."
You can't overestimate the importance of the 6-9 Jackson-Davis. He is a freshman with a senior's do-it-all burden living up to the hype. He leads IU in scoring (14.1), rebounding (8.1), shooting (58.3 percent) and blocked shots (1.9).
He has nine double-doubles this season, including two straight. IU is 9-0 in those games.
After a monster week in which he averaged 20 points and 13 rebounds in wins over Minnesota and Penn State, he was named CBS Sports-USBWA national freshman of the week.
CBS Sports rates him as the nation's sixth-best freshman.
"Trayce's impact on our team, his play, has been second to none," Miller said.
"He's national freshman of the week. He continues to want to learn and get better. He's doing a great job."
So is Thompson, who has battled through enough injuries for five players. He was limited in the first meeting with Purdue, playing just eight minutes after returning from a back injury.
Now he's playing the best of his career. He had 10 points against Iowa, nine points and 10 rebounds against Minnesota, eight points and four rebounds against Penn State.
"Everyone has seen the value of Race's physicality," Miller said. "Per minute played, he's probably our best rebounder. He gives you the hustle plays. He competes at a pretty high level.
"He'll play a big role coming down the stretch."
Added Thompson: "I knew I had it in me. I think the team knew I had it in me. I don't think it's a surprise to anyone on the team. It's every day in practice. It's confidence. When it comes to games, confidence is the main thing."
IU found itself after losing to Purdue. The Boilers (14-14, 7-10) got lost after the same game.
Since then they've lost four straight, including two straight at Mackey Arena.
While much of that reflects strong conference competition, some comes from poor play, which has caused coach Matt Painter to say, while he likes his players and the overall pieces he has, he doesn't like the way they sometimes fit together.
The offense has all but disappeared, totaling 52, 65 and 63 points in the last three games as Boiler postseason prospects have taken a steep dive.
Still, the roster has talent.
Forward Trevion Williams averages 11.4 points and 7.7 rebounds. Guard Eric Hunter is at 10.0 points and 3.1 rebounds, and has 72 assists.
Miller is well aware of the way Purdue carved up Indiana's defense in the first meeting.
"Purdue is a precision execution team," Miller said. "They pick on you, pick on your rules, pick on your guys. They are as good as it gets in terms of picking on you with their motion.
"For us, it's finding a way to get as much out of everyone as we can. That usually comes with attitude and effort.
"If you have a great attitude and you're working your butt off, good things happen. We have a lot of that going right for us right now."
Players Mentioned
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