DIPRIMIO: High Stakes Dominate When Indiana Hosts Purdue
2/7/2020 10:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Joey Brunk – finally – gets his chance.
Purdue comes to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Saturday afternoon and Brunk will play instead of watch.
Yes, that's a very big deal for Indiana's junior forward and Butler transfer.
"It's an unbelievable opportunity to play in it," he said. "Growing up watching Big Ten games, but especially the IU-Purdue game, always carries a little more weight."
Brunk, who had an all-state career at Southport High School, never thought he'd play in what ranks as one of the nation's most intense basketball rivalries. But opportunity arrived with his transfer, and he's more than ready.
"I remember watching it growing up. It's special to get the chance to play in it."
Saturday's game carries high stakes for both teams that transcend the rivalry.
IU (15-7 overall, 5-6 in the Big Ten) seeks to snap a three-game losing streak, regain the momentum it earned with the Michigan State upset and boost its NCAA tourney prospects.
Purdue (13-10, 6-6), which has won two consecutive games, aims to improve its own NCAA tourney resume.
"It is a rivalry game," senior guard Devonte Green said. "We know our fans are going to bring the atmosphere that we need.
"This win will be important for our future, but also to us as a team because of who it is."
There's also payback incentive given Purdue has won four straight in the series, including a 48-46 grind last season in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
"Both teams have a lot to play for down the stretch with their resumes and trying to build toward the (NCAA Tournament)," IU coach Archie Miller said. "Every game from this point forward, there's so much on the line in terms of trying to finish this climb that's been very difficult to navigate."
IU is coming off a much-needed seven-day break from the Big Ten grind. It hasn't played since last Saturday's loss at Ohio State.
"It's a nice little break for us," Green said. "Just more time to relax and recover."
Added Miller: "We had a week to regroup physically. The most important thing in February is try to get as healthy and mentally fresh as you can."
Brunk was sick during the Ohio State game, but says he's better now.
"Nobody feels great at this point in the year," he said. "I feel good now. We've had a chance to rest. I'm ready to go."
Miller sees all sorts of danger from Purdue, from a potent inside game to strong rebounding and game-changing three-point shooting.
"They can really hammer us inside." he said. "(Stopping that) is step one.
"Purdue is killing teams off the offensive glass.
"You have to start and stop with Purdue inside and on the glass. You've got to answer both bells. If you can't, you're in trouble."
Miller said there's a chance forward Race Thompson could play. He's missed three games since getting injured against Michigan State. His absence was a major factor in IU's losing streak.
"Him not playing these last three games has really hurt our rotation," Miller said. "It also hurt some of the winning plays he makes.
"We need to get him back. Maybe he'll have a chance to play. I don't know how effective he'll be. But Race has been a big part of our team."
For Miller, these last seven regular season games are like the final stretch of a mile race.
"That's the hardest part of the race," he said during Monday night's weekly radio show. "You see some guys pull up with hamstrings. You see some guys have tight backs and slow down.
"Then you see some guys push through. We have to push through. We have to find a way to break through."
Indiana has spent the week trying to restore mind and muscle, attributes that were missing in the three straight losses.
"We have to bring back the muscle and get our heads right in terms of how we are competing," Miller said during Monday night's radio show.
"There is so much ball left to be played. You want to play your best at the end of the year. To do that, you can't ever question where your mind is."
The Big Ten is too fiercely competitive to question anything.
"Sometimes teams hit those mental blocks where you get a couple of guys who aren't engaged and who aren't there mentally," Miller said. "Then certain things tend to go like sharpness and your ability to compete
"That's one thing that's unique about the Big Ten. Very few teams aren't bringing it in terms of the physicality of the game. If you don't have that in our league, you are going to get pummeled."
Turnovers remain a problem. The Hoosiers rank last in the the Big Ten in turnovers (294).
"It's the type of turnovers," Miller said. "It's the sped-up turnovers, the unnecessary turnovers, it's the ones everyone asks, 'What in the world was going on with that one?'"
Adding to Saturday's electric atmosphere will be a celebration of the Hoosiers' 1980 Big Ten championship team.
Those Hoosiers were loaded with talent -- 12 NBA draft picks, five All-Americans (Mike Woodson, Isiah Thomas, Randy Wittman, Ted Kitchel and Landon Turner), three Big Ten MVPs (Woodson, Ray Tolbert, Wittman) and one NBA Hall of Famer – Thomas.
Thomas, Wittman, Kitchel, Tolbert and Landon Turner went on to lead IU to the 1981 national championship.
The team will be honored at halftime.
As for Purdue, it has plenty of momentum from Wednesday's 36-point home victory against No. 17 Iowa.
The Boilers' 19 three-point baskets against the Hawkeyes caught the Hoosiers' attention.
"It's definitely important that we limit their three-point makes," Green said. "It won't be easy with them coming off a game feeling hot, but we'll do what we need to do."
Purdue power forward Trevion Williams averages 11.2 points and 7.4 rebounds. Guard Eric Hunter averages10.3 points and 3.4 rebounds. He has a team-leading 64 assists.
Center Matt Haarms averages 9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds. He has a team-leading 42 blocks.
The Boilers have three other players averaging at least 9.3 points. They also have two of the Big Ten's better three-point shooters in Hunter (34 threes) and Sasha Stefanovic (50 threes).
At Mackey Arena, Purdue is a destroyer. It's buried three ranked teams -- Virginia, Michigan State and Iowa -- by an average of 31.3 points.
Away from Mackey, however, the Boilers have been a different story. They've scored 61 or fewer points nine times. They scored just 37 points in a loss at Illinois.
They are 2-6 on the road, 3-8 away from Mackey.
In other words, they are potentially Assembly Hall vulnerable if the Hoosiers are dialed in to take advantage.
"Our guards are going to have to play (well)," Miller said. "They really are.
"Purdue is not going to allow us to throw the ball inside and just play. Teams aren't doing that right now. They're not allowing us to get easy baskets in transition. So what ends up happening is, Can you run good offense and can your perimeter players make some good open shots and can they make some plays for others?
"I look at our guard assist-to-turnover ratio; I'm going to look at our guards' ability to make some open shots the score. It's going to be huge. But it's going to come down in this game and really every game from this point forward is can you rebound in the Big Ten?"
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Joey Brunk – finally – gets his chance.
Purdue comes to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Saturday afternoon and Brunk will play instead of watch.
Yes, that's a very big deal for Indiana's junior forward and Butler transfer.
"It's an unbelievable opportunity to play in it," he said. "Growing up watching Big Ten games, but especially the IU-Purdue game, always carries a little more weight."
Brunk, who had an all-state career at Southport High School, never thought he'd play in what ranks as one of the nation's most intense basketball rivalries. But opportunity arrived with his transfer, and he's more than ready.
"I remember watching it growing up. It's special to get the chance to play in it."
Saturday's game carries high stakes for both teams that transcend the rivalry.
IU (15-7 overall, 5-6 in the Big Ten) seeks to snap a three-game losing streak, regain the momentum it earned with the Michigan State upset and boost its NCAA tourney prospects.
Purdue (13-10, 6-6), which has won two consecutive games, aims to improve its own NCAA tourney resume.
"It is a rivalry game," senior guard Devonte Green said. "We know our fans are going to bring the atmosphere that we need.
"This win will be important for our future, but also to us as a team because of who it is."
There's also payback incentive given Purdue has won four straight in the series, including a 48-46 grind last season in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
"Both teams have a lot to play for down the stretch with their resumes and trying to build toward the (NCAA Tournament)," IU coach Archie Miller said. "Every game from this point forward, there's so much on the line in terms of trying to finish this climb that's been very difficult to navigate."
IU is coming off a much-needed seven-day break from the Big Ten grind. It hasn't played since last Saturday's loss at Ohio State.
"It's a nice little break for us," Green said. "Just more time to relax and recover."
Added Miller: "We had a week to regroup physically. The most important thing in February is try to get as healthy and mentally fresh as you can."
Brunk was sick during the Ohio State game, but says he's better now.
"Nobody feels great at this point in the year," he said. "I feel good now. We've had a chance to rest. I'm ready to go."
Miller sees all sorts of danger from Purdue, from a potent inside game to strong rebounding and game-changing three-point shooting.
"They can really hammer us inside." he said. "(Stopping that) is step one.
"Purdue is killing teams off the offensive glass.
"You have to start and stop with Purdue inside and on the glass. You've got to answer both bells. If you can't, you're in trouble."
Miller said there's a chance forward Race Thompson could play. He's missed three games since getting injured against Michigan State. His absence was a major factor in IU's losing streak.
"Him not playing these last three games has really hurt our rotation," Miller said. "It also hurt some of the winning plays he makes.
"We need to get him back. Maybe he'll have a chance to play. I don't know how effective he'll be. But Race has been a big part of our team."
For Miller, these last seven regular season games are like the final stretch of a mile race.
"That's the hardest part of the race," he said during Monday night's weekly radio show. "You see some guys pull up with hamstrings. You see some guys have tight backs and slow down.
"Then you see some guys push through. We have to push through. We have to find a way to break through."
Indiana has spent the week trying to restore mind and muscle, attributes that were missing in the three straight losses.
"We have to bring back the muscle and get our heads right in terms of how we are competing," Miller said during Monday night's radio show.
"There is so much ball left to be played. You want to play your best at the end of the year. To do that, you can't ever question where your mind is."
The Big Ten is too fiercely competitive to question anything.
"Sometimes teams hit those mental blocks where you get a couple of guys who aren't engaged and who aren't there mentally," Miller said. "Then certain things tend to go like sharpness and your ability to compete
"That's one thing that's unique about the Big Ten. Very few teams aren't bringing it in terms of the physicality of the game. If you don't have that in our league, you are going to get pummeled."
Turnovers remain a problem. The Hoosiers rank last in the the Big Ten in turnovers (294).
"It's the type of turnovers," Miller said. "It's the sped-up turnovers, the unnecessary turnovers, it's the ones everyone asks, 'What in the world was going on with that one?'"
Adding to Saturday's electric atmosphere will be a celebration of the Hoosiers' 1980 Big Ten championship team.
Those Hoosiers were loaded with talent -- 12 NBA draft picks, five All-Americans (Mike Woodson, Isiah Thomas, Randy Wittman, Ted Kitchel and Landon Turner), three Big Ten MVPs (Woodson, Ray Tolbert, Wittman) and one NBA Hall of Famer – Thomas.
Thomas, Wittman, Kitchel, Tolbert and Landon Turner went on to lead IU to the 1981 national championship.
The team will be honored at halftime.
As for Purdue, it has plenty of momentum from Wednesday's 36-point home victory against No. 17 Iowa.
The Boilers' 19 three-point baskets against the Hawkeyes caught the Hoosiers' attention.
"It's definitely important that we limit their three-point makes," Green said. "It won't be easy with them coming off a game feeling hot, but we'll do what we need to do."
Purdue power forward Trevion Williams averages 11.2 points and 7.4 rebounds. Guard Eric Hunter averages10.3 points and 3.4 rebounds. He has a team-leading 64 assists.
Center Matt Haarms averages 9.7 points and 4.8 rebounds. He has a team-leading 42 blocks.
The Boilers have three other players averaging at least 9.3 points. They also have two of the Big Ten's better three-point shooters in Hunter (34 threes) and Sasha Stefanovic (50 threes).
At Mackey Arena, Purdue is a destroyer. It's buried three ranked teams -- Virginia, Michigan State and Iowa -- by an average of 31.3 points.
Away from Mackey, however, the Boilers have been a different story. They've scored 61 or fewer points nine times. They scored just 37 points in a loss at Illinois.
They are 2-6 on the road, 3-8 away from Mackey.
In other words, they are potentially Assembly Hall vulnerable if the Hoosiers are dialed in to take advantage.
"Our guards are going to have to play (well)," Miller said. "They really are.
"Purdue is not going to allow us to throw the ball inside and just play. Teams aren't doing that right now. They're not allowing us to get easy baskets in transition. So what ends up happening is, Can you run good offense and can your perimeter players make some good open shots and can they make some plays for others?
"I look at our guard assist-to-turnover ratio; I'm going to look at our guards' ability to make some open shots the score. It's going to be huge. But it's going to come down in this game and really every game from this point forward is can you rebound in the Big Ten?"
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