Indiana University Athletics
DIPRIMIO: Bragging Rights In Play When IU Plays Purdue
3/6/2021 1:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Rob Phinisee has heard enough, this Purdue bragging rights onslaught that won't let up.
You lose eight straight times to your biggest rival, as Indiana has done, you play in the last five of those defeats, which Phinisee has done, and at some point, enough is enough.
Let the other guys get the grief.
So this Lafayette native, who passed on the Boilers to wear the Cream 'n Crimson, is more than ready to write a different ending Saturday at Mackey Arena.
"This is huge for me," the junior guard said. "I want to have bragging rights. I'm friends with some of the guys on Purdue. I'm really looking forward to Saturday."
So are all the Hoosiers, Phinisee added. That includes senior guard Aljami Durham, who has never beaten Purdue.
"The big thing with Al is the Purdue game," Phinisee said. "I know he hasn't won one. He's really been on everybody to stay locked in no matter what's happened in the past and do everything we can to win Saturday."
IU is 12-13 overall, 7-11 in the Big Ten. It has lost four straight games to likely fall out of NCAA tourney at-large bid consideration.
A victory over the No. 23 Boilers (17-8, 12-6) would deliver a much-needed boost.
"The energy is high," Phinisee said when asked about the team's mood. "Everybody is excited. We've been in this point before. We have to stay locked in and stay together."
That's difficult when social media is buzzing from angry Hoosier fans. The key, Phinisee said, is blocking it out.
"When you hear what's being said, it can wear on you. We've focused on being locked in and staying together."
Phinisee blasted out of a recent slump with a 16-point, six-rebound, four-assist effort in last Tuesday's loss at Michigan State. He credited support from coaches, teammates and team managers for keeping a positive attitude.
Plus, IU needed backcourt production with starting guard Armaan Franklin out with a right foot injury.
"With Armaan out, I had to be more aggressive," Phinisee said. "I had to step up and make shots."
The key to sustaining that success, Phinisee said, is to stay confident when struggles return. Doubt can creep in, he said, even during games. Staying aggressive and "trying to make big shots" are crucial.
"Me attacking the basket opens things up for other guys. Getting downhill is a big thing. The team leans on me that way."
Purdue's recent success against IU comes in part from the pressure it puts on Hoosier guards. The counter, Phinisee said, is to attack.
"We have to penetrate, draw fouls, and create for others."
Meanwhile, question IU junior forward Race Thompson's toughness at your own risk.
He broke his nose during a recent practice, played against Rutgers the next day with a mask, then kept going against Michigan. He took an elbow to the face mask in the first half Tuesday night at Michigan State, got some halftime attention from the IU medical staff and played in the second half.
That inadvertent Spartan shot caused him to have a "procedure" the next day, coach Archie Miller said Thursday night on his radio show that leaves Thompson questionable for the Purdue game.
"The poor guy, fractured his facial area up around his nose prior to the Rutgers game … and he gets wacked really good in the Michigan State game and not only re-aggravates it but aggravated the break," Miller told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer. "He had to get a procedure done, a very minor procedure, to get things straightened back out for himself, so he's going to be out for a few days."
Add the likely continued absence of Franklin, who is dealing with a right foot injury and, as Miller said, "I think we're a little thin on numbers."
Franklin has done some stationary shooting, Miller added, but no full-go basketball activities.
"He may be a game-time decision, but we're going into the Purdue game not planning to have Armaan."
Purdue has won four straight, beating Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State and, on Tuesday night, Wisconsin.
"They're very good right now," Miller said on his radio show. "They're playing as well as any team in our league."
Purdue is 10-1 at Mackey Arena this season, and 55-9 at home against Big Ten teams since the start of the 2014-15 season.
The Boilers have a significant inside presence, starting with forward Trevion Williams, who leads the team in scoring (15.6 points) and rebounding (8.9) while shooting nearly 53 percent from the field.
Then there is 7-4, 285-pound freshman Zach Edey. He averages 8.5 points and 4.4 rebounds, and is coming off a 21-point, seven-rebound effort in the win against Wisconsin.
Edey is one of five Boilers to average between 8.5 and 9.8 points. Perhaps the hottest Boiler is Jaden Ivy, who averages 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 blocks in his last four games.
"He's really blossomed here late," Miller said on his radio show. "He may be their go-to perimeter player."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Rob Phinisee has heard enough, this Purdue bragging rights onslaught that won't let up.
You lose eight straight times to your biggest rival, as Indiana has done, you play in the last five of those defeats, which Phinisee has done, and at some point, enough is enough.
Let the other guys get the grief.
So this Lafayette native, who passed on the Boilers to wear the Cream 'n Crimson, is more than ready to write a different ending Saturday at Mackey Arena.
"This is huge for me," the junior guard said. "I want to have bragging rights. I'm friends with some of the guys on Purdue. I'm really looking forward to Saturday."
So are all the Hoosiers, Phinisee added. That includes senior guard Aljami Durham, who has never beaten Purdue.
"The big thing with Al is the Purdue game," Phinisee said. "I know he hasn't won one. He's really been on everybody to stay locked in no matter what's happened in the past and do everything we can to win Saturday."
IU is 12-13 overall, 7-11 in the Big Ten. It has lost four straight games to likely fall out of NCAA tourney at-large bid consideration.
A victory over the No. 23 Boilers (17-8, 12-6) would deliver a much-needed boost.
"The energy is high," Phinisee said when asked about the team's mood. "Everybody is excited. We've been in this point before. We have to stay locked in and stay together."
That's difficult when social media is buzzing from angry Hoosier fans. The key, Phinisee said, is blocking it out.
"When you hear what's being said, it can wear on you. We've focused on being locked in and staying together."
Phinisee blasted out of a recent slump with a 16-point, six-rebound, four-assist effort in last Tuesday's loss at Michigan State. He credited support from coaches, teammates and team managers for keeping a positive attitude.
Plus, IU needed backcourt production with starting guard Armaan Franklin out with a right foot injury.
"With Armaan out, I had to be more aggressive," Phinisee said. "I had to step up and make shots."
The key to sustaining that success, Phinisee said, is to stay confident when struggles return. Doubt can creep in, he said, even during games. Staying aggressive and "trying to make big shots" are crucial.
"Me attacking the basket opens things up for other guys. Getting downhill is a big thing. The team leans on me that way."
Purdue's recent success against IU comes in part from the pressure it puts on Hoosier guards. The counter, Phinisee said, is to attack.
"We have to penetrate, draw fouls, and create for others."
Meanwhile, question IU junior forward Race Thompson's toughness at your own risk.
He broke his nose during a recent practice, played against Rutgers the next day with a mask, then kept going against Michigan. He took an elbow to the face mask in the first half Tuesday night at Michigan State, got some halftime attention from the IU medical staff and played in the second half.
That inadvertent Spartan shot caused him to have a "procedure" the next day, coach Archie Miller said Thursday night on his radio show that leaves Thompson questionable for the Purdue game.
"The poor guy, fractured his facial area up around his nose prior to the Rutgers game … and he gets wacked really good in the Michigan State game and not only re-aggravates it but aggravated the break," Miller told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer. "He had to get a procedure done, a very minor procedure, to get things straightened back out for himself, so he's going to be out for a few days."
Add the likely continued absence of Franklin, who is dealing with a right foot injury and, as Miller said, "I think we're a little thin on numbers."
Franklin has done some stationary shooting, Miller added, but no full-go basketball activities.
"He may be a game-time decision, but we're going into the Purdue game not planning to have Armaan."
Purdue has won four straight, beating Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State and, on Tuesday night, Wisconsin.
"They're very good right now," Miller said on his radio show. "They're playing as well as any team in our league."
Purdue is 10-1 at Mackey Arena this season, and 55-9 at home against Big Ten teams since the start of the 2014-15 season.
The Boilers have a significant inside presence, starting with forward Trevion Williams, who leads the team in scoring (15.6 points) and rebounding (8.9) while shooting nearly 53 percent from the field.
Then there is 7-4, 285-pound freshman Zach Edey. He averages 8.5 points and 4.4 rebounds, and is coming off a 21-point, seven-rebound effort in the win against Wisconsin.
Edey is one of five Boilers to average between 8.5 and 9.8 points. Perhaps the hottest Boiler is Jaden Ivy, who averages 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 blocks in his last four games.
"He's really blossomed here late," Miller said on his radio show. "He may be their go-to perimeter player."
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