Saturday, March 5
West Lafayette, Ind.
2:00 PM
Indiana University
at
Purdue
Tolbert Talk – Ex-IU Standout Inspires Ahead of Purdue Game
3/5/2022 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Sometimes, if you're Mike Woodson, you tap into past Indiana basketball glory to forge a new beginning.
So here strides Ray Tolbert into the heart of a Hoosier team facing fierce must-win pressure and Hoosier Nation angst at one of the nation's most intimidating arenas.
The former IU standout has a message that goes well beyond beat-the-Boilers urgency.
Tolbert speaks from the heart, from experience, from the knowledge that championships are forged from adversity, and yes this team has faced plenty of that.
A member of the Hoosiers' 1981 national title team and a former teammate of Woodson, Tolbert addressed the players ahead of Saturday's rivalry game at No. 8 Purdue.
The message was simple, guard Rob Phinisee says.
"He said block out the noise, stand together and be one team. That's the biggest thing. Stay together and believe in each other."
Phinisee insists Cream 'n Crimson belief hasn't wavered despite Wednesday's Senior Night loss to Rutgers that meant six defeats in the last eight games. IU has gone from near NCAA tourney lock to potential NIT participant.
Tolbert, a first-round NBA selection who played five years in the league, was brought in to provide extra motivation as to what's possible at Mackey Arena.
The Hoosiers (18-11 overall, 9-10 in the Big Ten) will be ready, Phinisee insists.
"We've definitely bounced back. Everyone knows the position we're in. Everyone is in good spirits. We know what's at stake. We want to go to Mackey Arena and get a win."
The key to doing that, Phinisee adds, "Is not to dwell on the past. If we want to make it to the NCAA Tournament, we have to focus on one game at a time."
It starts with defense, a season-long strength. The Hoosiers allow the fewest points of any Big Ten team (65.3) while holding opponents to 39.0 percent shooting, also a conference best.
However, poor late-game defense, Phinisee says, has contributed to IU's inability to close out games.
"We always do a good job in the first half, maybe the first 30 minutes," he says. "But the last 10 minutes of the game, we don't execute our coverages like we need to. Teams are scoring a lot better in those last 10 minutes. Whether it's talking on defense or guys are getting tired and not getting to their spots, if we do that (better), we'll finish games off."
As in so many games this season, IU lost to Rutgers despite have a chance in the final minute.
Why?
"It's definitely little things," Phinisee said. "After each of those losses, we watched a lot of film. There were little things like one guy messes up a play, so the timing is messed up on offense, so we don't execute. It's those little details and honing in on the things we need to do."
Phinisee was the off-the-bench hero in the January victory over Purdue at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. His career-high 20 points included the game-winning three-pointer in the closing seconds. That snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Boilers.
What will it take to repeat that result?
"The biggest thing is blowing up their actions," Phinisee says. "We did a pretty good job of pushing out their wings. We want to get them out of their sets so they can't run at the pace they're used to running."
Purdue (24-6, 13-6) was positioned to win the Big Ten until consecutive three-point losses -- by last-second three-pointers from Michigan State and Wisconsin -- ended those hopes.
The Boilers are 15-1 at home, with the only loss coming to Wisconsin.
They are led by guard Jaden Ivy (17.4 points, 4.8 rebounds), center Zach Edey (14.9 points, 7.5 rebounds), forward Trevion Williams (11.7, 7.3) and guard Sasha Stefanovic (11.2, 101 assists).
IU hasn't won at Mackey Arena since January of 2013, but the Hoosiers are driven by rivalry passion, make-the-NCAA-tourney urgency and Tolbert's closing words.
"We just had a pretty good hype-up speech," Phinisee says, "so everyone is in good spirits."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Sometimes, if you're Mike Woodson, you tap into past Indiana basketball glory to forge a new beginning.
So here strides Ray Tolbert into the heart of a Hoosier team facing fierce must-win pressure and Hoosier Nation angst at one of the nation's most intimidating arenas.
The former IU standout has a message that goes well beyond beat-the-Boilers urgency.
Tolbert speaks from the heart, from experience, from the knowledge that championships are forged from adversity, and yes this team has faced plenty of that.
A member of the Hoosiers' 1981 national title team and a former teammate of Woodson, Tolbert addressed the players ahead of Saturday's rivalry game at No. 8 Purdue.
The message was simple, guard Rob Phinisee says.
"He said block out the noise, stand together and be one team. That's the biggest thing. Stay together and believe in each other."
Phinisee insists Cream 'n Crimson belief hasn't wavered despite Wednesday's Senior Night loss to Rutgers that meant six defeats in the last eight games. IU has gone from near NCAA tourney lock to potential NIT participant.
Tolbert, a first-round NBA selection who played five years in the league, was brought in to provide extra motivation as to what's possible at Mackey Arena.
The Hoosiers (18-11 overall, 9-10 in the Big Ten) will be ready, Phinisee insists.
"We've definitely bounced back. Everyone knows the position we're in. Everyone is in good spirits. We know what's at stake. We want to go to Mackey Arena and get a win."
The key to doing that, Phinisee adds, "Is not to dwell on the past. If we want to make it to the NCAA Tournament, we have to focus on one game at a time."
It starts with defense, a season-long strength. The Hoosiers allow the fewest points of any Big Ten team (65.3) while holding opponents to 39.0 percent shooting, also a conference best.
However, poor late-game defense, Phinisee says, has contributed to IU's inability to close out games.
"We always do a good job in the first half, maybe the first 30 minutes," he says. "But the last 10 minutes of the game, we don't execute our coverages like we need to. Teams are scoring a lot better in those last 10 minutes. Whether it's talking on defense or guys are getting tired and not getting to their spots, if we do that (better), we'll finish games off."
As in so many games this season, IU lost to Rutgers despite have a chance in the final minute.
Why?
"It's definitely little things," Phinisee said. "After each of those losses, we watched a lot of film. There were little things like one guy messes up a play, so the timing is messed up on offense, so we don't execute. It's those little details and honing in on the things we need to do."
Phinisee was the off-the-bench hero in the January victory over Purdue at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. His career-high 20 points included the game-winning three-pointer in the closing seconds. That snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Boilers.
What will it take to repeat that result?
"The biggest thing is blowing up their actions," Phinisee says. "We did a pretty good job of pushing out their wings. We want to get them out of their sets so they can't run at the pace they're used to running."
Purdue (24-6, 13-6) was positioned to win the Big Ten until consecutive three-point losses -- by last-second three-pointers from Michigan State and Wisconsin -- ended those hopes.
The Boilers are 15-1 at home, with the only loss coming to Wisconsin.
They are led by guard Jaden Ivy (17.4 points, 4.8 rebounds), center Zach Edey (14.9 points, 7.5 rebounds), forward Trevion Williams (11.7, 7.3) and guard Sasha Stefanovic (11.2, 101 assists).
IU hasn't won at Mackey Arena since January of 2013, but the Hoosiers are driven by rivalry passion, make-the-NCAA-tourney urgency and Tolbert's closing words.
"We just had a pretty good hype-up speech," Phinisee says, "so everyone is in good spirits."
Players Mentioned
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