IU vs. Purdue Means More -- ‘You Can’t Ask for a Bigger Game’

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Remember the sports cliché about treating every game the same, that the next game is the most important one?

Ignore it. Forget it. Dismiss it.

Second-ranked Purdue comes to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall Tuesday night and it's not the same. It can't be, won't be, not now, not ever.

This rivalry rates among the nation's best, showcasing games rich in passion, tradition, urgency and necessity, and have the arena-rocking, sell-out crowds to prove it.

Mike Woodson understands. He's played in it, coached in it, won and lost in it.

"It does (mean more)," he says via Monday's media availability. "They want to beat us as badly as we want to beat them. It's been that way.

"I think it's great for college basketball. They have their fan base, and we have our fan base. When you go there, it's the same way. When they come here, our fans are unbelievable.

"It doesn't matter who we put in, our fans have been great all these years, and that's not going to change."

Woodson's arrival in the spring of 2021 brought instant rivalry change. Under the third-year coach, the Hoosiers (12-5 overall, 4-2 in the Big Ten) have won three of four meetings, including last year's sweep.

Before that, Purdue (15-2, 4-2) had won nine straight against Indiana.

Victories have come from individual excellence (see guard Jalen Hood-Schifino's 35-point effort last year at Mackey Arena), tough-minded play (stunning then No. 1 Purdue 79-74 at Assembly Hall last year), and clutch shot making (remember Rob Phinisee's 2022 game-winning 3-pointer?).

Purdue brings a powerful lineup again led by National Player of the Year Zach Edey. The 7-4, 300-pound center leads the Big Ten in scoring (22.3 points), rebounding (10.9), field goal percentage (64.5), free throws made (125), and free throws attempted (168). He has 39 blocks and shoots 74.4% from the line.

"We know we've got a hell of an opponent coming in here," Woodson says, "and we've got to do all the necessary things to win. We've got to rebound, not turn it over, share it and get shots. It helps if you can put the ball in the hole.

"All those things tie in together in terms of winning games."

Both teams trail Wisconsin (5-0) in the Big Ten standings. With IU facing the No. 11/8 Badgers (13-3 overall) and No. 14/14 Illinois (12-4, 3-2) on the road in its next two games, this stretch looms huge in conference race implications.

That discussion is for later. The focus is on Tuesday night and the key, center Kel'el Ware says, is as simple as it is true.

"We've got to get better on defense and offense. You saw a glimpse of that (during Friday night's home win over Minnesota). We've got to keep bringing it every game."

Here's one reason -- Purdue ranks second in the Big Ten in scoring at 85.0 points a game. IU allows 72.5. Here's another – the Boilers shoot a Big Ten-best 39.8% on 3-pointers. The Hoosiers allow a conference-most 147 3-pointers.

For Indiana, forward Mackenzie Mgbako now plays beyond his freshman youth. He's scored in double figures in 10 of the last 12 games with a career high of 19 in Friday's win over Minnesota. He averages 10.2 points and 3.9 rebounds, and has made 22 3-pointers, 14 in the last six games.

The 6-8 Mgbako joins 7-foot Ware (14.8, 9.6) and 6-9 Malik Reneau (16.3, 5.8) to give IU one of the Big Ten's top frontcourts.

Mgbako made a strong impression on Minnesota coach Ben Johnson.

"The thing that is unique about him is that he has such great size," Johnson says. "When you are that big at the wing spot, it's going to be a mismatch. He had it going (on Friday), and it puts you into a bind because you are so worried about Ware and Reneau that he can be a lost guy at times. But he can make you pay at the same time. That is a really big frontline when you throw him in there that's got versatility. They can all score one-on-one."

Rebounding remains a concern. The Boilers are second in the Big Ten in rebounding, at 40.9. The Hoosiers are 11th at 35.9.

"You've got to block out," Woodson says. "That's just basic basketball. When the shot goes up, we've got to put bodies on people.

"I don't think our guards have done a great job this year in getting back in. We challenge 3-point shots, we're trying to head up the floor, and a lot of times when those long shots are taken, they're long rebounds, and we're not picking some of those up.

"Malik has got to get better, and Mack has got to get better in terms of helping us rebound. Ware has done a hell of a job, but he can't do it by himself. We've got to do it as a team. We're going to have to do it (Tuesday) night because they've got a big team, they're scrappy, and they rebound."

Purdue arrives with road vulnerability beyond consecutive losses at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. It has lost two straight away from Mackey Arena -- in overtime at Northwestern, and by an 88-72 score at Nebraska. It has a Big Ten road win at Maryland.

Balance comes from guards Lance Jones (11.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 31 3-pointers), Branden Smith (12.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 118 assists) and Fletcher Loyer (11.0, 2.3, 31 3-pointers), and forwards Trey Kaufman-Renn (7.4, 4.2), Mason Gilles (6.4, 3.5) and Caleb Furst (3.1, 3.5).

Purdue often plays Edey and the 6-9 Kaufman-Renn at the same time.

"Their shooters have allowed them to do a lot of that in terms of playing two bigs," Woodson says. "Both are very demanding on the block. Kaufman is tough on his block when he catches the ball. He's very aggressive in terms of scoring, and he's a hell of an offensive rebounder.

"It hasn't hurt them because they've got some guys on the perimeter that make shots. That's the key to any team. You make shots, you look good. Life is great if you can make them.

"We've had our ups and downs this year in terms of making them, but when we do, we're a pretty good team."

Ware, Mgbako, Payton Sparks, Gabe Cupps, and Anthony Walker will play in this rivalry for the first time.

"We are a young team, and a lot of these guys haven't been in big games like this," Woodson says. "It's my job to get them ready and calm them down if they come out not ready and see where it leads us.

"You can't ask for bigger games than this. This is what fans like to see. It's good for college basketball. We'll just see what happens."

IU vs. Purdue Means More -- ‘You Can’t Ask for a Bigger Game’

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Gabe Cupps

Jalen Hood-Schifino

Mackenzie Mgbako

Malik Reneau

Payton Sparks

Anthony Walker

Kel'el Ware