Purdue at Indiana: Game Day Essentials | Tale of the Tape | Keys to Victory

The time for thinking about the NCAA tournament has passed.  The time for just trying to get a win has passed.  The time for feeling sorry for yourself has passed.

It is time to have some pride.  And it is time to get mad.

And therein lies the question.

Can this team get mad?  Can this team persevere when things get sideways?  Can this team say “not in my house?”

Indiana’s biggest rival on its schedule is coming to Bloomington on Tuesday night.  And that begs the question.

If not now, when?

GAME DAY ESSENTIALS

No. 15 Purdue (18-7, 11-3) at Indiana (13-12, 4-10)

• Tip time:  7:00 p.m. Eastern
• Location: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Bloomington, Indiana
• Television:  ESPN2 (Jason Benetti and Dan Dakich)
• Series:  Purdue leads 117-89 (Purdue won the last meeting 70-55 on Jan. 19)
• Point Spread:  Purdue is a 4.5 point favorite.
• Tickets (Seat Geek affiliate link)

Matt Painter is in his 14th season leading the Purdue program and has a career record of 338-161.

Additional Coverage

• Archie Miller discusses the game on his radio show
• Matt Painter preview the game
• Indiana can beat Purdue by BEING Purdue
• We discussed the game on Indiana Sports Beat

PURDUE NAMES TO KNOW

Carsen Edwards is the name you already knew.  He is an All-American that leads Purdue in scoring (24.4), assists (3.2) and steals (1.6) per game.  He takes 37% of the teams shots when he is on the floor, and in general, the Boilers go as he goes.

Nojel Eastern is a big point guard that has improved year over year and does a little bit of everything.  He was praised for his defense on Romeo Langford in the first matchup and will likely draw that assignment once again.

Ryan Cline was a three year reserve that has flourished as a senior starter.  He is the team’s second leading scorer and shoots three-pointers at nearly 43%.

Trevion Williams is a freshman forward that was a major part of Purdue’s midseason turnaround.  Coming from seemingly nowhere, Williams put together several huge games but he has been quiet in their last few contests.

TALE OF THE TAPE

See how the Hoosiers and Boilermakers stack up statistically:

KEYS TO VICTORY

It’s all about Carsen.  Edwards can beat you by himself if you let him.  Indiana did a decent job in the first meeting, holding him to just 6 of 18 from the field for 20 points.  Edwards proved to be a willing passer in that game, picking up seven assists.  It won’t be enough to just get the ball out of his hands.  IU’s defense will need to be fundamental with its help and recovery when Edwards picks up his dribble.

Don’t lost track of shooters.  The Boilers are in love with the three point shot.  They have the most attempts from long range of any team in the Big Ten, and they make the fourth highest percentage.  Excellent passing, spacing and movement makes Purdue very difficult to defend.  With four players north of 35% from distance, Indiana will need to keep track of multiple options at all times.

Get Romeo more looks.  Purdue was one of the first teams to employ the sagging and switching man-to-man defense that has given Indiana fits.  With everyone packed behind the arc just daring IU to shoot, driving lanes have been cut off for Romeo Langford.  Whether it is in the post, on the baseline or creating more isolation, Langford needs to get significantly more scoring opportunities than his six shot attempts against Minnesota.

Langford was held to a season low four points in the first meeting.  Will he take that personally and look to take this game over?

Drastic changes?  IU head coach Archie Miller promised them after Saturday’s loss to Minnesota.  Will players lose their starting jobs, or fall out of the rotation altogether?  It will be interesting to watch for anything new that emerges — and what that says about the problems of the last six weeks.

PREDICTION:  Purdue 72  Indiana 66.

Game Note:  

Indiana will honor Dick and Tom Van Arsdale at halftime of the game.  The school released this statement:

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – IU will honor former All-Americans Dick Van Arsdale and Tom Van Arsdale at halftime of Tuesday’s game against Purdue. The Indianapolis Manual products shared Indiana’s Mr. Basketball Award in 1961 and played for the Hoosiers from 1962-65. Tom scored 1,252 points in his career and Dick contributed 1,240 in the Cream and Crimson. Both earned All-American honors in 1965 and helped Team USA to a World University Games gold medal. They both also earned Academic All- American honors.

Dick played 12 seasons in the NBA with the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns and was a 3-time All Star. Tom also played 12 seasons in the NBA with Kansas City Kings, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns. He also made 3 All-Star appearances.

Both were inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988.