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February 4, 2012

Indiana, Purdue meet with both looking to regain momentum

Andy Proffet Special to the Tribune-Star

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana University’s stint in the Top 25 may be coming to an end. Purdue is just looking for a winning streak.

From a national standpoint, tonight’s Indiana-Purdue men’s basketball matchup may not have the same cachet it would have were it played a month ago, when the Hoosiers were coming off wins over No. 1 Kentucky and No. 2 Ohio State, and the Boilermakers were an impressive 12-3, with two of those losses by a combined five points.

But the players and coaches involved know this will be a tough game.

“They’re ranked and it’s IU, so it makes it even bigger,” Purdue sophomore forward Travis Carroll said. “If they’re ranked or not, it’s IU; we’ve got to win.”

“It’s definitely a big game, but every game in the Big Ten is huge for us,” Indiana junior guard Jordan Hulls countered. “We just treat every game the same way and once it’s in Big Ten, every game is basically a rivalry game.”

Nevertheless, this rivalry has been lopsided in Purdue’s favor. The Boilermakers have won five straight and six of seven over IU, Purdue’s longest winning streak in the series since a seven-game run from 1968 through ‘72.

As 2011 ended, it looked like the Hoosiers had a team capable of overtaking the Boilermakers for state Big Ten supremacy.

Indiana stood at 12-1 when 2012 began, its only loss an 80-65 finish at Michigan State.

The 20th-ranked Hoosiers are now 17-6, 5-6 in the Big Ten, and the program’s road woes continue. Wednesday’s loss at Michigan dropped Indiana to 1-5 on the road in conference games this season.

In Indiana’s three-plus seasons under Tom Crean, the Hoosiers are 2-1 at Penn State, 0-31 at the rest of the Big Ten.

“What that team’s been through … obviously [their seniors] trying to get [a win] here in Mackey, just one in their career would be special, and you know those young guys want to come out here and play for them,” Purdue senior guard Lewis Jackson said.

“Any road win that we can get would be really good for us,” Hulls said. “It’s just something that we have to try and get done.”

While Indiana is trying to find a way to win on the road, Purdue (15-7, 5-4) is just trying to put together a winning streak. The Boilermakers haven’t won consecutive games since closing December with three straight victories.

They’re 3-4 since the turn of the year.

“It’s a huge game for us and a huge game for them,” said Purdue senior forward Robbie Hummel.

While the Hoosiers will come in just a couple days removed from a game, the Boilermakers haven’t played since last Saturday, a 58-56 win at Northwestern.

“It will be good for us because we got to rest,” Hummel said. “Some of the guys needed it.

“But then you have that [chance of a] rust factor as well.”

For the Boilermakers to notch a sixth straight win in the series, Jackson said, they’ll have to keep Indiana from driving to the basket.

“That’s our first goal, because [Victor] Oladipo, Will Sheehey, they love to drive,” Jackson said. “If we can stop penetration and them getting easier shots … really force them to be a perimeter shooting team.”

As for the Hoosiers, who may have another lineup change with Verdell Jones’ status in doubt because of a bruised shoulder, they’ll have to contend with Purdue’s physical pressure.

“They can play with a bigger lineup or they can go smaller,” Indiana assistant coach Tim Buckley said. “Of late, they’ve tended to go smaller with Hummel at the center position and [D.J.] Byrd at the power forward, so they have a versatile team.”

“No matter what lineup they put in there, we’ve got pretty skilled big men with pretty big wingspans,” said Indiana junior forward Derek Elston. “[Purdue] spreading us out is going to feel like the zone is still packed in just because we’re so long, so we’re going to use that to our advantage.”

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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Winner: Northview pitcher T.J. Decker rejoices as his team records the last out in their semi-final win. The Knights defeated Terre Haute North in the first game Monday at Plainfield.

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SPT052612NvBB decker.jpg

Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Winner: Northview pitcher T.J. Decker rejoices as his team records the last out in their semi-final win. The Knights defeated Terre Haute North in the first game Monday at Plainfield.

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