Indiana vs Purdue: 2022-23 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
By Joey Loose
A highly-anticipated Big Ten rivalry rematch gets underway; does Purdue get revenge or does Indiana have other plans?
TV schedule: Saturday, February 25, 7:30 pm ET. FOX
Arena: Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana
It’s been quite a stretch of basketball for an Indiana (19-9) team that’s asserted itself as one of the best teams in a jam-packed Big Ten. The Hoosiers got the big one a few weeks ago when they beat rival Purdue, but have also upended Rutgers and Illinois since then. Unfortunately, Indiana is just a few days removed from a really tough performance at Michigan State and this weekend’s battle will be no easier.
It’s undeniable that senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (20.5 ppg, 11.1 rpg) has been one of the nation’s best players this season and would likely be Big Ten Player of the Year if not for a certain someone on Purdue. Jackson-Davis had 25 points in that win over the Boilermakers and has been their leading scorer in nearly every Big Ten game. Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino (12.8 ppg, 4.0 apg) has also had some nice performances, including a 33-point outing against Northwestern several weeks back, while senior forward Miller Kopp (8.0 ppg) has stood out as well. Indiana is still waiting for Xavier Johnson to return from his foot injury.
The Hoosiers started the week at 17th in the AP Top 25 and now sit 24th in KenPom and 19th in the NET. This is a very good team in the paint on both sides of the ball, but the Hoosiers can also hit outside shots, making them a potentially lethal threat in the postseason. They don’t really depend on that long-range shooting, feeding Jackson-Davis and others in the paint more often than not. It’s a strategy that’s worked, and that led to a big win last time these two teams faced off.
Purdue (24-4) lost that game to the Hoosiers in early February and didn’t just shake off the cobwebs, dropping two more road games since then. This time, Purdue is playing at home, and they’ve had some impressive performances in Mackey, including a 27-point victory over Ohio State this past weekend.
There’s certainly a potential national player of the year on this team, with junior center Zach Edey (22.1 ppg, 12.7 rpg) having a monster season for the Boilermakers, including a 33-point, 18-rebound effort in that loss to the Hoosiers. Freshman guards Fletcher Loyer (11.8 ppg, 2.5 apg) and Braden Smith (10.0 ppg, 4.3 apg) have been a revelation for the Boilermakers, with Smith scoring 24 points a few weeks ago in a win over Iowa. Keep an eye out for junior forward Mason Gillis (6.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg), the other starter in the frontcourt who’s quietly having a solid season and had 10 rebounds in that win over the Buckeyes.
The #1 team the last time these teams played, Purdue sits at #5 in the AP Top 25 and the NET and is up at 4th in KenPom. A phenomenal squad on offense, it should come as little surprise that this is one of the best rebounding teams in the nation, with Edey having a particular impact in the paint on both ends of the court. The Boilermakers don’t live or die by the 3, but have had some dreadful shooting nights in recent losses and will hope for better play in the weeks to come, especially from those young guards.
This rematch will likely hinge on the matchup between Edey and Jackson-Davis. Both star players should have remarkable days and it’ll be great seeing these two potential All-Americans going up against each other for the second time this month. It’s hard to argue against what either of them has done, though there’s probably a slight edge towards Edey, especially playing this one at home.
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Outside of the frontcourt, guard play is certainly important. Can Purdue’s young guards handle their pressure and play better basketball? Does Indiana keep holding on until their own point guard gets back on the court? With revenge on their minds, it’s hard to bet against Purdue this time. Expect Edey to put up monster numbers and prove that early February’s loss was a fluke against their rivals, though this game should be intense and exciting from opening tip.