Final home game sparks memories for senior class

One by one, the “First Five” took the microphone to reminisce about one of the most trying four-year stretches any IU basketball player has ever endured.

The five IU seniors each took his turn talking to the nearly full Assembly Hall following an 85-74 win against Purdue (21-11, 10-8).

After the win, the No. 18/20 Hoosiers (24-7, 11-7) returned to the court as the five seniors and their families were honored with a highlight video and framed jerseys.

The speeches were made even sweeter for the players and fans as the Hoosiers have now won seven of their last eight games, including a sweep against their neighbors up north.

“I remember actually doing an interview in the summer and being asked, ‘If you had one team you want to play on senior night, who would it be? And I said, ‘Purdue,’” senior guard Verdell Jones III said. “This rivalry often gets overlooked because of the North Carolina/Duke rivalry, but I think it’s the best rivalry in college basketball.”

During IU’s 49-point first half Sunday, the Hoosiers had major production from a pair of senior bench players.

Jones III had seven points in 21 minutes, including a pair of steals and blocks against the Boilers.

Senior guard Matt Roth knocked down all three 3-point attempts in the first half, as his nine points were the most he has had at home during the Big Ten this season.

“I thought our seniors did an excellent job of impacting the game,” IU Coach Tom Crean said. “It’s a fitting day for these guys, to have a win like this, to beat a rival like this, to beat a team that was arguably playing as well as anyone the last couple of weeks.”

Fellow senior Tom Pritchard jumped into the scoring mix with a hook shot late in the second half to give IU a 73-61 lead.

Pritchard and Roth honored their commitment from former IU Coach Kelvin Sampson to Crean and wanted to thank their classmates for sticking with the program during the early struggles.

“The senior class has stayed with us,” Pritchard said. “We have all matured and we have just given them something this year, the team has, that they are always going to remember and be a part of.”

After suffering through three straight 20-loss seasons, the seniors will now head into post-season play with a résumé that includes three wins against top-five teams in 2011-12.

“They’ve been through a whole bunch, ups and downs, going from six wins freshman year to 24 wins right now,” junior guard Jordan Hulls said. “It’s just a great tribute to those guys, sticking to it when it was really rough on them with all the losses.”

Selection Sunday is now less than a week away, and with IU likely to be chosen, this senior class now extends the streak to every four-year player in Hoosiers history to have played in the NCAA Tournament since 1973.

With 22 seconds remaining, Crean heard the chants of “we want seniors” from the student section and delivered by putting all five on the floor to end the game.

“That’s a special feeling and something I will remember, us five just walking off together beating a rival in front of a sold-out crowd,” Jones said.