WHO: Purdue (15-7, 5-4)
WHAT: The Hoosiers chance to beat Purdue for the first time in five tries
WHERE: West Lafayette, Ind.
WHEN:7 p.m.
HOW: BTN (Dave Revsine & Jimmy Jackson), IU Radio Network, Live Audio on IUHoosiers.com
Scouting the Boilers
Head coach
Matt Painter, 7th season
Leading scorer
Senior forward Robbie Hummel, 15.2 ppg
Leading rebounder
Senior forward Robbie Hummel, 6.0 rpg
Best win
Home against Illinois, 75-60
Worst loss
At Penn State, 65-45
What they do well
Taking care of the basketball. In conference play, the Boilers are first in the Big Ten in assist/turnover ratio at 1.3
What needs work
Free throws. Purdue ranks last in the Big Ten in free-throw percentage, shooting 62.9% from the line
Projected starters
Indiana (but really, who knows?)
G Jordan Hulls 12.2 points per game
G Verdell Jones III 7.8
G Will Sheehey 9.0
F Christian Watford 12.5
F Cody Zeller 15.0
Purdue
G Lewis Jackson 10.2 points per game
G Ryne Smith 9.4
G/F D.J. Byrd 6.0
G Terone Jackson 7.6
F Robbie Hummel 15.2
My take
Who know's what Indiana squad will walk into Mackey Arena on Saturday? Not only because of the Hoosiers inconsistency this season, but because I have no clue what starting five IU Coach Tom Crean will unveil at tipoff. The status of guard Verdell Jones is still unknown and Crean was clearly displeased with the performance of his starting lineup in the Michigan game.
The Hoosiers have a more talented squad than Purdue. But, when IU travels on the road in conference play, I just have such little confidence that they will come out with a victory. This will be the most hostile environment the Hoosiers will play in this season and I just have such little confidence they can win purely because of the hostile surroundings.
However, this is a golden opportunity for IU to capture a huge conference win away from Assembly Hall and start to right the ship. Having dropped 5 of their last 7, the Hoosiers can gain confidence and momentum from the Purdue game that will make the final stretch of the season seem more like a jog than a drawn-out fall.
