Indiana basketball vs. Purdue: The greatest rivalry in college hoops

Indiana basketball and Purdue have been rivals for over a century and have played each other over 200 times since 1901. What will happen in the 216th meeting between the Hoosiers and Boilermakers?

On Saturday afternoon, No. 1 Purdue travels two hours south to Bloomington to take on No. 21 Indiana in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Some are focused on the matchup between college basketball player of the year candidates, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Zach Edey. I might be focused elsewhere for this game.

Trayce Jackson-Davis is averaging 19.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3.1 blocks in 19 games played this season for the Hoosiers. TJD is averaging 21.1 points, 12.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 3.5 blocks in 36.4 minutes in conference play thus far this season.

Zach Edey, the 7-foot-4 player of the year favorite in college hoops, is averaging 22.0 points, 13 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 2.1 blocks in 22 games played this season for Purdue, but is he playing the best in conference play? Edey is averaging 21.8 points, 13.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.4 blocks in 32.5 minutes in 12 conference games so far.

Who’s your pick right now for Big Ten Player of the Year? Trayce Jackson-Davis or Zach Edey?

My primary focus for this game is the potential return of Xavier Johnson, along with the matchup of freshman guards, Braden Smith and Jalen Hood-Schifino. Whoever comes to play and compete will come out of Assembly Hall with a victory.

The last time No. 1 Purdue came to Assembly Hall? Don’t look further than last season, when No. 1 Purdue came into Bloomington on January 20, 2022, and lost on a game-winning three-pointer from Rob Phinisee, 68-65.

Before that monumental win for the Hoosiers, they had lost nine straight games to the Boilermakers and 12 of the last 13 matchups since 2013-14. Despite losing in West Lafayette just a couple of months later in the 2021-22 season, Indiana got its signature win that was much needed at the time.

Now, both teams come into this game ranked in the AP Top 25, with Matt Painter’s Purdue squad winners of nine straight games and Mike Woodson’s Indiana team winners of five of their last six, snapping their five-game winning streak on Tuesday against Maryland.