Darian DeVries hit the right notes to keep Indiana fans bought in after Purdue upset

Well, what do you know? A Quad 1 game finally went the Indiana Hoosiers' way! After having gone 0-6 in their first half-dozen of these type of games, Darian DeVries team took advantage of the No. 12 Purdue Boilermakers' defensive woes to win a tight one at Assembly Hall on Tuesday night, 72-67. Prior to this win, Indiana's best win on the year was a 10-point over Washington during Big Ten play.

Here is what DeVries said about the home crowd bringing the energy at Assembly Hall vs. Purdue.

"I'm going to say the biggest key was that crowd out there. That was awesome! That's what makes this place so special. When they're making their run and our crowd kept willing us to keep fighting every possession. I want to thank this crowd for their efforts tonight. Because that's a huge deal in college basketball, when you've got a home court like we have, that's a big advantage. When that place is loud and rocking like that, that's a big, big deal for us. So thanks to everyone who came out and brought the noise themselves."

He also had thoughts on the significance of Indiana beating its big in-state rival of Purdue on Tuesday.

"We talked about it before the game. Like, rivalries are what make college sports great. This is what it is, this is why everybody loves college sports. And these type of rivalries are fun. They should be. You got fan bases both care about their teams, are both close to each other, and that's what it's supposed to be about. It's good, it's competitive. For us, that's a big win. Every win is a big win, but those rivalry games always got a little extra to them. We were fortunate to come out on top tonight."

Hyping up the home crowd and respecting the Purdue rivalry will serve DeVries tremendously here.

Darian DeVries has become a man of the people leading Indiana Hoosiers

In Joe Lunardi's latest Bracketology for ESPN, he had Indiana as one of the first four teams out along with Seton Hall, Santa Clara, and TCU. With this huge home win over Purdue, that will surely catapult the Hoosiers into the field of 68. They have been hovering around the cut line all season long. Not having a quality win in Big Ten play had them on the outside looking in. This win changes everything.

Not to say it will go the same way, but what has made Curt Cignetti's run on the football field so special is he got total buy-in from his players and the fan base. Indiana had long had a disinterested football fan base, but now that has changed. Historically, Indiana has been a traditional power on the hardwood, but the last two decades have not been the easiest for them. A win can be a spring board.

It is important for Indiana to become a regular fixture in the NCAA Tournament once again. Recent conference realignment has made it easier than ever for halfway decent Big Ten teams to make the field. Now that we are in the heart of league play, it will be interesting to see what other wins Indiana can rattle off that will be in the same vein as the Purdue victory and the one it had over Washington.

At this time, expect for Indiana to be in the field following the next Bracketology update on Friday.