A tale as old as time is the best way to describe the rivalry between Indiana and Purdue. A battle between teams trying to own the state and show up to the other. Rivalries bring the best out of both teams and when it comes to the Indiana-Purdue rivalry, that always seems to be the case.
Unfortunately for Hoosier fans, Purdue leads the series in basketball 127-92, but compared to some rivalry series, that is not too bad. It is one of the recent worst stretches in Indiana was back from 2016 to 2021 when the Hoosiers lost nine games straight to the Boilermakers.
Now Purdue and Indiana are going to face off, and the teams could not be on two more different current paths. The Hoosiers are 4-4 in their last eight games, while the Boilermakers are 7-1 in their last eight. Purdue, in the last few years, has had a real chance to compete for a National Championship, even making an appearance in the 2024 championship game.
Indiana missed the NCAA Tournament last season, and if they stay on the course they are on right now, they could see the same fate this season.
The Hoosiers and the Boilermakers have been battling on the court since 1901, and it wasn't pretty at first for Indiana. Purdue won 51 of the first 62 meetings between these teams, and it wasn't until 1940 that Indiana swept the season series. it just happens that was also the season the Hoosiers won their first national title.
There have been a number of notable matchups between these teams, and the matchup tomorrow could be yet another chapter in this great and tense rivalry. The Hoosiers could use this game to get back on track because taking down the No. 10 team in the country, who is also your rival, could look great on an NCAA Tournament resume.