Photo courtesy of The Crimson Quarry

Huge road win doubles as Crean’s first over Purdue

After more than three years, seemingly countless road losses and exactly zero victories over the Purdue Boilermakers, IU’s 78-61 win over Purdue felt like it was a long time coming.

Indiana controlled much of the game, playing from start to finish with an ‘edge’ that Coach Tom Crean singles out and calls for on a regular basis. In any rivalry game, that ‘edge’ is customary and both teams seemed to have it in spades, especially in the early going. Numerous possessions on both ends of the floor featured players from both teams hitting the hardwood for a loose ball, and nearly every possession in the first half boasted consistently tight defense from both sides.

But despite the fact that both teams appeared to play with plenty of toughness, Purdue’s coach, Matt Painter had no difficulty explaining which team was better and played harder throughout the night.

“They (The Hoosiers) were quicker to the ball and about everything else,” he said. “To me it looked like it meant more to them. I thought they were more engaged. It would have been a shame if we had made a run at the end there because they deserved to win the game. They were tougher, quicker and just deserved to win.”

The Boilermakers on the court also noticed the toughness and quickness that the Hoosiers exhibited. Robbie Hummel and Lewis Jackson – fifth and fourth year seniors respectively – were noticeably broken up about the game’s result, but praised Indiana’s effort, toughness and maturity.

“That’s been a team that’s been at the bottom,” said Jackson. “You see the toughness and maturity of a team coming together like that and you take your hat off to them.”

The toughness and maturity that Jackson referenced was evident for much of the game on both ends of the court, but was especially apparent on defense. Indiana’s perimeter D held the Boilermakers to 0-11 shooting from beyond the three-point arc in the 1^st half and caused Purdue to struggle in setting up its offense – they ended up shooting worse than 30% from the floor and connected on only five of 21 threes.

Despite solid all-around play, The Boilermakers made a run in the second half, cutting IU’s lead to four points. With the score 65-61, Lewis Jackson took the ball on the fast break and drove hard to the rim for a layup that would have made for a one-possession game. Will Sheehey would have none of it. In a game defined by defense, he made the play of the night – an athletic, chasedown block that returned possession to the Hoosiers. Purdue would not threaten again.

“There are watershed moments in game that you can point to,” Crean admitted after the game. “And that block was one of them… big picture things like defense and rebounding are all big parts, but that block was a major part of the game.”

Just like that, Crean and his Indiana team had pulled out a gritty road win with the toughness, defense and rebounding that he had preached before each previous contest with Purdue – something that Painter alluded to when asked what made this game different from games that the two teams had played in previous years.

“They won,” he said.

Indeed, Coach Painter. Indeed.

Hoosiers prevail without A-game but with toughness

If forced to draw up an ideal game outline for this IU squad, it’s unlikely that anyone who has spent any time watching the Hoosiers this season would put together something resembling Saturday’s performance at Mackey Arena. Indiana entered the game second in the country in 3pt% and they shot three of 10. The Hoosiers had shot a shade under 50% from the floor on the season. They shot 41% against Purdue.

For a team that had struggled – certainly recently – to close out games against B1G competition, IU’s Saturday performance was both impressive and encouraging because they managed to win without playing the type of up-tempo, free-flowing basketball that had led to much of their success throughout the season. Instead of relying on gaudy shooting percentages and easy fast break points, the Hoosiers utilized the toughness and grit that some fans had begun to believe had departed. Purdue’s Lewis Jackson referenced IU’s mental makeup as a source of much of their success over the course of the game.

IU's defense made life tough for the Boilermaker offense. Courtesy of the Herald Times

“I think they were just composed,” he said. “(Indiana) stayed composed and they just played tough. They just executed pretty well and that’s what it came down to.”

That toughness was best exemplified by the free throw and rebounding disparities between the two teams. The Hoosiers made 35 trips to the foul line compared to the Boilers’ 20, and also won the rebounding battle 44-30. Crean enjoyed how his team performed on the glass and said as much after the game.

“We were committed to the glass, like you need to be when you play a good team like Purdue,” he said matter-of-factly. “It was not for the faint-hearted inside the lane… no question (rebounding) was a big part of the win.”

As pleased as Crean was, Matt Painter seemed equally irritated with his team’s inability to match the intensity that the Hoosiers showed, particularly at getting to the basket.

“They were more aggressive,” he said. “They were going (to the basket) to score, I thought we had a couple guys scared, trying to get fouled… you’ve got to take on the whole situation. Indiana did a good job of that.”

Not surprisingly, IU’s freshman big man Cody Zeller found himself in the middle of several bone-jarring plays in the paint. Midway through the first half, he had still not corralled a single rebound and was being effectively contained by the Boiler defense. As the game wore on though, he found his groove, finishing with 16 points and 8 rebounds. After the game, he expanded on the keys to Indiana’s victory despite a less than optimal performance.

“We knew we had to bring the toughness to compete on the road and compete at Mackey and we did all the little things it takes to win on the road,” he said. “I think we definitely had that toughness earlier in the year and we had kind of gotten away from it when we were losing but we did a pretty nice job tonight at getting it back.”

When the shots weren’t falling, when Purdue made their runs and when the game’s result was in doubt, the Hoosiers held tough. In one of the most hostile environments they’ve faced, they proved that when they have that toughness, they’re a tough team to beat.

Victory without Verdell

One of tonight’s more compelling storylines was the absence of Verdell Jones III, the senior guard who suffered a badly bruised shoulder in the first half against Michigan and was unable to play against Purdue. Jones has his share of detractors, but against Purdue’s constant ball pressure and with less experienced guards as alternatives, conventional wisdom stated that he would have been a nice asset to have. Fortunately for Indiana, Jones’ backcourt mates raised their level of play.

Victor Oladipo played a starring role in Jones’ absence, notching career high 23 points, adding eight rebounds and four assists in 30 minutes of play. Oladipo’s biggest contribution though may have come not on the offensive end but on defense, as he was the man assigned to guard Lewis Jackson for most of the night and pestered him into a 1-10 shooting performance.

“His defense got his offense going and that’s the bottom line with most players,” Crean said of Oladipo. “When it comes to energy and explosiveness, you’re going to get it on both ends if you bring it at the highest level on the other end.”

Oladipo was humble when asked about his play.

“We did a good job today, (several teammates) had great games,” he said. “I knew I had to be confident, patient and make the right decisions and I think I did a good job of that today.”

Also playing a starring role was the freshman Remy Abell. Abell – who had played double figure minutes in only two conference games – played a career-high 19 minutes and scored a career-high 13 points, including a three-pointer from the corner that turned out to be the dagger.

Remy Abell in his debut at Mackey. Courtesy of The Purdue Exponent

“He made a big shot,” Robbie Hummel said afterward. “We were playing for the drive and he made a B1G play, hats off to him.”

Abell shot five of six from the floor and, at times, was Indiana’s most dependable offensive player. For a freshman to make so much of his first significant playing time is substantial, a development not lost on Crean.

“Remy built on what he did the other night against Michigan and he’s learning to play to not only the talent level that he has but also how the game has to be played, and I thought he did some very good things.”

As for Remy’s take on his situation, he’s keeping his goals and expectations manageable.

“I just wanted to come in and step up,” he said. “When I’m on the bench I’m always ready so that when (Coach Crean) calls my name I can make an impact.”

Verdell Jones’ health for Indiana’s next game against Illinois will likely dictate what that impact will be, but for the meantime, it appears that young Remy Abell may very well have a place in the Hoosier rotation.