“We know that I get my pins out next week on Monday [the 13th]. We have a game on the 14th, the next day,” Fischer told Inside the Hall. “If the doctor releases me, we’re hoping to get out there a little bit and see what it starts to be like. I don’t think I’ll be playing a lot, but it will just feel good to get back out there.”

Without Fischer in the lineup, Germantown (18-0) has continued to dominate the highest level competition in Wisconsin.

The Warhawks, ranked No. 1 in the latest Associated Press Division I top ten poll, have not played a game closer than 11 points all season. Watching his teammates succeed during his absence has only made Fischer more hungry to return.

“It’s terrible [being out],” he said. “Even during practice now I’m getting bored sitting out, I just want to get back in there. I never thought I’d ever say that but I just want to get out there and play again.”

Through 12 games prior to his injury, Fischer was averaging 16.8 points per game.

Fischer’s been unable to do much with his right hand since suffering the injury on Jan. 12. So he’s increased work on other parts of his game.

“A lot of running. We have our strength coach come in and do some like band work with me,” Fischer said. “Dribbling, speed and quickness stuff. A lot of left-handed hook shots and left-handed tips. I’m getting real good dunking with my left hand, too. It kind of feels weird, but it’s going to help my game a lot.”

One thing Fischer hasn’t had to worry about in recent weeks is recruiting. The 6-foot-9 junior made a verbal commitment to Indiana on Dec. 31 during an unofficial visit for the Ohio State game.

Still, Fischer found himself wearing a Wisconsin T-shirt recently thanks to his teammate Zak Showalter, who will walk-on for the Badgers next fall.

“We always mess around with each other,” he laughed. “When Wisconsin and Indiana played, we had a bet. Whoever lost had to wear the winning team’s stuff the next day. I actually ended up wearing a Wisconsin shirt the next day. I didn’t like it at all, but we have fun like that.”

Quotes are available after the jump.

Tom Crean
Opening Statement:

“I think our guys are really excited to be home. Last week was a challenging week, an interesting week, and one where we played a lot of different games and to come out of it 2-1, especially with the start we had at Michigan, I think was strong for us overall. We learned a lot about ourselves last week. I think we really did. We learned what we’re capable of. We learned what kind of toughness you have to have and how you have to be resilient when you’re not as tough or when you’re not as aggressive or when you’re not on the attack like you are one night and you’ve got to turn back around and understand that you’re fully capable of it and I think that’s what our guys did at Purdue. We knew we there would be very little margin for error when you go into a place like Purdue and what errors you make you’ve got be able to make up for in your hustle, you’ve got be able to make up for in your aggressiveness, you’ve got to be able to make up for in your confidence and you just keep playing and I thought our guys did that.

“So now as we get ready for Illinois it’s much the same situation. We’re going to be playing against a team that is hungry. We’re going to be playing against a team that has won big games, that has been ranked throughout the season, that knows how to win on the road, and they’re extremely well-coached. I think they’re one of the better coaching staffs in the country. I think the Big Ten is full of good coaches, but I think the Illinois staff is one of the best in the country and I think they’ve proven that over a period of time with how they’ve played year after year. It’s a tough league and they’re capable of winning anytime, anywhere. That’s exactly how we’re preparing for this game. We know it’s a big game for the fans in the sense of rivalry. We know that we had a big win against them last year. We also know that we got smacked around pretty good when we went up to Illinois last year. They really showed no mercy in that game and we did not match their aggressiveness and we did not match their intensity and we paid for it.

“So we’ve had some really interesting games with them over a period of time, but we know this one is one that will be an incredible challenge because they understand what’s at stake. They’ve got some guys that have been through it. They know what it’s like to play big games in the months of February and March and we’ve got to continue to learn to understand what that means. That being said, we’re looking forward to a phenomenal crowd. It’s not only a white out, but I hope it’s a loud out. I hope it’s just numbing for how loud it is inside of the building and just breaks that decibel level again like we have a couple times this year so that’s what we’re excited about. We’ve had a good week of practice and we’re excited to play.”

On the problems that Illinois presents:

“They’ve got a very talented team. They’re explosive. They’ve got tremendous guard play. Right off the bat they’ve got the leading scorer in the league, the guy that makes more threes a game than anybody else in Brandon Paul. They’ve got a guy that went from averaging two and one a year ago to 13 and 9 and gets all kinds of attention in Meyers Leonard. They’ve got Joseph Bertrand, who has bided his time in that program and is now one of the mainstays in that program. They’ve got Tracy Abrams who is a freshman point guard who has started all these games in the league and doesn’t play like a freshman. They’ve got D.J. Richardson who is one of the more underrated guards in our league and maybe in a lot of leagues because of how good he is and how quick he is with the ball and how good of a three-point shooter he is. So they’re a very talented team.

“Sam Maniscalco is a guy that has made big shots his entire career. He’s a guy that has been a volume free throw shooter. He’s a guy that is a tremendous three-point shooter when he was at Bradley. He’s a guy they have on the court for them at the end of games when it’s winning time so they’re a deep team. (Myke) Henry is a tremendous athlete who can shoot the ball, who can get to the basket. Tyler Griffey I’ve always felt is a very underrated player in this league. They’re a very good team and there’s balance there. There’s inside outside, they can run, they can score in the half court. They’re one of the better teams in this league and I think when you have a lot of teams that are right there together sometimes it’s easy to forget that. They’re one of two teams that have beaten Ohio State in this league and they had a guy get 43 in that game so we know what we’re up against.”

After a road win over the Boilermakers on Saturday night in Mackey Arena, the Hoosiers return home to Assembly Hall for a Thursday night meeting with Illinois. The Fighting Illini have dropped four of five and are 1-3 on the road in Big Ten play.

The game will be shown on the Big Ten Network (Gus Johnson and Jimmy Jackson) and broadcast on the IU radio network (Sirius 94/XM 192):

With the meat of their Big Ten schedule out of the way, the Hoosiers will now have the luxury of finishing the conference slate with four of their six remaining games at Assembly Hall. Their two road single plays (Nebraska, Wisconsin) produced a pair of losses and now the Hoosiers will get their home single plays (Illinois, Northwestern) in back-to-back games.

The Fighting Illini have been the victim of some tough luck in recent weeks as their four losses since Jan. 19 have come by a combined total of 15 points. Bruce Weber’s club looks to be solidly in the NCAA Tournament field as of today, but with trips to Bloomington, Ann Arbor, Columbus and Madison still remaining, that could change.

Illinois is the Big Ten’s third worst offensive team in conference play at just .98 points per possession, but they’ve made up for it by giving up just .99 points per possession (4th in the conference). Their defense is anchored by the post presence of Meyers Leonard, a 7-foot-1 sophomore who is projected to go in the first half of next June’s NBA Draft. Leonard is a big reason why Illinois is the third-best shot blocking team in conference and the Illini are giving up a 2-point field goal percentage of 46.8.

Offensively, the story is much more grim for Illinois. They’re turning it over at a high rate in league play (22.2 TO%) and are shooting just 32.2 percent from 3-point range. The Illini have been effective inside the 3-point line (51.3% on 2s), but their offense has been mostly predicated on Brandon Paul hunting looks when he’s on the court. Paul is just one of three players in the conference using more than 28% of his team’s possessions.

Paul is the centerpiece and unquestioned go-to-guy on this Illini team. He’s already got a 43-point game under his belt in a win against Ohio State and while he’s not always efficient, he typically finds a way to put up points. Paul’s 127 free throw attempts lead the team. He’s a threat to get going from the perimeter, but is more effective and probably better suited attacking off the dribble. Paul also has a team-high 71 assists.

Joining Paul in the rotation are junior D.J. Richardson, sophomore Joseph Bertrand, freshman Tracy Abrams and senior Sam Maniscalco. Richardson is shooting 38.4 percent on 3s and takes care of the ball (13% TO) better than anyone else in the backcourt. Bertrand’s role has increased significantly in conference play and from the wing; he’s a 6-foot-5 slasher that is effective scoring around the basket (58.8 percent on 2s).

Adams has taken over the majority of Maniscalco’s minutes and is a solid distributor with an assist rate of 17.6 percent. Maniscalco was expected to be the answer at point guard as a postgraduate transfer from Bradley, but has battled an ankle injury and since his return on Jan. 19 at Penn State, has a total of just three points and seven assists in five games.

Up front, Leonard is the only reliable contributor on the roster. He’s second on the team in scoring and first in both rebounds and blocked shots. Leonard ranks as the Big Ten’s third best defensive rebounder behind Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger and Michigan State’s Draymond Green. His matchup with Cody Zeller will be intriguing as both players are both future first-round picks, but possess contrasting games. Leonard is far less polished and skilled offensively but is stronger on the glass, is more athletic and is a better shot blocker.

The Hoosiers are a 3-point loss to Minnesota away from being unbeaten at home and Illinois has won just two true road games all season. The advantage of playing in Bloomington’s Assembly Hall should continue to be one of the biggest advantages in all of college basketball. Pomeroy likes the Hoosiers by eleven (74-63) and gives Illinois just a 17% chance of pulling off the upset.

Inside the Hall was there and we’ve compiled over a minute of highlights of the high-flying senior in the embedded media player below:

Read our scouting notes from Mosquera-Perea’s performance after the jump.

Notes: Mosquera-Perea spent some time on the bench with foul trouble, but the 225-pound forward was able to make an impact on a La Lumiere team stacked with Division I talent. He threw down two thunderous alley-oop dunks, which he’s become known for, that created a buzz in front of a nearly full house at Lawrence Central.

Mosquera-Perea also scored a couple baskets in the paint against contact and showed that he isn’t afraid to play with aggression around the basket. His fast-paced motor and ability to run the floor, which were on display last spring and summer, have continued to improve.

Mosquera-Perea struggled to score from further away from the basket, but he looked comfortable shooting the mid-range jump shot and going to the right-handed hook shot in the post. Mosquera-Perea said afterward that he continues to work on his perimeter shot and is trying to use his hook as his “go-to” move.

He’s solid when going after the ball as a rebounder, but Mosquera-Perea can struggle at times to catch the ball on offense. But at the end of the day, Hanner Mosquera-Perea showed why he has the potential to be an impact piece at Indiana. He has good size, unbelievable athleticism, is a capable defender and shot blocker and plays with a great amount of energy. He’ll need to continue to diversifying his ability to score, improve his hands overall and spend time in the weight room, but the tools are there for him to grow into a difference-maker.

Watch a video Q & A with Warren Central coach Greg Graham and read our scouting notes from Davis’ performance after the jump.

Notes: The Indiana-bound junior knocked down eleven free throws and showed his knack for getting to the charity stripe and converting freebies at a reliable rate.

As usual, Davis played with a great motor and attacked opponents off the dribble to earn easy looks or trips to the line.

The 6-foot-6 forward also was outstanding on the glass and showed that he can be a factor as a rebounder on both sides of the ball. A bulk of Davis’ points can be attributed to his aggressiveness on the offensive glass and willingness to absorb contact in the paint.

Overall it was a solid showing for Davis, who flashed the ability to be productive and lead his team to a win despite not scoring a ton of points from the floor.

Greg Graham Q & A:

Around the Hall is recommended reading from the Inside the Hall crew. So go ahead, get your read on.

· 2014 Ft. Wayne Luers guard and Indiana commitment James Blackmon Jr. is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee over the weekend in a loss to Indianapolis Tech. Blackmon Jr. was averaging 25.1 points per game.

· Indiana is a No. 4 seed in the East bracket in the latest edition of Bracketology on ESPN.com. The Hoosiers are a No. 5 seed in the Bracket Matrix, which compiles every projection available.

· UMHoops looks at Big Ten efficiency margins in their weekly roundup from around the conference.

· John Stovall of ESPN.com delivers high praise (premium link) for Trey Lyles after Saturday’s recruit classic at Lawrence Central.

· Scout.com updated their 2012 class rankings and the Hoosiers come in at No. 3 nationally.

· The Big Ten Network has audio from Tom Crean’s weekly appearance on the conference’s coaches teleconference.

· Don Fischer joined Dan Dakich for his weekly appearance and talked about the Hoosiers’ big win in West Lafayette.

The Hoosiers have already beaten Kentucky and Purdue this season — can they complete the rivalry trifecta with a win against Illinois?

Podcast On The Brink hosts Matt Dollinger and Greg Rosenstein examine that and more with a pair of Big Ten beat writers this week, Paul Klee of the Champaign News-Gazette and Lamond Pope of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. Among the topics discussed in this week’s show:

· Why the Hoosiers were able to win in West Lafayette
· Where Remy Abell fits into Tom Crean’s rotation
· A preview of Thursday’s IU-Illinois clash in Bloomington
· The big man showdown of Meyers Leonard vs. Cody Zeller
· Whether Bruce Weber keeps his job after this season
· The state of the Hoosier-Illini rivalry and where it ranks
· Mackey Arena, Verdell Jones, Super Bowl XLVI and more

So tune in and enjoy. As always, let us know what you think about this week’s show and drop us a note at podcastonthebrink@gmail.com.

Listen in the embedded media player below, download the episode, subscribe via iTunes or subscribe to the RSS feed.

A look at Oladipo’s use of six ball screens in the latest edition of Film Session.

NO 1) 

Cody Zeller sets a high ball screen for Oladipo:

Oladipo splits the defenders:

Lewis Jackson leaves Remy Abell to stop Oladipo’s straight-line drive to the rim. Oladipo passes to the now-open Abell:

Abell hits a reverse layup for two:

Good help defense by Jackson here, but Oladipo made the right decision and Abell converted.

VIDEO:

NO 2)

Derek Elston attempts to set a high ball screen for Oladipo, but Terone Johnson falls:

Oladipo makes a move on Robbie Hummel:

Oladipo gets a step on Hummel:

Neither Ryne Smith or Sandi Marcius fully commit to help Hummel, and it’s another two for Oladipo:

VIDEO:

3)

With just 10 to go on the shot clock, Pritchard helps to free Oladipo from Anthony Johnson:

Oladipo gets into the lane and jukes Travis Carroll:

And it’s a sweet two:

VIDEO:

4)

Zeller sets a side ball screen for Oladipo:

Oladipo isn’t stopped on the perimeter by a hedge and again is given room to operate:

And he blows past Carroll for another layup:

VIDEO:

5)

Zeller gives Oladipo a ball screen:

Here, Hummel does a nice job of hedging:

And recovering back to Zeller. Yet, Zeller still has a step on Hummel and Oladipo zips a pass in:

Zeller catches ahead of an outstreched Hummel:

And scores:

This was a big play. Purdue had cut Indiana’s lead to just four before this score.

VIDEO:

6)

Zeller sets a faux ball screen for Oladipo, as he doesn’t draw any contact with Johnson:

Oladipo is still able to get by Johnson and head towards the cup:

But Jackson comes to meet him just outside the arc:

So he kicks it to Christian Watford on the opposite wing:

Watford makes the extra pass:

And Remy Abell hits perhaps the biggest shot of his young Indiana career:

Again, Purdue was in striking distance here late in the game. But Oladipo’s drive allowed an advantage for the Hoosiers, and they executed.

VIDEO:

Inside the Hall was there as both Mosquera-Perea and his coach, Alan Huss, met the media for postgame reaction. Watch both videos in high-definition quality in the embedded media players below:

After a week with little movement, six teams are in a new position in week seven of our Big Ten power rankings. The changes come in the bottom half of the rankings as the top four teams in the conference have begun to pull away from the pack.

12. Penn State (10-14, 2-9) (LAST WEEK: 12)…They played with a good Wisconsin team at home for awhile, but the Nittany Lions just don’t have enough late-game options to compete in the conference. Penn State has lost four straight and seven of eight.

11. Nebraska (11-11, 3-8) (LAST WEEK: 9)…The Cornhuskers dropped two winnable games this week, one at Northwestern and the other against Minnesota. Uncharacteristically, Nebraska has given up 69 or more points in five straight games.

10. Northwestern (14-8, 4-6) (LAST WEEK: 11)…They needed a good week, and the Wildcats got one. Back-to-back wins — including one at in-state rival Illinois on Sunday — has closer to the NCAA Tournament bubble.

9. Minnesota (17-7, 5-6) (LAST WEEK: 7)…The Golden Gophers could have continued their climb in the power rankings had they held onto a sizable lead at Iowa. Still, they’re a team to watch as we get closer to the Big Ten Tournament.

8. Iowa (13-11, 5-6) (LAST WEEK: 10)…They had their chance to fold after an ugly loss at Indiana and a dreadful start against Minnesota, but the Hawkeyes bounced back nicely for two wins this week. They’re on the road for the next two against Northwestern and Penn State, but both are winnable.

7. Purdue (15-8, 5-5) (LAST WEEK: 6)…The Boilermakers saw their chances for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid take a significant blow with a home loss to Indiana on Saturday. Purdue has dropped three of four and has a trip to Columbus to play Ohio State coming on Tuesday.

6. Illinois (16-7, 5-5) (LAST WEEK: 8)…Much like many of the teams in the Big Ten, Illinois is too inconsistent to be considered an elite team. The Fighting Illini beat both Ohio State and Michigan State at home, but their home loss to Northwestern was their fourth defeat in five games.

5. Indiana (18-6, 6-6) (LAST WEEK: 5)…A slow start at Michigan was worrisome, but the Hoosiers bounced back with a big win at Purdue. Now they’ve got to take care of business at home on Thursday against Illinois.

4. Wisconsin (18-6, 7-4) (LAST WEEK: 4)…The Badgers didn’t quite have enough to beat Ohio State at home, but they proved a lot by the way they competed.

3. Michigan (17-7, 7-4) (LAST WEEK: 3)…The Wolverines split games with Indiana and Michigan State last week. They continue to grow as a team, and freshman point guard Trey Burke looks more like a veteran with each passing game.

2. Michigan State (18-5, 7-3) (LAST WEEK: 2)…They struggled down the stretch in a disappointing loss at Illinois, but the Spartans returned to form with a big home win against rival Michigan. Still, the Spartans need to start playing better on the road where they’ve now lost three straight games.

1. Ohio State (20-3, 8-2) (LAST WEEK: 1)…After losing to Illinois on Jan. 10, the Buckeyes have won five consecutive games — including three against ranked teams. They beat a hot Wisconsin team at the Kohl Center on Saturday night.

Throughout the season, Inside the Hall will keep you posted on how IU’s five 2012 signees, five verbal commitments and other notable prospects with interest in the Hoosiers are performing at their respective schools. (Photo credit: Jamie Owens/J. Scott Sports)

You can send us stats or results for this report at insidethehall@gmail.com. (Note: This is not a complete list of prospects IU is recruiting. Prospects may be added/removed on a week-to-week basis depending on the availability of stats.)

2012 SIGNEES

+ Hanner Perea (La Porte La Lumiere): Nine points and six rebounds in a 83-51 win over Gary Wallace on Jan. 31. Twelve points and five rebounds in a 61-45 win over Detroit Country Day at Lawrence Central on Feb. 4.

+ Jeremy Hollowell (Lawrence Central): Twenty-eight points in a 75-68 win over Franklin Central on Feb. 3 and 34 points and 16 rebounds in a 78-74 loss to Cathedral on Feb. 4.

+ Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell (Park Tudor): Twenty-three points in a 63-35 win over Brebeuf Jesuit on Feb. 3.

+ Peter Jurkin (United Faith Christian Academy, NC): Eighteen points in a 74-60 win at North Hills Christian on Jan. 31. Team-high 20 points in a 101-65 win over Victor Christian on Feb. 3.

+ Ron Patterson (Broad Ripple): Twenty-six points in a 70-67 win at Indianapolis Manual on Feb. 3 and fifteen points in a 69-62 overtime loss to Warren Central at Lawrence Central on Feb. 4. Broke Broad Ripple’s all-time scoring record in loss to Warren Central. Patterson now has 1,419 career points.

2013 COMMITMENTS

+ Collin Hartman (Indianapolis Cathedral): Five points in a 59-49 win at Indianapolis Chatard on Jan. 31. Twenty-one points in a 78-74 win at Lawrence Central on Feb. 4.

+ Devin Davis Jr. (Warren Central): Ten points in a 56-32 win at Center Grove on Feb. 3 and 17 points in a 69-62 overtime win over Broad Ripple at Lawrence Central on Feb. 4.

+ Luke Fischer (Germantown, WI): Did not play as he recovers from a broken right hand suffered on Jan. 12. Expected to miss a total of three to four weeks.

2013 CLASS

+ BeeJay Anya (DeMatha Catholic, MD): Team-high 18 points in a 92-62 win at St. Mary’s Ryken on Jan. 31. Team-high 19 points in a 76-54 win over St. John’s on Feb. 3.

+ Byron “Bo” Zeigler (Detroit Community, MI): No stats available this week.

2014 COMMITMENTS

+ James Blackmon Jr. (Ft. Wayne Luers): Thirty-two points, five rebounds and four assists in a 87-81 win at Ft. Wayne Snider on Feb. 3. That win clinched the SAC title for Luers. Ten points in a 73-51 loss to Indianapolis Tech at Lawrence Central on Feb. 4. Blackmon Jr. suffered a right knee injury late in the first half and did not return. He was expected to have a MRI following the injury.

+ Trey Lyles (Indianapolis Tech): Twenty-three points and 14 rebounds in a 89-50 win over Indianapolis Arlington on Feb. 3. Career-high 33 points and 18 rebounds in a 73-51 win over Ft. Wayne Luers at Lawrence Central on Feb.4.

2014 CLASS

+ Aaron Brennan (Guerin Catholic): Twenty-eight points in a 68-53 win at Cardinal Ritter on Feb. 3. Thirteen points in a 60-42 loss to Lapel on Feb. 4.

+ Cliff Alexander (Chicago Curie, IL): Seventeen points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in a 60-46 win over Leo on Jan. 29.

+ Grant Evans (Wapahani): Nineteen points in a 71-44 win at Cowan on Feb. 3. Eleven points in a 66-57 win over Union on Feb. 4.

+ Jaquan Lyle (Evansville Bosse): Twenty points and 16 rebounds in a 59-55 win at Evansville North on Feb. 4.

+ Trevon Bluiett (Park Tudor): Twenty-one points in a 63-35 win over Brebeuf Jesuit on Feb. 3.

2015 CLASS

+ Jalen Coleman (Cathedral): Ten points in a 59-49 win at Indianapolis Chatard on Jan. 31. Career-high 28 points (10-of-11 shooting) in a 78-74 win at Lawrence Central on Feb. 4.

Recent history playing away from Assembly Hall in the Big Ten suggested that Purdue had Indiana right where it wanted them. The Hoosiers had not beaten any conference team besides Penn State on the road since the 2007-2008 season.

But as the Paint Crew reached a fever pitch and momentum shifted to the Boilermakers, Indiana took a road they’ve rarely traveled in recent seasons away from Bloomington. The Hoosiers did what they couldn’t do in Lincoln, Madison or Ann Arbor: finish well down the stretch.

First it was a block by Will Sheehey on a shot by Lewis Jackson that would’ve cut the lead to two. And then it was Remy Abell’s 3-pointer from the corner at the 1:27 mark to put the game out of reach.

Both plays were made possible because Indiana put together its most complete effort from start to finish all season on the road. The Hoosiers were basically in control throughout the contest.

“To me, it looked like it meant more to them,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “Just right from the start, looking, you can see guys’ facial expressions, you can see guys body language, I thought they were more engaged.”

It hasn’t been that way as of late for Indiana on the road in the Big Ten.

The Hoosiers were never able to fully recover in slow starts at Ohio State and Michigan. At Nebraska and Wisconsin, Indiana couldn’t come up with the key plays Sheehey and Abell made in Mackey Arena on Saturday night.

“It’s big for us,” Indiana guard Victor Oladipo said. “It should boost our confidence a little bit. We should do stuff like that. We’re a really good team.”

With Verdell Jones out of the lineup with a bruised shoulder, Victor Oladipo and Abell both took on increased roles. Oladipo moved from the wing to primary ball handler and Abell, who has been used sparingly, played more like an upperclassmen than a freshman with limited experience.

Purdue couldn’t keep Oladipo out of the lane or off the foul line. The sophomore guard finished with a career-high 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists. As the game moved along, his confidence grew.

“I thought he did a good job of picking his spots and getting by us,” Painter said. “Obviously getting to the free throw line twelve times really helped them.”

Abell, who played a career-high 19 minutes and finished with a career-high 13 points, showed that he’s ready to shoulder a bigger role moving forward. The freshman from Louisville showed no hesitation when he received a pass from Christian Watford in front of the IU bench and knocked down a shot to push Indiana’s lead to nine.

“That’s a big shot for Remy,” Oladipo said. “He’s just growing every day and he’s becoming a great player. He just needs to continue to do what he’s doing and working hard. I’m proud of him.”

Yet, more important than the individual performances or plays is the fact that Indiana is responding to adversity with positive results late in the season. Losses snowballed late in Big Ten play the past few seasons. This team appears destined for a much different finish.

“You take your hat off to them. They’ve been at the bottom,” Purdue guard Lewis Jackson said. “They’ve lost to us three years in a row. They’re tired of hearing it. You just see the maturity and the fight over there and that’s a team that came together.”

Thoughts on a 78-61 win against the Boilermakers:

This was rivalry. A physical, emotional, high-energy affair inside a rocking Mackey Arena. Jordan Hulls jumping out of bounds to extend an Indiana possession; Sandi Marcius diving to the ground for a loose ball; D.J.Byrd crowding Christian Watford on a sidelines inbounds.

But the shots, perhaps due to the all the bluster surrounding this one, were simply not falling in the first half. Purdue missed all 11 of its 3-point attempts and entered halftime with just an eFG% of 20. Ugly stuff. The Hoosiers, though they held an 11-point advantage at the break, weren’t exactly shooting lights out either (35.3 eFG%). The second half began and Purdue started making buckets. But the Hoosiers did not wilt. Victor Oladipo, now back in the starting lineup, brought that swag — one so crucial to the Hoosiers’ early season rise — to West Lafayette. He slashed to the rim for buckets; he made smart decisions; he dished like a point guard. By game’s end, he scored a career-high 23 points and added six rebounds, four assists and two blocks. This is the kind of line he used to put up. This is the kind of line and performance Indiana needed tonight with Verdell Jones sidelined and Watford only mustering four points via some late free throw and missing all seven of his field-goal attempts.

Every time Purdue would make a run in the second half, the Hoosiers responded. And even when the Boilermakers cut it to four (65-61) with just a touch under three minutes remaining and Mackey was electric, still, the Hoosiers kept their poise. In Big Ten play, we’ve seen Indiana not making the plays and losing their cool down the stretch on the road. But in the final three minutes the Hoosiers extended a four-point lead to a 17-point win. Will Sheehey — who had seven points and seven boards — came up with a huge block on Lewis Jackson after Jordan Hulls turned over the ball. Remy Abell — who impressed with 13 points and four boards — hit a three off some Oladipo penetration and an extra pass from Watford. The Hoosiers made 10 of their last 12 free throws in that stretch and forced Purdue into two late turnovers after the Boilermakers had been so clean for much of this contest.

This was Indiana bending, but not breaking. It was the Hoosiers coming into a hostile environment, likely the most hostile they’ll encounter this season, and responding after falling so flat early just days earlier this week against Michigan.

This was also Indiana’s first win inside MackeyArena since 2006.

Goodnight, Boilermaker fans. Drive home safe.

SOME NUMBERS

+ Indiana hit a lot of free throws late. But it was also a category the Hoosiers excelled in all game long in this physical contest. They shot 29-of-35 (82.9%) which was good for a high free throw rate (FTA/FGA) of 63.6%. Purdue, not a team that has been getting to the line a ton in conference play,  attempted 15 less (14-of-20, 70%).

+ The Hoosiers crashed the offensive boards hard and came down with 44.4% of their misses this evening. It allowed for 21 second-chance points.

+ Indiana scored 1.1 points per possession in this one. Purdue clocked in at .87.

It’s been awhile since we’ve had this. Sure, there have been competitive games in football and basketball over the last few years, but Indiana has rarely had more than pride on the line. The Hoosiers competed, stayed in the game, and then lost.

It was hardly even still a rivalry.

But the Hoosiers are back, and Purdue still has plenty left to play for. The Boilermakers are the only Big Ten team without a win over a ranked opponent.

For Indiana, Saturday night’s game at Mackey Arena could be viewed as a “must-win.” With the Hoosiers’ struggles on the road in the Big Ten, a fifth consecutive loss away from Assembly Hall would all but kill this team’s confidence the rest of the way. They’ve still got winnable road games against Iowa and Minnesota left, but lose this one, and those two look a whole lot tougher.

Indiana’s incredibly slow start at Michigan on Wednesday gave it little chance to come back. The Hoosiers had a similarly slow start at Ohio State before playing a better second half.

If they want to beat Purdue and alter their recent fortunes away from Assembly Hall, they can’t afford to fall behind by double-digits before they find their rhythm.

“I feel like we just got rushed in the beginning,” junior Derek Elston said Friday. “A lot of the guys weren’t playing their game. We let the defense kind of dictate what was going on. After a TV timeout, coach just kept harping that we have to keep playing our game no matter what, don’t let them speed us up, keep playing IU basketball.

“I think in the beginning we were trying to make that home run play when we just needed to make the single.”

So what’s the key to starting faster?

“Not turning the ball over and playing better defense,” said guard Jordan Hulls.

Seems simple enough. But it won’t be easy considering the game is just as meaningful — if not more — for the Boilermakers. With a game at Ohio State next and road games against Indiana and Michigan still to come, Purdue can’t afford to drop another home game.

“Every league game is being played at such a high level, they are all played like a rivalry game,” Indiana coach Tom Crean said in a release. “The coaches and players in the Big Ten all understand the importance of each conference game, and I wouldn’t expect anything different (Saturday) night.”

Both teams have so much to play for that the in-state rivalry factor is just icing on the cake.

That’s what Indiana-Purdue is supposed to be about. Saturday night, the rivalry finally returns.

Rules are here

Pool for Purdue: All players are eligible to be picked.

Picks are due by 6:45 PM ET on Saturday.

A few reminders:

+ State the name of the player (not a nickname) that you’re picking. If you use a nickname for a player, your pick will not be counted. Also, please state who you are picking as the first thing in your comment. We’re tracking hundreds of picks per game. It’s more difficult to keep track of everyone’s pick if it’s not the first thing in your comment.

+ Please make sure you are using a valid e-mail address if you are not registered.

+ Please make sure you are using the same name each time to pick if you are not registered. We are tracking wins by the name you use to submit your pick. If your name changes on a game-to-game basis, credit for your pick will be given to the name used to submit the pick.