Winning against Purdue is nothing new during Mike Woodson’s tenure.
He’s 4-4 against the Boilermakers during what has been arguably the best stretch in Purdue program history.
Indiana’s fans have even somewhat grown accustomed to beating their rival with some degree of regularity again after an 0-7 stretch during the Archie Miller era. After court storming following the 2022 and 2023 wins over Purdue, the fans were content to stay in their seats on Sunday afternoon.
Perhaps that familiarity with beating Purdue will help IU avoid what happened following wins over their in-state rival in 2022 and 2023.
In the next game after Rob Phinisee’s game-winner in 2022 to end a nine-game losing streak to Purdue, IU was dismantled on its home court by Michigan, 80-62. And the game following Jalen Hood-Schifino’s domination of the Boilers in West Lafayette in 2023 saw Iowa come to Bloomington and destroy the Hoosiers, 90-68.
Penn State arrives in Bloomington on Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET, BTN) just 15-13 overall and 5-12 in the Big Ten. And Indiana has already defeated the Nittany Lions in Philadelphia last month. That IU win at the Palestra was the first of 11 losses in 12 games by Penn State.
But the Nittany Lions have now won two in a row, and the Hoosiers should know better than to take them lightly. PSU swept the regular season series a year ago with many of the same players they’ll bring to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
IU COACHES AGAINST PURDUE
Here’s how Indiana’s last five coaches since Bob Knight have fared against Purdue. Say what you will about Mike Davis, he owned the Boilermakers, including during a time when that program was going through its own coaching change.
- Mike Woodson: 4-4
- Archie Miller: 0-7
- Tom Crean: 5-10 (5-5 over his last six seasons)
- Kelvin Sampson: 2-1
- Mike Davis: 9-2
FEELING THE LOVE
It’s feel good moments like what happened during postgame on Sunday that IU will have to put behind them well ahead of Wednesday’s tip.
You’ve likely seen the video by now. Mike Woodson was mobbed by his players during a live interview on CBS immediately after the Purdue game.
Woodson was clearly emotional in the moment and needed a few seconds to gather himself while live in the air.
He was asked about it after the game.
“It was special, I mean, any time your players rally around you, because I do love them, and I’m sure they love me, as well,” Woodson said.
Fifth-year senior Trey Galloway has been with Woodson since he was hired in 2021. During senior night a year ago Galloway said there was no other coach he’d want to play for. He said the team is focused on staying together and remaining positive through a challenging season.
“I thought it was great (when they mobbed Woodson). I mean, we’re a family, and we’ve been a family since we all got together in June, and through highs and lows, you’ve got to find ways to continue to stick together,” Galloway said. “That’s one thing we’ve really tried to preach this last week, even with what we’ve been going through and the tough losses, we still have a chance to compete and make the tournament.
“So our focus is just rallying around each other and really sticking together through thick and thin.”
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