Ranking The College Teams In Indiana
March 1, 2017 at 4:46 p.m.
By Roger Grossman-
It’s ‘blue collar’ versus ‘white collar.’ It’s farmers versus doctors and lawyers (OK, that’s stereotypical but you get the point). It’s neighbor against neighbor. Sometimes it’s spouse against spouse – which is a home destined for marriage counselling.
There is a really good chance that you have a preference between the Boilers and the Hoosiers. Even if you’re not a die-hard fan of either team, when you watched the game last night you found yourself pulling for one team or the other.
For decades, Purdue and IU were the gold standard of basketball in a state that loves its basketball.
Not so much anymore.
IU fans have been lamenting the fall of Bob Knight as the end of the reign of the Hoosiers. That may be partially true, but IU is not nationally irrelevant. They had two huge home wins over top 5 teams before the injuries piled up too high for them to climb over.
Purdue was supposed to be, and is, very good this season. With Caleb Swanigan back for a second season headlining a deep roster, Matt Painter’s bunch has been pretty solid all season.
That said, I don’t think either of them is the best team in the state.
I would like to make the case that they are the No. 3 and No. 4 teams who call the Hoosier State home.
Now, after reading that statement, I am glad that you started reading again and didn’t wad your paper up and throw it in the trash or turn your phone off.
I would like to rank the “big four” Indiana-based teams and explain why I have ranked them that way. I should also say that while No. 4 is clearly IU, the differences between the other three are very minuscule. My opinions are based more on how these three teams are playing right now and not as much as how their overall season has played out. Next week, I could rewrite this article and reorganize the order. Let’s begin, in ascending order:
4 – INDIANA: This season started with such promise and with some big wins, but those injuries the Hoosiers have suffered have just been too much to overcome. I know IU fans are going through their annual “Crean’s gotta go” routine. The truth is, you lose quality players and leaders like Collin Hartman and OG Anunoby, and any team would suffer.
Since they have been out, we have seen a lot more wasted possessions, shots early in possessions, and poor end-of-game performance. It has unleashed James Blackmon Jr., which is not really a good idea when you don’t have anyone to reel him back in again. It also has put a lot of focus on point guard Robert Newkirk, who does not value the ball nearly enough. They’ve had a rough go of it, but they will be back.
3 – PURDUE: There is a lot to like about Purdue. They are huge, they are deep and they can shoot it from way out. And unless they really mess this up, they are going to win at least a share of the Big Ten championship. But, there is something missing there. It’s hard to put my finger on it, but there is something that keeps me from thinking that this Boiler team can end a 37 year Final Four drought.
I think part of it comes from the thought that PJ Thompson, their point guard, seems to be more of a shoot-first point guard. I love a team who has a primary ball-handler who is capable of scoring, but it’s down the list of his priorities. Also, Swanigan has really struggled lately. I mean, he has had a hard time guarding any one and he has developed fumble-fingers on offense.
2 – NOTRE DAME: The Irish are rated second for me because they survived a rough patch of four straight losses to rally back for five straight wins. No one in the ACC has ever done that. They have a really good point guard in Matt Farrell, who is a very good shooter but is the guy who you would describe as a play maker. They also have guys that bring a lot of energy, led by Bonzi Colson. He is a do-it-all kinda guy and he and Farrell are the constants coach Mike Brey can count on every night.
1 – BUTLER: The Bulldogs earn my No. 1 ranking based on the quality wins they have posted over the last week. They went into Philadelphia and beat then-No. 2 Villanova, their second win over the ‘Cats this season, and then went to Cincinnati and beat their longtime rival Xavier. They are also deep, have excellent point guard play, can really shoot it but also are not afraid to attack with the drive or via the post.
They are experienced and their resumé this season is the best of any team from Indiana and one of the best in the country.
Again, the difference between Purdue, Notre Dame and Butler is very small. If they all ended up in the same regional bracket, that bracket would produce the most exciting games of the tournament – a tournament that is just a couple of weeks away.
It’s ‘blue collar’ versus ‘white collar.’ It’s farmers versus doctors and lawyers (OK, that’s stereotypical but you get the point). It’s neighbor against neighbor. Sometimes it’s spouse against spouse – which is a home destined for marriage counselling.
There is a really good chance that you have a preference between the Boilers and the Hoosiers. Even if you’re not a die-hard fan of either team, when you watched the game last night you found yourself pulling for one team or the other.
For decades, Purdue and IU were the gold standard of basketball in a state that loves its basketball.
Not so much anymore.
IU fans have been lamenting the fall of Bob Knight as the end of the reign of the Hoosiers. That may be partially true, but IU is not nationally irrelevant. They had two huge home wins over top 5 teams before the injuries piled up too high for them to climb over.
Purdue was supposed to be, and is, very good this season. With Caleb Swanigan back for a second season headlining a deep roster, Matt Painter’s bunch has been pretty solid all season.
That said, I don’t think either of them is the best team in the state.
I would like to make the case that they are the No. 3 and No. 4 teams who call the Hoosier State home.
Now, after reading that statement, I am glad that you started reading again and didn’t wad your paper up and throw it in the trash or turn your phone off.
I would like to rank the “big four” Indiana-based teams and explain why I have ranked them that way. I should also say that while No. 4 is clearly IU, the differences between the other three are very minuscule. My opinions are based more on how these three teams are playing right now and not as much as how their overall season has played out. Next week, I could rewrite this article and reorganize the order. Let’s begin, in ascending order:
4 – INDIANA: This season started with such promise and with some big wins, but those injuries the Hoosiers have suffered have just been too much to overcome. I know IU fans are going through their annual “Crean’s gotta go” routine. The truth is, you lose quality players and leaders like Collin Hartman and OG Anunoby, and any team would suffer.
Since they have been out, we have seen a lot more wasted possessions, shots early in possessions, and poor end-of-game performance. It has unleashed James Blackmon Jr., which is not really a good idea when you don’t have anyone to reel him back in again. It also has put a lot of focus on point guard Robert Newkirk, who does not value the ball nearly enough. They’ve had a rough go of it, but they will be back.
3 – PURDUE: There is a lot to like about Purdue. They are huge, they are deep and they can shoot it from way out. And unless they really mess this up, they are going to win at least a share of the Big Ten championship. But, there is something missing there. It’s hard to put my finger on it, but there is something that keeps me from thinking that this Boiler team can end a 37 year Final Four drought.
I think part of it comes from the thought that PJ Thompson, their point guard, seems to be more of a shoot-first point guard. I love a team who has a primary ball-handler who is capable of scoring, but it’s down the list of his priorities. Also, Swanigan has really struggled lately. I mean, he has had a hard time guarding any one and he has developed fumble-fingers on offense.
2 – NOTRE DAME: The Irish are rated second for me because they survived a rough patch of four straight losses to rally back for five straight wins. No one in the ACC has ever done that. They have a really good point guard in Matt Farrell, who is a very good shooter but is the guy who you would describe as a play maker. They also have guys that bring a lot of energy, led by Bonzi Colson. He is a do-it-all kinda guy and he and Farrell are the constants coach Mike Brey can count on every night.
1 – BUTLER: The Bulldogs earn my No. 1 ranking based on the quality wins they have posted over the last week. They went into Philadelphia and beat then-No. 2 Villanova, their second win over the ‘Cats this season, and then went to Cincinnati and beat their longtime rival Xavier. They are also deep, have excellent point guard play, can really shoot it but also are not afraid to attack with the drive or via the post.
They are experienced and their resumé this season is the best of any team from Indiana and one of the best in the country.
Again, the difference between Purdue, Notre Dame and Butler is very small. If they all ended up in the same regional bracket, that bracket would produce the most exciting games of the tournament – a tournament that is just a couple of weeks away.
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