The Oscars will be awarded March 30, the same night as the NCAA basketball finals, and Purdue hopes to be otherwise occupied that evening.
So the Boilermakers already have made their selections for the best instructional films of the year.
It was by studying films of their only two Big 10 losses that Purdue was able to climb step-by-step back into the title picture, culminating Thursday night with a 75-64 victory over Indiana that made the conference race a two-team dash for the trophy.
The Boilermakers` emotional triumph before a roaring crowd of 14,123 in Mackey Arena left them a half game behind the Hoosiers with three tough games ahead.
”We`re still climbing that ladder,” said Purdue coach Gene Keady. ”We went up another rung.” But now they`ve reached halfway to the stars.
The Boilermakers had reached bottom after losing to Iowa at home and Indiana on the road. ”But the second time around, we watched film of our first Iowa game, and it made us all sick,” said guard Doug Lee.
They avenged that loss in Iowa City and Thursday night set out to do the same against Indiana. ”We watched that Indiana film last night,” said Lee,
”and you know, I said to myself, `This is just like watching that Iowa film.` ”
One of those who gained the most by watching the films was guard Troy Lewis, whose 18 points tied him with the Hoosiers` Daryl Thomas for game honors.
Twelve of Lewis` points came from the foul line.
”In watching the videos,” he said, ”I realized that in the last game they were playing me up close, and I wasn`t even looking at the basket. To be effective, I can`t let them do that to me. I was disappointed in myself for not taking it to the hole last time.”
Thursday night the plan was to take it at the Hoosiers, hoping to get their big men into foul trouble. It worked beyond the Boilermakers` fondest dreams. Three of Indiana`s starters fouled out, including Thomas and 6-foot-10-inch center Dean Garrett.
”We were going to take it to `em and get their big players in foul trouble, and it worked out successfully,” said Purdue center Melvin McCants. McCants and forward Todd Mitchell got into severe foul problems of their own, but managed to survive, and Mitchell, who had 17 points, earned praise from Indiana coach Bob Knight.
”Mitchell really played well, and so did Daryl Thomas for us,” said Knight.
Thomas sat out most of the first half after drawing two fouls. ”I thought we`d have a better chance in the second half if Thomas played,” said Knight, with a touch of sarcasm. Thomas had 14 second-half points, including 6 of 6 at the foul line.
”Mitchell had some big baskets in the second half,” observed Knight.
”I really like him as a player.”
Consecutive baskets by Mitchell put Purdue up 49-39 with about 13 minutes to play.
”I was pleased the way our kids were able to come back from there,”
said Knight. ”We actually had some chances, but right in there when we got it down to four points we missed a couple of opportunities, and it made a big difference for us.”
With Purdue leading 66-62, Ricky Calloway missed a layup and a follow-up tip also failed to fall. Again, at 68-64, a shot went awry and McCants came up with a big defensive rebound.
Purdue had an edge in every statistical department but won the game at the free throw line. In the final 13 minutes the Boilermakers made only four baskets.
Lewis was especially sharp from the line, making 12 of 14.
”I haven`t been shooting well from the line recently,” said Lewis,
”but coming back home where you know the rims and everything really helps.”
”Probably at Bloomington things would have gone the other way,” said Keady, ”because our crowd was really into it tonight.”
Not to be overlooked was that defensive job Everette Stephens did on Indiana`s All-America guard Steve Alford, especially in the first half.
Alford did not score until more than 12 minutes had gone by. He eventually shook loose for 15 points, but, noted Knight after glancing at the box score, ”It`s hard for me to imagine that Steve Alford can play 40 minutes and not get fouled.”
Other than that Knight, had no complaints about the officiating, or anything else.
”We knew it would be a tough game,” he said. ”We`re tied now (in losses). We`ve just got to play.”
