Four premier basketball programs from the state of Indiana get together under one roof Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for the first Crossroads Classic. Purdue faces now-struggling Butler in the opener with revitalized Indiana battling retooled Notre Dame in the second tilt.
Here’s a quick look at each matchup:
Purdue vs. Butler: 1 p.m., WBBM-Ch. 2
Boilermakers record:
9-2.
What’s going right:
Robbie Hummel is humming after another injury comeback, averaging 18.3 ppg and also leading the Boilermakers in rebounding (5.5 per game). Mostly it’s Purdue’s defense doing the work, limiting foes to just 59.3 ppg, a top-50 number nationally.
What’s going wrong:
Oddly, Purdue hasn’t been terrific guarding the arc, ranking 206th nationally in 3-point field goal defense and the Boilermakers are shooting a fairly miserable 61.7 percent from the free-throw line. Purdue has lost to both ranked teams it has played.
The word:
“We had a real disappointing loss to Xavier and bouncing back from that was difficult for our guys. Right now, we’re struggling to shoot. Just have to do a better job of taking good shots and getting shots in a rhythm.” — Purdue coach Matt Painter.
Bulldogs record:
4-6.
What’s going right:
Uhhhhh … Brad Stevens is still the coach? The Bulldogs don’t have the roster that put them in back-to-back national title games anymore, but their top two scorers are sophomores (Khyle Marshall and Chrishawn Hopkins). Good for the future, not helping much now.
What’s going wrong:
Butler can’t score, ranked 232nd nationally at 65.6 ppg. It can’t shoot, ranking 312th nationally at 38.4 percent. And it fouls a lot, averaging 21.4 per game.
The word:
“If I had a crystal ball, then I’d know who to play. That’s what we have to figure out, and that’s a matter of consistency. And that is squarely on me.” — Butler coach Brad Stevens
Indiana vs. Notre Dame: 3:30 p.m., ESPN2
Hoosiers record:
9-0.
What’s going right:
Got a few days? The Hoosiers are coming off a thrilling last-second victory over No. 1 Kentucky. Indiana has impeccable balance, with six players averaging better than nine points per game. Freshman Cody Zeller is as advertised, leading the team with 15 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
What’s going wrong:
You really have to search for negatives with Tom Crean’s crew, and maybe ranking 187th nationally with 35.2 rpg and 148th in rebounding margin is a start. But that’s nit-picking.
The word:
“The biggest thing is they keep staying locked in to their own expectations … to understand improvement, unity, togetherness, the preparation they’ve put forth.” — Indiana coach Tom Crean.
Irish record:
7-4.
What’s going right:
Sophomore Jerian Grant has emerged as a viable option as the second-leading scorer (12.4 ppg) on 51.2 percent shooting. Center Jack Cooley snapped out of a funk to average 22 points and 11.5 rebounds his last two games.
What’s going wrong:
Plenty, really. Tim Abromaitis is out for the year with an ACL tear. Senior Scott Martin has scuffled through injuries (9.4 ppg). Virtually the entire roster has spent time in the infirmary. The entire youth-overloaded group basically searches for an identity on a game-to-game basis.
The word:
“We wish had more of a full complement and all those things, but this is the hand we’re dealt. We can get better with this group. Can we get better in time? Who knows?” — Irish coach Mike Brey.
