Indiana 2025-2026 Season
Overall Record: 17-9
Big 10 Record: 8-7
Previous 3 Games
2/15: L – 71 – 51 vs Illinois @ Away
2/9: W – 92 – 74 vs Oregon @ Home
2/8: W – 78 – 77 (OT) vs Wisconsin @ Home
Indiana Personnel
Starters
Bench
Key Analytics
(Per KenPom.com – National Rank / Big 10 Rank in ())
KenPom Ranking – 37
Offense
Adjusted Efficiency: 121.5 (38) – Big 10 Only: 116 (6)
Adjusted Tempo: 66.5 (235) – Big 10 Only: 65.3 (12)
Average Possession Length: 18.1 (247) – Big 10 Only: 19 (13)
Effective Field Goal%: 55.9 (29) – Big 10 Only: 55.9 (3)
Offensive Rebound%: 28.1 (268) – Big 10 Only: 25.4
(14)
Three Point%: 34.8 (133) – Big 10 Only: 34.8 (9)
Two Point %: 59.8 (11) – Big 10 Only: 59.9 (2)
Defense
Adjusted Efficiency: 101.9 (48) – Big 10 Only: 113.6 (11)
Adjusted Tempo: 66.5 (235) – Big 10 Only: 65.3 (12)
Average Possession Length: 17.6 (218) – Big 10 Only: 17.9 (6)
Effective Field Goal%: 47.1 (26) – Big 10 Only: 51.4 (6)
Offensive Rebound%: 29.4 (126) – Big 10 Only: 31.8 (12)
Three Point%: 30.9 (37) – Big 10 Only: 32.4 (8)
Two Point %: 47.6 (47) – Big 10 Only: 53.3 (6)
Key Stat for Purdue
(Per KenPom.com – Big 10 Rank in ())
*Note: I’m only using Big 10 stats for this section because I think it better represents how both teams are currently playing.
Offense
Efficiency
Purdue Offense: 120.4 (3)
Indiana Defense: 113.6 (11)
Thoughts:
Purdue’s offense is still chugging along, but the efficiency machine has blown a tire in a few big games this season. Can the Boilermakers avoid an offensive drought paired with an Indiana run? That’s been the Achilles heel of this squad all season. When the offense bogs down, the defense can’t step it up and hold the fort. I don’t have much faith in Purdue’s defense; the offense has to dominate.
Defense
Effective Field Goal %
Purdue Defense: 54.2 (15)
Indiana Defense: 55.9 (3)
Thoughts:
It’s hard to create your own scoring runs when you can’t get stops. It’s hard to stop the opponents’ scoring runs when you can’t get stops, and your offense stops scoring. Purdue has struggled against wings all season, and Indiana is essentially an entire squad of wings. The Boilermakers have to stop something, but they’re 13th in the Big 10 in 3-point defense and 12th in 2-point percentage. You can get away with being bad at defending the three when your defense is clogging the lane and stopping layups. Purdue clogs the lane and still gets gutted from 2, and still has to try and recover to 3-point shooters with short-armed defenders.
I don’t expect this team to suddenly because a defensive force, but they need to take something away from the Hoosiers tonight.
Brief Thoughts
This is a gut check for a group of seniors who have passed multiple gut check games in the past. This team came into the season with outsized expectations. It needs this win to salvage something from the Big 10 schedule, because I’m not going to lie, wins against Nebraska and Iowa, while impressive, don’t really do it for me. Thus far, Purdue has dropped two home games to the class of the Big 10 (Illinois, Michigan) and dropped an away game to their bitter rival.
Can this group come out and play sustained effort, or are they going to let Indiana outwork them, which happened in Bloomington? I can’t get a good read on this team. In some big games this season, it’s like they need to get punched in the mouth before they play hard, and sometimes, they get punched in the mouth and just sort of stand there blinking while the opposition builds a 20-point lead. By the time they respond, the game is out of reach.
This game could be the lynch pin for a strong stretch run heading into the Big 10 and NCAA Tournament, or it could start a downward spiral. I’m not sure how this team would respond to getting upset at home for an Indiana season sweep.
I hope I don’t have to find out.
Predictions
KenPom
Purdue: 80
Indiana: 70
Drew
Purdue: 78
Indiana: 67
Looking Into My Crystal Ball
I need to find a new crystal ball; mine is clearly busted. I’m seeing a motivated Purdue team coming out and making a statement from the opening tip and bringing a consistent energy level that has been lacking at times. The look in TKR’s eyes from the Michigan game is back, and he leads Purdue to a comfortable victory with a 20 & 1o double-double.
