Purdue Continues to Dominate Indiana
The great thing about college sports is rivalries. They just don't seem to exist anymore in professional sports, but there's real disdain in the collegiate game. For me, I think it's because the rivalry happens more on a personal level. I went to Purdue and there were kids I liked in school that went to IU, and now we have to smack talk. Look no further than one of my favorite memories. One night at Jake's an IU fan started a small chant only for the Purdue fight song to start playing and everyone start shouting it.
When it comes to the Boilermaker and Hoosier rivalry, the trash talk doesn't change. I've heard 'Banners?' more times than the rivalry has existed. Being a Purdue basketball fan it's also frustrating to watch the top talen in state seemingly never consider West Lafayette and, more often than not, end up choosing Bloomington. However, the court production has favored the Boilers and Matt Painter is changing things when it comes to signing day.
Trey Kaufman announced his commitment to Purdue tonight and gave Painter the top two Indiana players in the 2021 class with Caleb Furst. It also set a historic precedent with the Boilermakers getting two top 40 players nationally. That's better than the Baby Boilers class Purude fans. Kaufman and Furst will join a loaded team for the Boilers in 2021. More importantly, it signals a big change for in state recruiting.
Just in 2018 IU signed three of the top four state recruits while Purdue ended up with the sixth best player, Eric Hunter. In 2019 the Hoosiers got the third and sixth best players in state while the Boilers got five, seven and eight (Brandon Newman, Isaiah Thompson, Mason Gillis). It was an improvement for Painter but the top talent still wasn't coming to West Lafayette. For 2020 Archie Miller still did get number one, three and four but Jaden Ivey was number two and will be wearing black and gold.
Each season Matt Painter has improved his position when it comes to recruiting in state, culminating in the boon for 2021. Losing Robert Phinisee in 2018 hurt Purdue as the Hoosiers snagged a 4* prospect right out of the Boilers' backyard. That's why getting Kaufman feels so good as a fan, he was in Bloomington's backyard. Purdue may not be done for 2021 either, making the top six for 4* guard Blake Wesley out of South Bend. Indiana isn't even in the top six and it's another chance for the Boilers to continue to lock up Indiana talent.
Even with how Indiana has dominated recruiting, Painter has overcome that on the court. Frankly, that makes the winning streak even more enjoyable. The Boilers are on a seven game winning streak and have won ten of the last eleven. The streak also includes winning the last four in Bloomington. That's the longest winning streak for either team since 1968-1972, another Purdue seven game winning streak.
Painter has also stepped it up in March. With the 2020 March Madness canceled Purdue is on a five year streak and the last three have been trips to the Sweet 16, with the Elite 8 appearance in 2019. In that same time (2015) IU has only made it twice with a Sweet 16 appearance in 2016. The Hoosiers have missed the March tournament three straight years. You can't win banners if you don't get there.
Despite the big wins IU has racked up the last few seasons in recruiting, it hasn't shown up on the court as Purdue has put together a streak in conference play, in March and now is picking up steam in recruiting. It seemed to start with Biggie, then the Elite 8 and now the 2021 class. This also isn't a fluke as you can see Purdue improving it's in state recruiting position each year, and I don't think Painter cedes any ground.
The Boilermakers will be a competitive team in 2020 and will bring in a loaded class for 2021 to continue to establish themselves as the premier Indiana basketball college. As a Purdue fan, any time you beat IU it's a good day and the wins keep coming for the gold and black.
