I am a Purdue Fan. But I grew up an Indiana University fan until my older sister went to Purdue. (Funny how loyalties change when tuition is being paid.)  I acknowledge IU has a rich basketball tradition and that Mike Davis and Kelvin Sampson totally destroyed what Bob Knight built. Tom Crean will build a fine classy program at IU. But he needs time. Give him 10 years and he will build a top notch program that consistently goes deep in the NCAA tournament. 

IU Fan: bringing out the banners every time Purdue beats you is a pretty weak argument. I remember the undefeated 76 title run and remember how awesome it was. But that was yesterday. IU and the fans need to look to tomorrow. The game has changed. It’s not like it was in 1976 or 1981 or 1987. Both IU and Purdue have rich basketball traditions, Purdue just has a problem winning the big game. I still root for IU when they play anybody else except Purdue. I think a strong sports program at IU is good for Purdue and a strong sports program at Purdue is good for IU.

The great part of the IU/Purdue Rivalry in any sport is you can have debates about who’s better and never finish the debate. That’s why it’s fun, it’s a rivalry. Purdue fans need to realize they almost got beat by a team that has struggled a lot in the Big Ten this year. I would hope that 8 to 10 years from now, both IU and Purdue will be at the top of the Big Ten in Football and Basketball.

I don’t take it as seriously as I used to. In my 20’s and 30’s if Purdue lost a football or basketball game, I would be in a horrible mood for days. Today, I barely watch any games and just look at scores and read the box scores.

In a time when our governments both state and federal are doing questionable things, people are struggling to keep their homes, and parents are living with tragedies like having to bury a six year old child or their 23 year old soldier killed in Afghanistan; sports are a good distraction.  Arguing with friends over a college basketball rivalry is a good thing. But don’t take it too seriously. It’s not worth losing friends over a college basketball game.  Good friends are more important than any football or basketball game.