Indiana @ Purdue preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 8, 2020 ) Purdue 74, Indiana 62

Riding its longest losing streak in six years, Purdue looks to bolster its shaky postseason chances and sweep the season series when Indiana visits Thursday. The Boilermakers have lost four straight games, their longest skid since finishing the 2013-14 regular season with six straight losses before losing in the first round of the Big Ten conference tournament.

It hasn't shown in the win column, but Purdue has played the toughest schedule in the country according to ESPN, playing 15 Quad 1 games - second nationally to Iowa State's 16. The Boilermakers are coming off a 71-63 home defeat to Michigan on Saturday despite 18 points and 10 rebounds from sophomore Trevion Williams. The Hoosiers seem like a lock for an NCAA bid, especially after adding a 68-60 win over then-No. 9 Penn State to its resume on Saturday. Purdue owns a 121-89 series lead with Indiana, having won six straight, including a 74-62 decision 19 days ago in Bloomington.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: FS1

ABOUT INDIANA (18-9, 8-8 Big Ten): Trayce Jackson-Davis (14.1 points, 8.1 rebounds) is the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the fifth time this season after scoring a career-high 27-points and adding 16 rebounds against Minnesota on Feb. 19 and adding 13 points and 10 boards for his ninth double-double of the season against Penn State. He is just one of four freshmen nationally (Vernon Carey, Jr. - Duke, Zeke Nnaji - Arizona and Isaiah Stewart - Washington) to lead his team in scoring, rebounds, field goal percentage (58.3), free throws made (106), attempted (152) ,and blocked shots (51). Senior guard Devonte Green (10.6 points) leads the team in 3-point percentage (38.4) and has made 14 3-pointers in his last four games.

ABOUT PURDUE (14-14, 7-10); The Boilermakers are young, as freshmen and sophomores account for 59 percent of their scoring. Williams (11.4 points, 7.7 rebounds), is fourth in offensive rebounds in the Big Ten (3.3), sixth in blocked shots (1.9) and eighth in double-doubles (eight). Sophomore guard Eric Hunter Jr. is the only other double-figure scorer (10.0 points, team-high 2.7 assists) while sophomore Sasha Stefanovic (9.0 points) is the top 3-point marksman with 57 total at 38.8 percent.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. When Purdue holds Indiana to 69 or fewer points during the Matt Painter era, the Boilermakers are 13-1, having won 13 straight games. When allowing 70 or more points, Purdue is 2-8.

2. Over the last two games, Purdue has forced just 12 total turnovers and is minus-9 in turnover margin.

3. The Hoosiers are tied for fourth in the country with five wins over nationally ranked teams (Florida State, Ohio State, Michigan State, Iowa, Penn State).

PREDICTION: Indiana 69, Purdue 67