Andy Katz Ranks Indiana vs Purdue 2nd Best Rivalry in College Basketball

College basketball reporter and analyst Andy Katz posted a graphic in which he ranked the 10 best rivalries in college basketball. Katz ranked the Indiana vs Purdue rivalry as the second best in all of college basketball, behind only North Carolina vs Duke.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — In 49 states, it's just basketball. 

That's been the line in Indiana for as long as the sport has been around, and it's born out in one of the best rivalries college basketball has ever seen — Indiana vs Purdue. 

With the start of the 2023-24 season just over a month away, NCAA and Big Ten Network reporter and analyst Andy Katz ranked what he believes are the 10 best rivalries in college basketball.

He put Indiana vs Purdue at No. 2 overall, behind only North Carolina vs Duke. No other Big Ten basketball rivalry made his top 10. 

Rivalries renewed ⚔️@TheAndyKatz ranks his top rivalries for the 23/24 season 👀 pic.twitter.com/d7qs8mq9eh

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) September 25, 2023

The Indiana vs Purdue game has been played almost every year for more than a century, as the two flagship public universities of the state first met in 1901. 

Purdue leads the all-time series 125-92, though as many Indiana fans would be quick to point out, most of that series lead stems from basketball played long, long ago. From 1901-46, the Boilermakers and the Hoosiers played 75 games, 56 of which were by Purdue. Since 1947, Indiana has won 73 renditions of the rivalry to Purdue's 69. 

Additionally, the Hoosiers will always have the bragging rights for success on the national level, as IU boasts five national championship banners to the Boilermakers' zero. Purdue and Indiana have also won more regular season Big Ten basketball titles than any other schools, having won the conference 25 and 22 times, respectively. 

During the 2022-23 season, Purdue won the Big Ten regular season title and the Big Ten Tournament. However, it was the Hoosiers that swept the season series. Coach Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers beat the Boilermakers 79-74 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in February, and doubled up with a 79-71 in Mackey Arena later that same month. 

Woodson and Indiana also advanced further in the NCAA Tournament, beating Kent State in the first round before losing to an eventual Final Four participant in Miami in the second round. Coach Matt Painter and Purdue, meanwhile, became just the second one-seed in college basketball history to be defeated by a 16-seed, as the Boilermakers lost to Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round. 

Painter and superstar center Zach Edey get their first chance at redemption in the 2023-24 season on Jan. 16, when the Boilermakers travel to Bloomington. Woodson and Co. will return the favor on Feb. 10, when Indiana makes the trip up to West Lafayette. 

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