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'It's Real Special': 16 In-State Players Featured in Indiana-Purdue Rivalry Game

16 players from Indiana high schools are on the rosters for the 2023 installment of the Indiana versus Purdue rivalry. "It means a lot to especially me being from Indiana, so I can't wait," Indiana guard Trey Galloway said.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana versus Purdue is among college basketball's most storied rivalries, and the game means a little bit more for the in-state players.

The Hoosiers and Boilermakers battle on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, representing the first ranked matchup since No. 21 Indiana defeated No. 16 Purdue by a 77-73 on Feb. 20, 2016. Indiana returned to the AP top-25 poll this week at No. 21, and Purdue was voted the unanimous No. 1 team.

The 2023 installment of this rivalry also features 16 players who attended high school in Indiana.

"It's real special," Indiana guard Trey Galloway, who attended Culver Academies said. "It's a rival like none other, and I think just the atmosphere and the anticipation of the game is great. It's going to be a great environment both places you go. Assembly Hall and Mackey are both great environments. So I think this game means a lot to many people. It means a lot to especially me being from Indiana, so I can't wait."

Here's the full list of in-state players in this year's game:

  • Indiana Hoosiers
    • Nathan Childress, Zionsville
    • Trey Galloway, Culver Academies
    • CJ Gunn, Lawrence North
    • Trayce Jackson-Davis, Center Grove
    • Anthony Leal, Bloomington South
    • Hogan Orbaugh, Zionsville
  • Purdue Boilermakers
    • Carson Barrett, Central Catholic
    • Matt Frost, Columbus East
    • Caleb Furst, Blackhawk Christian
    • Mason Gillis, New Castle
    • Trey Kaufman-Renn, Silver Creek
    • Sam King, Columbus North
    • Fletcher Loyer, Homestead
    • Brandon Newman, Valparaiso
    • Braden Smith, Westfield
    • Brian Waddell, Carmel

Indiana and Purdue have landed the last five Indiana Mr. Basketball award winners, four of which will play on Saturday. For coach Mike Woodson's Hoosiers, Trayce Jackson-Davis won the award in 2019 and Anthony Leal won it in 2020. Former Indiana guard Romeo Langford was the 2018 winner, and he now plays for the San Antonio Spurs. Members of coach Matt Painter's Boilermakers earned the last two Indiana Mr. Basketball awards, with Caleb Furst in 2021 and Braden Smith in 2022. 

Galloway matches up against a pair of Indiana natives in the backcourt, with Purdue's freshman guards Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith. Both players were further down in the recruiting rankings than one might expect based on their production as freshmen, but they've played integral roles in Purdue's 22-1 season. Loyer was ranked 96th and Smith was the No. 198 player in the class of 2022, according the the 247Sports Composite rankings. 

The duo has started all 23 games and are top three in scoring among Boilermakers, behind Zach Edey at 22.0 points. Loyer averages 12.4 points and 2.5 assists, and he's tied for fourth in the Big Ten with 46 3-pointers made, while shooting 36.2 percent from beyond the arc. Smith contributes 9.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists, and he's second in the Big Ten with an 89.7 free throw percentage. He also shoots 40 percent on 3-point attempts. 

"I think those two guards really came in and performed really well at a high level in the Big Ten," Galloway said. "It's been really impressive to see that, but I think you give a lot of credit to their program with the way they get their guys ready. I think that they've come in and fit their role pretty well and done a great job."

On the Indiana sideline, Galloway has stepped into a starting role when Xavier Johnson broke his foot on Dec. 17 at Kansas. Galloway is seventh among Hoosiers at 7.3 points per game, but he also adds 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He's dealt with foul trouble in recent games, and said Friday that he needs to limit hand checks and move his feet more on defense. After making 12 total 3-point shots in his first two seasons at Indiana, Galloway is 19-for-37 from beyond the arc as a junior, good for 51.4 percent. 

He knows Assembly Hall will be revved up for Saturday's game.

"There's a lot of emotions in the game and a lot of ups and downs," Galloway said. "And it's going to be a different atmosphere with what it feels like, but I just think staying in the moment and knowing the task at hand, that's one thing we want to do just try to find a way to win the game. They're No. 1 in the country for a reason because they're playing really good basketball. So I think we just got to stick to our game plan and know that there's going to be ups and downs in the game, but we've got to stay together and know that it's a big-time environment. It's going to be loud but it's also fun, we should enjoy it."

  • WOODSON PREACHING DEFENSE: Indiana will have to knock down shots, but Mike Woodson knows the Hoosiers need to be at their best on the defensive end to contain Zach Edey in the middle and Purdue's variety of 3-point shooters. CLICK HERE
  • TJD AND EDEY AS NBA PROSPECTS: Purdue center Zach Edey and Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis are two of the best players in college basketball, but there are some folks who think they can't play in the NBA someday. Indiana coach Mike Woodson thinks that's foolish. CLICK HERE
  • WOODSON ON PURDUE RIVALRY: Mike Woodson has been around the Indiana-Purdue rivalry as a high school recruit, college athlete and now as the Hoosiers' coach. Ahead of Saturday's game, Woodson shared stories and thoughts on the history of the rivalry. CLICK HERE
  • INDIANA INJURY UPDATE: Ahead of Indiana's matchup with No. 1 Purdue on Saturday at Assembly Hall, coach Mike Woodson commented on the injury status of Xavier Johnson, Jordan Geronimo and Logan Duncomb. CLICK HERE
  • JACK'S TAKE, THREE CONCERNS FOR IU VS. PURDUE: Indiana lost at Maryland on Tuesday and Purdue protected home court on Wednesday against Penn State, setting up Saturday's rivalry game at Assembly Hall. I wa. s at Mackey Arena on Wednesday, and here are some quick thoughts and concerns for the Hoosiers prior to their matchup against the nation's No. 1 team. CLICK HERE