It’s a dynamic unlike any other fan base in the Big Ten - football or basketball - and it’s frankly sad. People in Indiana (including Purdue fans) are so painfully unaware of how inaccurate their self-perception instate is. They live in a bubble but scream at their neighbors to accept their delusional world view as fact, lol.
Do you think ANYONE in Illinois thinks of Indiana high school basketball as ultra special? No. We have our own better tradition, including being the homeland of the term “March Madness” for our state tournament.
Think anyone in Michigan thinks of IU as a Blue Blood to be revered? No. Both of their programs have been miles better than IU for three decades … that’s like twice the life span of younger recruits, lmao.
Think anyone in Wisconsin thinks Bloomington, IN is anything other than a random college town while they have Madison? Think anyone in Ohio sees Indy as anything other than another Cincinnati? I could go on.
They all just babble to each other in the state so many times that they all start to eventually believe the sad lie that they’re special. Every state should have pride, but Indiana is easily the one with the least self awareness.