Nebraska accomplished a season sweep of Indiana on Thursday with an 85-70 win towards the Hoosiers at Meeting Corridor. The loss dropped Indiana to 14-12 total and 6-9 in Huge Ten play.
Listed below are 5 takeaways from the loss to the Cornhuskers:
Indiana once more got here out not able to compete – and that’s on Mike Woodson
After dropping back-to-back house video games to Penn State and Northwestern, Indiana entered Wednesday’s contest towards Nebraska as a slight betting favourite.
Nebraska hadn’t received a highway convention sport all season, dropping its seven makes an attempt getting into Wednesday by a median of 12.4 factors.
However that historical past didn’t matter when the ball tipped simply after 8:30 p.m. Nebraska was able to play and Indiana was not.
Woodson has spent the season making an attempt to clarify why Indiana hasn’t carried out as much as expectations. Accidents are cited. Youth is talked about. Missed pictures, defensive assignments and blockouts are often referenced.
Indiana’s points, nonetheless, have but to be addressed or mounted in any significant means this season by Woodson. The season is now 26 video games outdated and the Hoosiers trailed by 20 factors at halftime towards a group that hadn’t received a highway convention sport all season.
Sure, Indiana made the sport attention-grabbing for a stretch within the second half, closing Nebraska’s as soon as 22-point result in three. However the prosperity was short-lived as a 14-1 run from the Huskers shut the door and sealed Indiana’s destiny.
The common season is nearing the end line, and Indiana is getting worse. For a coach in 12 months three of his tenure, it’s clear issues aren’t transferring in the appropriate path. And that’s on Mike Woodson.
Nebraska buries Indiana from 3-point vary
It’s no secret Indiana hasn’t prioritized perimeter taking pictures beneath Woodson.
The Hoosiers have been a post-heavy group in all three seasons of his tenure. And Indiana is the bottom quantity 3-point taking pictures group within the convention.
Nebraska got here out Wednesday night time slicing and transferring with a objective and getting open for 3-point pictures, which had been falling.
Within the first half, Nebraska made 9 of its 19 makes an attempt from distance, good for 47.4 %. It was a giant cause the Huskers scored 1.457 factors per possession and led 51-31 on the break.
Indiana was simply 1-for-11 on 3s within the first half (9.1 %) and was outscored by 24 factors from the perimeter within the first half.
For the sport, Nebraska completed 14-for-33 on 3s in comparison with simply 4-for-21 for Indiana, giving the Huskers a 30-point benefit from lengthy distance.
Trey Galloway struggled, however he’s taking part in out of place
Fourth-year senior Trey Galloway performed practically each minute of Wednesday’s loss and dedicated six of Indiana’s 10 turnovers.
With Xavier Johnson sidelined and Gabe Cupps not able to assume the function of major playmaker, Galloway has been tasked with assuming level guard duties.
“You understand, Gallo struggled tonight making an attempt to play the purpose along with his six turnovers,” Woodson stated postgame.
However Galloway isn’t a degree guard. He’s a wing who can play in transition and thrives when working in house by attacking the rim.
The problem is much less Galloway and extra Indiana’s poor roster development.
The Hoosiers have an open scholarship however didn’t use it to get one other ball handler or guard who may present depth or taking pictures.
Mackenzie Mgbako put collectively a strong offensive efficiency
Freshman Mackenzie Mgbako scored a career-best 22 factors in Wednesday’s loss, one in every of his greatest performances of the season.
Whereas he wasn’t terribly environment friendly – Mgbako shot 7-for-17 from the sphere – he scored in numerous methods.
The 6-foot-8 ahead has improved as a driver because the season has progressed, utilizing his strong body to bully smaller defenders on the rim at instances.
He additionally continues to shoot the ball effectively from the free throw line. Mgbako’s 89 free throw makes an attempt are third on the group and he’s taking pictures 83.1 % from the stripe.
Mgbako’s 3-point taking pictures proportion remains to be hovering within the low 30s – however along with his two makes from distance on Wednesday, he’s made 11 extra triples than anybody else on the roster.
Indiana falls to No. 102 in KenPom with the loss, the bottom because the 2009-10 season
After starting the season ranked No. 50 in KenPom, Indiana has now fallen 52 spots to exterior of the highest 100 after Wednesday’s loss.
The Hoosiers are No. 102 in Pomeroy’s rankings, the bottom rating for this system because the 2010-11 season.
That season was Tom Crean’s second in Bloomington and Indiana completed 10-21 and No. 194 in KenPom.
Even Crean’s third season, which noticed the Hoosiers end 12-20, ended with IU within the high 100 of KenPom at No. 82.
With 5 video games remaining – and solely two at house – Indiana is at risk of ending beneath .500. The Hoosiers, as soon as 10-3, at the moment are 14-12.
Filed to: Mackenzie Mgbako, Mike Woodson, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Trey Galloway
