Indiana returned to Bloomington and crushed Sam Houston State 97-71 on Tuesday night time at Simon Skjodt Meeting Corridor.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from the win in opposition to the Bearkats:
Luke Goode finds his perimeter shot
Luke Goode entered Tuesday’s sport 6-for-21 (28.5 p.c) from past the 3-point line.
Goode had quite a few clear appears to be like via the early season video games however couldn’t discover any rhythm from the perimeter.
That modified Tuesday night time. The Fort Wayne native made 5 of his seven 3-point makes an attempt and scored a career-high 18 factors within the win.
Goode is now 11-for-28 on 3s this season, good for 39.3 p.c.
The 6-foot-7 senior didn’t hesitate as soon as photographs began to fall in opposition to Sam Houston State. He made transition photographs and transformed appears to be like off of units designed to free him for in-rhythm appears to be like.
Indiana’s 3-point quantity as a staff, nevertheless, continues to underwhelm. The Hoosiers tried 11 3-pointers within the first half and took solely 4 after halftime. IU ranks 351st out of 364 groups in 3PA/FGA via eight video games. Solely 23.7 p.c of the staff’s factors come from 3s, which ranks 329th nationally.
For an evening, defensive rebounding is improved
Sam Houston State entered Tuesday’s sport ranked 68th nationally in offensive rebounding proportion. The Bearkats have been rebounding 34.6 p.c of their opponent’s missed photographs.
With Indiana’s continued struggles on the defensive glass, it was a priority Sam Houston State would take benefit and rack up offensive rebounds in opposition to the Hoosiers.
Within the Bahamas, Indiana surrendered 41 offensive rebounds in three video games.
For an evening, the Hoosiers cleaned up certainly one of their greatest deficiencies within the season’s eighth sport. The Bearkats had simply three offensive rebounds and didn’t rating a second likelihood level.
With the efficiency, Indiana moved from 292nd nationally in defensive rebounding proportion to 227th. However one efficiency doesn’t imply the issue is solved. Because the common season progresses, nights like Tuesday have to develop into extra widespread for Mike Woodson’s staff.
Myles Rice delivers a robust second half
After a dismal efficiency on the Battle 4 Atlantis, the place he shot 4-for-25 over three video games, the struggles for Myles Rice have been evident.
Confidence from Rice appeared to have evaporated and his physique language, as identified by BTN announcer Brian Butch, wasn’t nice within the first half.
Rice went to the locker room with 4 factors, two rebounds, no assists and three turnovers.
However he was a distinct participant within the second half in opposition to Sam Houston State. After seeing just a few photographs go down, Rice appeared just like the man who led Indiana to an exhibition win at Tennessee and an early season win in Bloomington in opposition to South Carolina.
The 6-foot-3 guard shot 7-for-8 within the second half and scored 15 factors in 17 minutes. He completed the sport as IU’s main scorer with 19 factors.
“Myles remains to be making an attempt to determine the encircling items, you recognize what I imply?” Woodson stated postgame. “He’s a very good choose and roll man that may get downhill as you noticed in the present day. He’s able to making photographs.
“He struggled within the Bahamas. You already know, to see him come again tonight and play the best way he did, I’m proud as hell of him. We simply received to maintain him headed in the suitable course.”
Anthony Leal offers a significant enhance off the bench
Woodson didn’t wish to clarify his resolution to play Anthony Leal 25 minutes after solely taking part in him 5 minutes whole earlier than Tuesday night time, however it was a transfer that was useful for the Hoosiers.
Leal completed with a line of 4 factors, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and two steals.
The Hoosiers have been +39 with him on the ground, simply the very best mark on the staff.
His function within the rotation shifting ahead isn’t sure, significantly with Kanaan Carlyle and Gabe Cupps at the moment sidelined, however Leal will likely be prepared when his quantity is known as.
“He performed 25 minutes this sport after not taking part in a single minute within the Bahamas, and he was nonetheless an amazing teammate,” Goode stated of Leal. “When you may have that and you’ve got that profitable mentality, you recognize, it actually helps everyone else understand it’s larger than themselves.
“That’s the selflessness we have to preserve portraying to the remainder of the staff and the remainder of the fellows.”
Indiana’s protection within the second half was poor
Whereas Tuesday was a snug 26-point win for the Hoosiers, the second half protection was not encouraging.
Indiana allowed Sam Houston State to shoot 60 p.c and gave up 46 factors (1.18 factors per possession).
IU’s protection continues to lag behind the offense via eight video games. The Hoosiers rank forty third in KenPom’s adjusted offensive effectivity metric and 61st in adjusted defensive effectivity.
IU’s defensive numbers are at the moment beneath these of a staff that has an opportunity to contend within the Large Ten.
“Once I have a look at the field rating, giving up 46 factors in a half, that’s a bit an excessive amount of for any staff,” Woodson stated postgame.
To date, Indiana’s protection this season has been a continuation of final season the place the Hoosiers completed with the nation’s 84th greatest protection. There’s nonetheless time to enhance, however IU has plenty of work forward to enhance defensively.
Filed to: Sam Houston State Bearkats
