NASSAU, Bahamas – When Indiana basketball battled via a sluggish begin and trailed No. 3 Gonzaga by two factors with eight minutes left within the first half, it appeared like there have been indicators of a intently contested matchup following Wednesday’s 28-point blowout loss to Louisville.
Then, the wheels fell off.
A 21-2 Zags run broke the sport vast open to some extent past restoration within the eventual 16-point loss, simply because the Cardinals had achieved in opposition to the Hoosiers on Wednesday. After getting into the Battle 4 Atlantis because the No. 14 staff within the nation with hopes of selecting up some marquee wins, Indiana will now attempt to scrap its method out by salvaging one win.
“Properly, we don’t have time to observe to attempt to get it fastened,” Woodson stated postgame. “We’ll stand up early tomorrow, watch some movie and put together for whoever we’re going to play.”
In its first two critical checks of the season, Indiana failed miserably. Query marks and areas of weak spot are beginning to pile up and time is ticking on whether or not the Hoosiers can flip it round or if what’s been seen must be anticipated the remainder of the season.
Listed here are a few of IU’s most troubling considerations:
Backcourt deficiencies
Indiana’s backcourt trio of Myles Rice, Kanaan Carlyle and Trey Galloway was anticipated to be a significant enchancment over final season’s guard rotation. After they mixed to go 1-for-15 from the sector with 9 turnovers in opposition to Louisville, Thursday wasn’t a lot better.
The trio mixed for 16 factors and restricted its turnovers in opposition to Gonzaga, nevertheless it was nonetheless on 6-for-22 capturing with no 3-pointers. Moreover, the offense has lacked any critical motion or circulate. Towards the Bulldogs, all they may do was throw it in to Oumar Ballo and hope he would produce.
“I simply assume the 2 guards that we performed out entrance these two video games have had their method in controlling the sport,” Woodson stated. “We’ve bought to get higher guard play, as a result of if we plan on making run within the Huge Ten, then our guard play goes to (must) choose up.”
Gonzaga head coach Mark Few attributed the shift in dynamic to controlling the tempo – one other guard accountability. If IU desires to pose a menace and dominate inside, it first wants to determine its play on the surface.
Defensive id
Woodson has all the time hung his hat on the defensive finish and Louisville and Gonzaga every had their method on the Hoosiers’ protection in all areas.
As every opponent primarily performed smaller, guard-heavy lineups, Woodson determined to stay together with his two-big Malik Reneau and Ballo mixture and paid the worth defensively. Each the Cardinals and Bulldogs constantly took benefit of switches or greater defenders on the perimeter for straightforward blow-by’s to the basket. Regardless of Indiana’s clear measurement benefit in every matchup, it allowed 94 factors within the paint previously two video games.
“These final two video games our perimeter play has gotten uncovered and I’ve bought to repair that,” Woodson stated. “We’ve bought to get guys sitting down and never having miscues when it comes to our defensive coverages.”
Regardless of offseason discuss of elevated small ball lineups and clear mismatches, Woodson has caught to his ideas. As extra groups proceed to use that, the Hoosiers’ ceiling will collapse until changes are made.
Inconsistent effort
Other than the 16-0 and eventual 21-2 Gonzaga run that blew the sport up, Indiana didn’t play as poorly because it did Wednesday. It really outscored the Bulldogs within the second half.
Nevertheless, school basketball is a 40-minute sport and as they’ve previously, the Hoosiers struggled to provide a full-fledged effort all through the sport’s entirety. Whether or not it was lazy passes with out wanting, psychological lapses, repeated possessions of dropping guys defensively or just being outhustled to the ball, Indiana hasn’t appeared prefer it needed to win greater than its opponents.
“I assumed we got here out and competed early, then we hit that dry spot proper earlier than the half that gave them the cushion,” Woodson stated. “Second half, I assumed we competed, however once more, sadly, we’ve bought to play two halves, and we weren’t in a position to put two halves collectively tonight.”
Whether or not the teaching employees or gamers are to be blamed is up for debate, probably a mix of each. No matter who’s at fault, numerous moments of the staff conveying a dread to be on the courtroom is uninspiring basketball and the fan base has taken discover.
With a mushy non-conference schedule with two convention video games sandwiched between them earlier than Huge Ten play actually picks up, the Hoosiers have yet another likelihood to flee the Bahamas with a win and present a functionality of bettering and adjusting. If no enchancment is proven, an extended season could also be in retailer.
(Picture credit score: IU Athletics)
Filed to: Gonzaga Bulldogs
