Video games like Indiana’s contest on Saturday afternoon are one any workforce dreads to play. Midday tipoff, no college students on campus and a pesky mid-major trying to play spoiler make it exhausting to stand up for a sport.
So, the Hoosiers performed accordingly.
IU took the ground trying prefer it had simply woken up, enjoying sluggishly and with little defensive effort. When the Mocs made their fourth 3-pointer of the sport simply eight-and-a-half minutes in to take a 7-point lead, hassle loomed.
Nonetheless, Indiana rallied and defeated Chattanooga 74-65. Though they achieved the specified end result, the Hoosiers’ consistency and general effort have but to be totally realized, with one non-conference matchup remaining. Because the workforce’s 17-point loss at Nebraska revealed, that degree of play gained’t reduce it within the Massive Ten.
Early on within the contest, Chattanooga’s shooters had been getting open comfortable and pulling down seems to be. Trey Bonham – the workforce’s main scorer – was virtually unchecked to begin the sport. He scored the Mocs’ first six factors and knocked down a second 3-pointer a couple of minutes later.
The Mocs began the sport 8-for-13 from the sector, together with 4 threes, however the identical defensive errors which have haunted Indiana all season had been seen. Hassle staying in entrance of the ball, poor communication, slowness in combating by means of screens and failure to shut out open seems to be on the perimeter all contributed to a sluggish exhibiting.
“I believed simply their motion precipitated issues for us,” Mike Woodson stated postgame. “You already know, the again door cuts and issues of that nature… these are the belongings you’ve acquired to eradicate, particularly towards good groups.”
In a sport the place the beginning 5 was “atrocious,” based on Woodson, the bench unit produced key contributions to battle again. The protection tightened up some, however the offensive facet began to create. Whereas some open 3-point seems to be didn’t fall, IU attacked the basket extra and commenced to provide.
Main 41-38 at halftime, the defensive effort couldn’t have been a lot worse. When the Hoosiers began selecting it up on that facet of the ball within the second body, they sacrificed the offense within the course of.
Indiana got here out swinging, trying extra just like the gifted workforce. A ten-4 spurt led to a 9-point benefit and shortly after, a second mini run put the Hoosiers up 13. Malik Reneau got here alive and dominated inside and a pair of triples from the Hoosiers made it seem that the sport was beneath management.
As soon as once more, the wheels fell off and a prolonged offensive dry spell struck – one thing that has been a staple lately. After a monstrous Reneau dunk on the 12:37 mark that made the lead 13 factors, IU went almost 10 minutes with out a subject aim with a six-plus minute scoring drought sandwiched between.
“We’re attempting to do a whole lot of issues, however we’re not executing or doing it the way in which Coach desires,” Reneau stated of the offensive drought. “Simply slowing down and attempting to execute… not attempting to hurry something and ensuring we get an excellent shot each time we come down the courtroom.”
Though the protection on Bonham locked up, it was a special Mocs guard’s flip to terrorize. Honor Huff related on 4 second-half 3-pointers and the Hoosiers’ 13-point lead acquired reduce all the way down to as little as 4 on a number of events.
IU appeared to get selective in when to pour its effort in. At instances, the protection was a stalwart and the offensive rhythm flowed. Nonetheless, the Hoosiers ran by means of the motions for many of the contest and didn’t get after it constantly
In the long run, Indiana’s protection did simply sufficient to outlive its offensive struggles and maintain on for the 9-point victory. Whereas the end result held towards Chattanooga, it seemingly wouldn’t maintain up in a convention sport and Woodson is aware of it.
“I’m attempting to get us there on a 40-minute foundation each night time they step out on the ground,” he stated. “We’re not there but. Nowhere close to it. So, I’ve acquired a whole lot of work to do.”
Indiana’s issues are plentiful however nonetheless fixable. The expertise degree is as much as par with almost any workforce within the nation, and if utilized appropriately for 40 minutes, it might win this system many video games. Nonetheless, time continues to tick as Massive Ten play looms.
The Hoosiers wrap up their non-conference schedule towards Winthrop on Dec. 29 earlier than delving into the total Massive Ten schedule towards Rutgers on Jan. 2.
“I really feel like we’re in an excellent house,” Reneau stated. “We’ve undoubtedly acquired to enhance on a whole lot of issues arising, however this break will certainly give us an opportunity to clear everyone’s minds and get again to it and are available again with a spark.”
Filed to: Chattanooga Mocs
