A commanding first 10 minutes of play set Indiana in place to cruise previous its fourth opponent of the season on Thursday night time at Simon Skjodt Meeting Corridor.
The ultimate half-hour instructed a special story.
The Hoosiers earned one other double-digit win to start the 2024-25 season, however a mediocre efficiency in opposition to an overmatched opponent left Mike Woodson pissed off together with his group.
Indiana’s 69-58 victory in opposition to UNC Greensboro improved the Hoosiers to 4-0. The sport, nevertheless, was full of good and unhealthy, one thing that has lingered to this point in Indiana’s season.
To begin the sport, Myles Rice kicked off the Indiana offense with a pair of threes that instantly set the tone. A number of robust defensive possessions adopted, piling up within the first 5 minutes to provide IU a 21-5 lead with 11:07 left within the first half. From there, it appeared like an easy-going night time was about to unfold for the Hoosiers, however unsteady play stuffed the remainder of the sport.
Indiana stalled in spurts after its energetic begin. Moments of lifeless offense have occurred usually throughout the Hoosiers’ younger season. In opposition to UNC Greensboro, Indiana’s offensive motion was sluggish in the midst of the primary half and the start of the second half.
“That group got here to play, we didn’t,” Woodson mentioned postgame. “I assumed we got here out with nice intentions. We had been up 19-3 once I began subbing, and that was after guys had performed a deep seven, eight, 9 minutes straight, and as soon as they obtained rolling, we gave them hope, and so they performed a stable sport throughout.”
Turnovers and rebounding proceed to be points for the Hoosiers within the season’s early phases. A a lot larger and extra bodily Indiana group struggled on the glass and allowed 17 offensive rebounds.
Each groups completed the night time with 14 turnovers, however Woodson’s frustration was together with his group’s intent when dealing with the ball. Most of the errors had been careless and unforced, however after the sport, harshly and firmly, Woodson used a extra particular phrase to explain his annoyance together with his group.
Egocentric.
“As a group, we had 16 assists, Woodson mentioned. “That’s terrible. I imply, it’s terrible. With this group, we should always common between 20 and 30 assists. So the play tonight, the best way we performed offensively tonight was egocentric as hell, to me, and that’s one thing that simply can’t be as a result of now we have sufficient guys on this group that may make basketball performs. We’ve simply obtained to be unselfish and sacrifice the ball for the sake of the group and good issues will occur. The ball will find yourself in the proper guys’ palms.
“You noticed how we threw the ball within the half-court setting in all places. We made some passes tonight that had no likelihood of being accomplished. These are issues that we are able to all work to get higher. I’ve obtained to only push us in that route to get higher.”
Regardless of Rice’s 20-point efficiency and freshman Bryson Tucker’s spectacular second-half displaying, a clearly pissed off Woodson targeted on his group’s poor execution. It’s nonetheless early within the season, however the veteran coach is aware of the little issues should enhance. He is aware of deeper within the season, Indiana should put collectively a whole 40 minutes.
Indiana has but to lose a sport this season, however in Woodson’s eyes, the completed product continues to be a methods away. As competitors ramps up within the coming weeks, Indiana’s plans to succeed should begin from inside.
“My complete theme has at all times been we take it a follow at a time and a sport at a time and see the place it leads us, man,” Woodson mentioned. “However tonight, I’ve obtained to provide this Greensboro group a whole lot of credit score. They performed — I assumed they performed more durable than we did. We didn’t play laborious, and that’s unacceptable. That’s on me.”
Filed to: Mike Woodson, UNC Greensboro Spartans
