Ideas on a 74-65 win towards Chattanooga:
It might be simple responsible Indiana’s lackluster begin to this recreation on a midday tip over winter break.
However with different assured video games this season following a well-recognized script to this afternoon’s contest, it’s laborious to argue towards the concept that this sort of efficiency can be simply who this staff has been this season.
As common, Indiana had the scale benefit as we speak towards its non-power convention opponent. However Chattanooga’s ball motion, reducing and passing in its 5-out model gave Indiana’s protection issues within the first half. The Mocs shot 6-of-13 (46.2 p.c) from deep. They assisted on 11 of their 14 made baskets. The velocity of Trey Bonham and Honor Huff gave the Hoosiers issues. Indiana misplaced shooters and cutters.
“I assumed simply their motion precipitated issues for us,” Mike Woodson mentioned post-game.
Chattanooga and Indiana traded the lead at first and finish of the half, however Chattanooga held it for a stretch of 10:38 throughout the center half. Indiana was in a position to snag a 41-38 lead on the break.
And because the second half started, it seemed like Indiana would do what it often has accomplished up to now this season in such a scenario: cease cruising, begin enjoying with urgency and put the sport away. That precisely what was occurring. Indiana acquired after it extra on protection. Malik Reneau led the cost on offense, scoring eight factors within the first 7:23 of the half. His steal and emphatic dunk on the 12:37 mark put the Hoosiers up 13 (61-48), and it seemed like Indiana was firmly within the driver’s seat.
However a couple of minutes later, Indiana’s offense went chilly — ice chilly. The Hoosiers didn’t rating a degree for six:23 of recreation clock. Indiana missed 5 subject purpose makes an attempt and two free throws throughout that stretch. In consequence, this one ended up being rather more of a combat to the end.
After a Reneau turnover gave the ball to the Mocs, a Trey Galloway foul on Frank Champion gave him a 1-and-1 alternative on the line with 1:51 to play. Champion hit each to tug the Mocs inside 4 at 67-63. After a Reneau bucket pushed the lead out to 6 for Indiana, the Mocs once more acquired it to 4 (69-65) on a Bonham jumper. However Indiana was in a position to shut the door from there. Myles Rice hit a driving lay-up, Galloway scored means forward of the pack and Anthony Leal hit 1-of-2 on the line to seal Indiana’s nine-point win.
“I simply didn’t see a great signal tonight,” Woodson advised Don Fischer on the postgame radio present. “We simply gotta maintain working, man.”
That’s been Woodson’s fixed chorus this season. The staff simply has to maintain working. Sooner or later, although, Indiana should present it might break by way of its malaise for longer than only a recreation or two. That it might take all this expertise on the roster and be higher than the sum of its components.
There’s only one extra non-conference recreation remaining earlier than Indiana hits the bottom working on 18 straight Massive Ten video games, the vast majority of which the Hoosiers aren’t favored to win. If Woody remains to be exasperated and calling on his staff to maintain working as January bleeds into February, Indiana won’t have a March with an NCAA event berth in retailer.
Filed to: Chattanooga Mocs
