Ideas on a 90-55 win in opposition to the Panthers:
Indiana performed groggy within the first half of this midday tipoff.
“I assumed we had been nonetheless in mattress asleep,” Mike Woodson stated. “It was terrible.”
The Hoosiers feigned curiosity, enjoying uninspired basketball with no edge.
As such, the Panthers, a workforce that misplaced by 45 to Illinois to start their season, led 37-36 at halftime. The Hoosiers couldn’t cease Nakyel Shelton, who scored 15 factors within the first half and made extra 3-pointers himself (3-of-5) than Indiana made as a workforce (2-of-7). Similar to to start out the opener, Indiana performed sloppy, turning the ball over on 23 p.c of its possessions within the first 20 minutes of the competition. Jap Illinois bumped that one-point lead out to 5 (43-38) on the 18:48 mark within the second half.
However from there? It was all Indiana.
The Hoosiers closed out the sport on a powerful 52-12 run. How did they flip the deficit right into a blowout? By stepping it up on protection. With Indiana rising its physicality and depth, Jap Illinois’ offense crumbled. The Panthers shot simply 16.7 p.c (5-of-30) within the second half. Oumar Ballo blocked three pictures. The Panthers turned it over 9 occasions. After Indiana bought a cease, it usually pushed in transition, scoring a number of straightforward baskets due to its superior expertise, dimension and athleticism. The Hoosiers had 20 quick break factors within the second half, with 13 factors off turnovers. Trey Galloway was within the combine pushing in transition, as he had a game-high eight assists after racking up 9 in opposition to SIUE. Indiana additionally did extra harm from deep (4-of-11, 36.4 p.c) after the break, however its quantity from 3-point vary continues to be trending low via two video games.
Ten of the 11 gamers who noticed recreation motion within the second half scored. Bryson Tucker picked up the place he left off in opposition to Marian, scoring in varied methods and looking out like he belongs. He posted 12 factors (5-of-6 from the sphere, 2-of-2 on the line) in 14 minutes of motion within the second half.
Kanaan Carlyle, who has proven some grit defensively however continues to be in search of his footing on offense, hit each his 3-point makes an attempt within the second half. Luke Goode made 2-of-5 for the sport, as he’s beginning to development in the appropriate route from deep.
Indiana’s beginning frontcourt did many of the offensive harm. As he did in opposition to SIUE, Mackenzie Mgbako led the best way with 18 factors. Mgbako bought going instantly and completed an environment friendly 7-of-10 from the ground, 2-of-4 from deep and 2-of-2 from the road. Ballo (17 factors, 8-of-10) and Malik Reneau (17 factors, 8-of-12) weren’t far behind.
To place this 35-point win in context: It’s Indiana’s first 20-plus level win in 57 video games since a 24-point win in opposition to Elon on Dec. 20, 2022. The Hoosiers didn’t have a win by greater than 20 final season. It’s additionally Indiana’s first 30-plus level win in 63 video games because it beat Jackson State on Nov. 25, 2022 by 39 factors.
The pc rankings that in the end decide the NCAA match area ought to look upon this win favorably. As an example, KenPom projected a 25-point win for the Hoosiers this afternoon.
As soon as Indiana awakened, it carried out because it ought to have after which some. The hope is the Hoosiers don’t want such a halftime jolt subsequent time.
Filed to: Jap Illinois Panthers
