Indiana gained its fifth straight recreation and improved to 13-3 general and 4-1 in Massive Ten play with an 82-69 win in opposition to USC on Wednesday at Simon Skjodt Meeting Corridor.
Listed below are 5 takeaways from the win in opposition to the Trojans:
Oumar Ballo’s dominance continues
Since coming back from a one-game absence in opposition to Winthrop on Dec. 29, Indiana senior Oumar Ballo has been on a tear.
On Wednesday in opposition to USC, Ballo completed with 23 factors, eight rebounds, two blocked pictures and an help in 33 minutes. Ballo was 9-for-11 from the sphere and 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
Ballo has been dominant in IU’s final three video games. The Mali native is averaging 21.7 factors, 11 rebounds, 2.3 blocked pictures and two assists in 32.3 minutes per recreation.
The 7-footer is capturing 64 p.c from the sphere and 60 p.c from the free-throw line. Ballo has 14 offensive rebounds over the past three video games and simply two turnovers.
By means of 5 Massive Ten video games, Ballo ranks first within the league in free throw price (FTA/FGA) and is capturing 62.5 p.c from the road. Final season, he shot simply 52.1 p.c in PAC-12 video games at Arizona.
With no clear timetable for Malik Reneau’s return, the Hoosiers will want Ballo to proceed producing at a excessive degree whereas taking part in extra minutes than standard for the foreseeable future.
Luke Goode stays sizzling from the perimeter
Senior ahead Luke Goode shot a mixed 2-for-13 on 3s in IU’s last two non-conference video games in opposition to Chattanooga and Winthrop.
As Goode has adjusted to his new function as a starter, the 6-foot-7 Fort Wayne native has heated up from the perimeter.
In IU’s wins in opposition to Rutgers, Penn State and USC, Goode is 10-for-15 (66.6 p.c) on 3-pointers. For the season, he’s capturing 38 p.c from deep and he’s 50 p.c on 3s in convention play.
After the USC win, Goode credited assistant coach Brian Walsh for serving to him along with his mindset.
“Coach Walsh truly performed an analogous function to me in faculty so he understands the capturing slumps and ups and downs and having that function on a group,” Goode defined. “He truly gave me a e-book that I’ve been studying. It’s actually helped. I began studying it three video games in the past since I’ve began capturing the ball nicely.”
Goode performed a season-high 34 minutes in opposition to USC and had 16 factors on 5-for-7 capturing from the sphere.
Myles Rice performs nicely for a fourth straight recreation
Redshirt sophomore level guard Myles Rice seems to be hitting his stride in an IU uniform.
For a fourth straight recreation, Rice delivered a powerful efficiency in a Hoosier victory. The 6-foot-3 guard had 19 factors, 9 rebounds, six assists, a blocked shot and a steal in 33 minutes in opposition to USC.
During the last 4 video games, Rice has averaged 16.8 factors, 5.3 rebounds, 4 assists, and two steals in 33 minutes.
Rice is 23-for-25 from the free throw line over the past 4 and is capturing 90.2 p.c from the road on the season.
The ground has been extra open lately because of the Hoosiers taking part in one huge, giving Rice extra room to function. Rice has taken benefit by attacking the rim.
Indiana’s protection has been stellar in Massive Ten play, however the competitors is about to ramp up
In its win in opposition to USC, Indiana held its opponent beneath some extent per possession for the fourth time in its final 5 video games.
By means of 5 Massive Ten video games, the Hoosiers are permitting 1.036 factors per possession, which is third within the league behind Michigan State and Illinois.
IU’s protection now sits inside the highest 50 of KenPom’s adjusted defensive effectivity rankings at No. 47.
However the competitors will enhance considerably starting this weekend at Iowa. The Hawkeyes are averaging 1.148 factors per journey in convention video games, fifth-best within the league.
Over its first 5 Massive Ten video games, the Hoosiers haven’t performed a group ranked greater than tenth in factors per possession scored in league play. In line with KenPom, Indiana has performed the simplest schedule of any Massive Ten group up to now and the Hoosiers are underdogs of their subsequent 11 video games.
Rebounding has developed right into a power for Indiana
Indiana’s rebounding was a significant difficulty early this season. The Hoosiers have been uncovered on the defensive glass within the Bahamas as three straight opponents grabbed greater than 37.9 p.c of their missed pictures.
Nevertheless, Mike Woodson, the teaching workers and the gamers deserve credit score for the turnaround on the glass.
For the reason that Bahamas, no opponent has grabbed greater than 29.7 p.c of their missed pictures in opposition to the Hoosiers. On Wednesday in opposition to USC, the Trojans rebounded solely 19.4 p.c of their misses.
Indiana now ranks eightieth nationally in defensive rebounding share and second within the Massive Ten in convention video games.
There has additionally been a gentle enchancment on the offensive glass. In line with KenPom, Indiana is 74th nationally in offensive rebounding share and is second in convention video games.
After Wednesday’s win in opposition to USC, Goode talked about rebounding as a key because the Hoosiers start a troublesome 11-game stretch.
“I believe personally, it’s protection and rebounding,” Goode mentioned. “In the beginning the season, you return to the journey right down to the Bahamas, the most important difficulty for us was guarding. We have been getting killed by Louisville and Gonzaga. Couldn’t guard anyone. The final ten video games I believe we’ve out-rebounded our opponents.
“I believe to have the ability to proceed to achieve success within the Massive Ten in a bodily league, we bought to maintain defending and rebounding.”
Filed to: Luke Goode, Myles Rice, Oumar Ballo, USC Trojans
