Indiana dropped its second straight sport within the Battle 4 Atlantis. Whereas not as dangerous as Wednesday’s 28-point drubbing in opposition to Louisville, the Hoosiers fell 89-73 to Gonzaga.
Listed below are 5 takeaways from the loss to the Bulldogs:
Indiana’s protection falters once more
Indiana’s protection supplied little resistance within the paint for the second straight sport.
Gonzaga acquired what it needed when it needed on the rim. The Bulldogs shot 56.8 p.c on 2s and 64 p.c on dunks and layups.
The Hoosiers are taking part in three gamers – Mackenzie Mgbako, Malik Reneau and Oumar Ballo – who’re 6-foot-9 or taller and have little versatility defensively.
Ballo and Reneau battle to protect away from the basket and Mgbako has regressed defensively over the previous few video games. Indiana’s guards, outdoors of Kanaan Carlyle for a short interval on Thursday, haven’t pressured the ball properly within the Bahamas.
Via two video games in Battle 4 Atlantis, IU’s protection has surrendered 178 factors and is void of id. There isn’t a cohesion, communication or plan to get stops constantly. Until that adjustments, Indiana will proceed to be uncovered in opposition to energy convention groups.
This was Indiana’s fifth straight loss in a impartial court docket sport by 16 or extra factors
Indiana’s performances in impartial court docket video games relationship again to final season have been disastrous.
Exterior of a win in opposition to a rudderless Louisville staff in New York final November and a slender win in opposition to Penn State within the 2024 Massive Ten event, the Hoosiers have been crushed in impartial court docket video games.
Final season, IU was overwhelmed by 20 by UConn, 28 by Auburn and 27 by Nebraska in impartial court docket video games.
This season’s outcomes have continued the development of taking part in poorly in neutral-court video games. Louisville beat Indiana by 28 and Gonzaga received right this moment by 16.
In 12 months 4 of Mike Woodson’s tenure, Indiana is much from aggressive in opposition to elite groups in impartial court docket video games.
Indiana was down by double figures your entire second half and took a complete of 5 second half 3-point makes an attempt
In a sport the place it wanted to generate extra offense to have an opportunity to get again into the sport, Indiana continued its indifference to taking 3-pointers within the second half in opposition to Gonzaga.
Reasonably than working motion to unlock its perimeter gamers for appears to be like, the Hoosiers continued to pound the ball inside.
Indiana took a complete of 5 3-point makes an attempt within the second half of a sport the place it trailed by double figures for your entire half.
Woodson repeatedly spoke within the preseason of a extra fashionable offense specializing in ball motion and 3-pointers. It hasn’t materialized, and it’s the identical type and offense as a season in the past.
Via six video games, Indiana ranks 336th nationally within the share of its subject objectives makes an attempt which are 3-pointers.
Defensive rebounding isn’t emphasised and stays a serious deficiency
For the second straight season, Indiana deploys one of many nation’s tallest lineups every sport.
For the second straight season, Indiana has been a mediocre defensive rebounding staff. On Thursday, Indiana allowed Gonzaga to seize 13 offensive rebounds and rating 23 second-chance factors.
The Hoosiers don’t block out and sometimes stand and watch whereas the opposition beats them to the ball. There’s no urgency or emphasis on cleansing up the defensive glass.
After Louisville grabbed 37.9 p.c of its missed photographs on Wednesday, Gonzaga grabbed 39.4 p.c of its missed photographs on Thanksgiving Day.
As of Thursday evening, Indiana ranks 270th within the nation in defensive rebounding share.
Mike Woodson’s clarification for IU’s struggles falls flat
Within the postgame press convention following Thursday’s loss, Woodson was requested about concern from the fanbase relating to the staff’s play within the Bahamas.
Right here was Woodson’s reply: “Properly once more, proper now my focus is on our staff and a brand new staff that’s acquired seven new gamers that we’re nonetheless attempting to work issues out and work by means of it. I’m gonna maintain dishing it ‘til I get this staff the place I feel it ought to be.”
That reply falls flat.
Whereas it’s early within the season, the truth that IU has seven new gamers isn’t distinctive or unusual in faculty basketball right this moment. Groups throughout the nation routinely have seven (or extra) new gamers on their roster annually with the switch portal.
Indiana’s opponent on Wednesday, Louisville, has a very new roster and beat the Hoosiers soundly.
Woodson handpicked this roster from the portal and to this point, the outcomes have been underwhelming. Until that adjustments, the grumbling from Indiana’s passionate fanbase will solely develop louder.
Filed to: Gonzaga Bulldogs
