Indiana improved to 9-3 with a 74-65 win in opposition to Chattanooga on Saturday at Simon Skjodt Meeting Corridor.
Listed below are 5 takeaways from the win in opposition to the Mocs:
After a full week off, Indiana’s defensive points persist within the first half
Mike Woodson stated Indiana ready all week for Chattanooga and the Hoosiers had an entire week since dropping 85-68 to Nebraska final Friday in Lincoln.
The work didn’t translate to Saturday’s efficiency on Department McCracken Court docket.
Indiana was once more flat defensively to begin the sport because the Mocs shot 6-for-13 on 3s and scored 1.16 factors per possession within the first half. It wasn’t till Woodson went to the bench that the Hoosiers started to get some management in opposition to Chattanooga.
Poor begins have been a recurring theme for Woodson’s fourth Indiana staff. And it doesn’t sound just like the veteran coach has an answer to repair the problem. Woodson provided little clarification when requested what he may do about Indiana’s lack of ability to protect again door cuts and its urgency defensively from the weak facet.
“Effectively, we simply bought to maintain working at it. Man, that’s one thing — we ready all week for this staff,” Woodson stated. “Labored on plenty of issues. I didn’t see plenty of good issues from my work that we put on this week. That’s type of discouraging.
“The underside line is we bought to maintain working by way of it and preserve pushing guys and get them higher. That’s my job to do this.”
Myles Rice continues his inconsistent play
Washington State switch Myles Rice was alleged to be the reply for the Hoosiers at level guard.
By means of 12 video games, there are extra questions than solutions about what this system can anticipate from him transferring ahead. Rice has proven flashes of stellar play, however Saturday was not a step in a constructive path.
Rice logged 24 minutes, shot 2-for-8 from the sphere and turned it over twice. Certainly one of his passes within the second half was up to now off the mark that it hit the backboard.
Chattanooga’s backcourt completely outplayed Rice, who has six video games with six or fewer factors and 5 video games with 17 or extra factors.
Rice’s inconsistency makes it tough to undertaking what the Hoosiers can anticipate from him when Massive Ten play begins in earnest in lower than two weeks. That’s an issue, significantly given how poorly Kanaan Carlyle is capturing the ball and Trey Galloway’s up-and-down performances. Galloway is capturing simply 41.7 % on 2s.
If the Hoosiers can’t produce extra environment friendly and constant play from its revamped backcourt, they may fall effectively in need of expectations for a second straight season.
Indiana’s bench delivers a powerful efficiency
It was clear Woodson wasn’t pleased along with his starters following Saturday’s win. The play he bought from the bench, nonetheless, was extra encouraging.
4 of IU’s 5 reserves scored within the win, with Bryson Tucker main the way in which with 9 factors. The freshman was 3-for-5 from the sphere and 3-for-4 from the free throw line.
Carlyle additionally had a strong day, ending with eight factors in 24 minutes. The Stanford switch continues to supply strong defensive minutes for the Hoosiers.
Luke Goode went 2-for-5 from the sphere, together with one made 3-pointer and Anthony Leal added three factors in 12 minutes.
“Our bench was fairly good tonight for us,” Woodson stated. “They got here in and performed strong, I believed. In all probability ought to have performed them the entire sport and sat the beginning unit down.”
Oumar Ballo continues to impression video games within the paint
Ballo took simply three pictures in 25 minutes on Saturday however was nonetheless among the many most impactful gamers within the victory.
The Arizona switch completed with 9 factors — he made 5 of his seven free-throw makes an attempt — however his presence within the paint was a deterrent.
The Mocs took practically half of their subject objective makes an attempt from past the 3-point line. When Chattanooga tried to attain on the rim, the Mocs shot simply 45.2 % (14-for-31).
Ballo additionally tied for a team-high in rebounds (eight) and assists (4). He didn’t commit a turnover.
By means of 12 video games, Ballo has shot 70.1 % from the sphere and an improved 58.6 % from the free-throw line.
Hoosiers battle from the perimeter for third straight sport
Indiana shot lower than 30 % from 3-point vary for the third straight sport.
After a 4-for-14 mark (28.6 %) in opposition to Minnesota and an 8-for-35 efficiency (22.9 %) in opposition to Nebraska, the Hoosiers have been 5-for-20 (25 %) in Saturday’s win.
By means of 12 video games, Indiana is capturing 32.9 % on 3s, slightly below the nationwide common of 33.4 %.
The struggles of three Hoosiers have been a drag on the staff’s general 3-point capturing proportion.
Malik Reneau (3-for-17), Bryson Tucker (1-for-12) and Kanaan Carlyle (9-for-38) are a mixed 13-for-67 from distance this season. That’s simply 19.4 %. Reneau, who tried two 3-pointers on Saturday, hasn’t made a 3-pointer for the reason that Louisville sport.
Filed to: Chattanooga Mocs, Myles Rice, Oumar Ballo