Ideas on a 66-62 win towards the Volunteers:
This definitely didn’t have the texture of a charity exhibition.
Indiana and Tennessee each performed with depth. Every squad received after it on protection. Issues received chippy at occasions.
However that didn’t imply this was all the time fairly, high-level basketball. The primary half was tough offensively for each squads. Indiana began the sport with 4 straight turnovers on offense. The Hoosiers missed all 11 of their 3-point makes an attempt. The Volunteers weren’t a lot better from distance, going simply 3-of-20. As every workforce entered halftime, neither scored over .70 factors per possession within the first half (Indiana: .61, Tennessee: .68).
The second half went otherwise. The photographs began to fall extra on either side. Indiana was proper within the recreation, by no means trailing by greater than six. However it wasn’t till the 6:21 mark that the Hoosiers gained the lead courtesy of a Malik Reneau 3-pointer. That put Indiana up 55-54. It was a lead it could by no means relinquish en path to a four-point victory regardless of Tennessee threatening a bit down the stretch.
A giant motive, maybe the rationale for Indiana’s win? Myles Rice.
The Washington State switch brings a special dimension to Indiana’s offense. At level guard, his relentless attacking model and quickness opens issues up for himself on the rim and his teammates round him. Rice pushed the tempo in transition for a few buckets this afternoon in Knoxville, but additionally used excessive ball screens to free himself downhill for scores. And when the protection swarmed him, he made good reads and located teammates, even when they didn’t all the time knock down photographs round him.
Most significantly, when Indiana wanted to make performs in profitable time to shut the sport out, Rice was as much as the duty. With the shot clock winding down and Indiana nursing a one-point lead, Rice hit a deep jumper with confidence to push the result in three factors at 1:38 to go. On Indiana’s subsequent possession, Rice received into the lane, attracted a number of defenders and located Malik Reneau on the left block, who had loads of room to dunk the ball residence nearly uncontested to push Indiana’s result in 4 factors with 1:02 to go. Rice then additionally hit 1-of-2 from the road late within the recreation over the past 32 seconds twice to assist seal it. He completed with 20 factors (7-of-14 taking pictures) and 4 assists.
Talking of Reneau, he was additionally key to this afternoon’s victory. Indiana’s junior led all scorers with 21 factors on 8-of-12 taking pictures, hitting the aforementioned 3-pointer and late dunk to maintain the Volunteers at bay late. Reneau added eight boards, two assists, three steals and one block as effectively.
Mackenzie Mgbako was the third Hoosier in double figures with 12 factors on 5-of-11 taking pictures. His consideration to element and depth on protection are noticeably improved from this time final yr. Oumar Ballo scored simply six factors, however he pulled down 11 rebounds, the one participant on the courtroom to publish double-digit boards for the competition. Gabe Cupps performed some strong minutes as a backup level guard and received to the bucket off the perimeter a few occasions.
Certain, that is simply an exhibition recreation. And Indiana was removed from excellent. Nonetheless, you possibly can see how issues are poised to look completely different this yr. There’s extra steadiness and expertise throughout all positions on the ground. The offense doesn’t really feel like such a bogged-down wrestle. And the Hoosiers very a lot appeared like they belonged at Tennessee’s stage — the No. 12 workforce within the nation to begin the season. It’s a workforce that’s recent off an SEC title and an Elite Eight look. The Volunteers have additionally had an elite protection the final 4 seasons beneath Rick Barnes, ending fifth or higher on KenPom in adjusted defensive effectivity. This Indiana efficiency on the street was additionally with out Trey Galloway, Jakai Newton and Bryson Tucker, who didn’t swimsuit up for the sport.
Stable win for the Hoosiers to begin the season. We’ll see how issues proceed to evolve.
(Photograph through IU Athletics)
Filed to: Tennessee Volunteers
