Indiana will search for a season sweep when it hosts Penn State tonight at Simon Skjodt Meeting Corridor. Penn State is 15-13 total and 5-12 in Massive Ten play.
Tonight’s sport will tip at 8:30 p.m. ET on BTN:
Indiana’s NCAA event hopes are alive following Sunday’s win towards Purdue. However the Hoosiers have work to do over their remaining 4 common season video games.
Up first is a rematch towards Penn State, which has received two in a row after a seven-game shedding streak. Indiana received the primary matchup 77-71 on Jan. 5 on the Palestra in Philadelphia.
THE FIRST MEETING
Indiana’s early second-half run was essential in its win towards the Nittany Lions final month. At halftime, Indiana and Penn State have been tied at 29, however the Hoosiers went on a 12-0 run out of the locker room.
Sophomore Mackenzie Mgbako was pivotal in that stretch as he scored eight factors in simply over a minute, forcing Mike Rhoades to make use of a timeout. However the break did not flip the momentum because the Hoosiers wanted lower than three minutes to push the result in double figures and take management at one of many nation’s most historic venues.
Fifth-year senior Oumar Ballo was additionally pivotal within the win, because the Nittany Lions had no reply for him within the submit. Ballo completed with 25 factors, 13 rebounds, three assists and two blocked photographs regardless of battling foul hassle.
Indiana additionally dealt with Penn State’s stress protection, which ranks third within the convention in forcing turnovers. Coming into the sport in early January, the Nittany Lions had been forcing 17 turnovers per sport. Indiana dedicated solely 14 within the win.
The win on the Palestra additionally featured one in all IU’s higher perimeter taking pictures performances this season. After an underwhelming 2-for-11 mark within the first half, the Hoosiers shot 7-for-12 within the second half to complete 9-for-23 for the sport. Mgbako made 4 3-pointers and Luke Goode went 3-for-5.
Penn State, in the meantime, was dreadful from the perimeter. The Nittany Lions went 3-for-21 on 3s, a significant cause Penn State managed simply 1.01 factors per possession regardless of taking pictures 61.9 p.c on 2s.
Guard Ace Baldwin struggled within the Penn State loss, ending with 12 factors on 5-for-15 taking pictures. Baldwin dished out seven assists however dedicated three turnovers as foul points restricted his minutes to 31. Over his final three video games, Baldwin has 23 assists and 14 steals.
TEMPO-FREE PREVIEW
(All stats within the chart above are from convention video games solely and are up to date via Monday.)
The keys for fulfillment towards Penn State are clear: handle the ball and hold the Nittany Lions off the foul line.
Penn State ranks third within the convention in defensive turnover share (18.5) and first in free throw fee (FTA/FGA) at 39.2 p.c. The Nittany Lions discovered success on the Palestra attacking Indiana off the dribble, significantly within the second half.
The Nittany Lions are one of many Massive Ten’s worst rebounding groups, rating sixteenth within the convention in offensive rebounding share and fifteenth in defensive rebounding share. Additionally they wrestle to defend within the paint, as convention foes shoot 55.1 p.c on 2s, which ranks fifteenth within the convention.
WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO
KenPom initiatives a five-point Indiana victory with a 70 p.c probability of the Hoosiers profitable. Bart Torvik’s rankings favor IU by six with a 71 p.c probability of a victory.
This sport is essential for each groups for various causes. As soon as 12-1 total and 2-1 within the Massive Ten, Penn State is at the moment on the skin trying in for the Massive Ten event. With the brand new 15-team format this season, three groups keep residence, and proper now, the Nittany Lions can be a kind of groups.
Indiana seemingly must go 3-1 over its remaining 4 video games to have a sensible shot to make the NCAA event discipline. The Hoosiers are unbeaten in Quad 2, 3 and 4 video games and tonight’s sport is a Quad 2 contest.
Whereas the 2024-25 season has been disappointing, Indiana can nonetheless finish the Mike Woodson period on a excessive observe by reaching the NCAA event. The Hoosiers have been taking part in higher these days however should come out with the identical power and focus displayed within the second half of Sunday’s win towards Purdue.
(Picture credit score: IU Athletics)
Class: Commentary
Filed to: Penn State Nittany Lions
