Indiana dropped its second straight recreation within the Battle 4 Atlantis. Whereas not as unhealthy as Wednesday’s 28-point drubbing towards 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 provided little resistance within the paint for the second straight recreation.
Gonzaga bought 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 enjoying three gamers – Mackenzie Mgbako, Malik Reneau and Oumar Ballo – who’re 6-foot-9 or taller and have little versatility defensively.
Ballo and Reneau wrestle to protect away from the basket and Mgbako has regressed defensively over the previous couple of video games. Indiana’s guards, exterior of Kanaan Carlyle for a quick interval on Thursday, haven’t pressured the ball effectively within the Bahamas.
By way of two video games in Battle 4 Atlantis, IU’s protection has surrendered 178 factors and is void of id. There isn’t any cohesion, communication or plan to get stops constantly. Except that modifications, Indiana will proceed to be uncovered towards energy convention groups.
This was Indiana’s fifth straight loss in a impartial courtroom recreation by 16 or extra factors
Indiana’s performances in impartial courtroom video games courting again to final season have been disastrous.
Outdoors of a win towards a rudderless Louisville workforce in New York final November and a slim win towards Penn State within the 2024 Large Ten event, the Hoosiers have been crushed in impartial courtroom video games.
Final season, IU was crushed by 20 by UConn, 28 by Auburn and 27 by Nebraska in impartial courtroom video games.
This season’s outcomes have continued the pattern of enjoying poorly in neutral-court video games. Louisville beat Indiana by 28 and Gonzaga gained right this moment by 16.
In 12 months 4 of Mike Woodson’s tenure, Indiana is way from aggressive towards elite groups in impartial courtroom video games.
Indiana was down by double figures the whole second half and took a complete of 5 second half 3-point makes an attempt
In a recreation 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 towards Gonzaga.
Fairly than working motion to release its perimeter gamers for seems to be, 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 recreation the place it trailed by double figures for the whole 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 model and offense as a season in the past.
By way of six video games, Indiana ranks 336th nationally within the proportion of its discipline objectives makes an attempt which might be 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 recreation.
For the second straight season, Indiana has been a mediocre defensive rebounding workforce. On Thursday, Indiana allowed Gonzaga to seize 13 offensive rebounds and rating 23 second-chance factors.
The Hoosiers don’t block out and infrequently 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 pictures on Wednesday, Gonzaga grabbed 39.4 p.c of its missed pictures on Thanksgiving Day.
As of Thursday evening, Indiana ranks 270th within the nation in defensive rebounding proportion.
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 concerning the workforce’s play within the Bahamas.
Right here was Woodson’s reply: “Properly once more, proper now my focus is on our workforce and a brand new workforce that’s bought seven new gamers that we’re nonetheless making an attempt to work issues out and work via it. I’m gonna maintain dishing it ‘til I get this workforce the place I believe it needs 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 so far, the outcomes have been underwhelming. Except that modifications, the grumbling from Indiana’s passionate fanbase will solely develop louder.
Filed to: Gonzaga Bulldogs
