Indiana dropped its third straight recreation on Wednesday night time. The Hoosiers fell 85-66 to Penn State on the Bryce Jordan Heart and at the moment are 1-4 in league play.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from the loss to the Nittany Lions:
Indiana’s protection continues its freefall
Mike Woodson’s first Indiana staff completed with the Large Ten’s greatest protection.
His second Indiana staff is near the Large Ten basement defensively. After surrendering greater than 80 factors for a 3rd straight recreation, the Hoosiers are thirteenth within the convention in factors per possession allowed. Solely Minnesota, which is barely inside the highest 200 nationally in KenPom, is worse.
Penn State, which areas the ground and creates open 3-point seems with its motion and passing, took its offense to a different degree on Tuesday. The Nittany Lions splashed in 18 3-pointers on 31 makes an attempt, good for 58.1 %. Indiana regarded unprepared for the perimeter onslaught, which continued for your complete recreation.
Most alarming was Indiana’s lack of changes in-game to cowl shooters. None had been made. Two completely different Penn State gamers made seven 3s and most of the seems had been wide-open.
Except Indiana makes some main adjustments and changes defensively, its freefall down the league standings will proceed.
Indiana’s capability to deal with adversity is missing
When issues have gone effectively for this Indiana staff, the Hoosiers have confirmed able to beating stable groups. Early season examples of this had been a formidable win at Xavier and a dismantling of North Carolina in Meeting Corridor.
However when issues get powerful, Indiana has usually folded.
In its first lack of the season at Rutgers, Indiana’s roster was at full power moreover Jalen Hood-Schifino. However the Scarlet Knights introduced grit and bodily toughness and the Hoosiers didn’t reply. The outcome was a 15-point loss.
In a impartial court docket loss to Arizona, the Hoosiers had been knocked on their heels by the tempo and aggressiveness of Tommy Lloyd’s offense. Indiana fought again, however its unfocused begin was an excessive amount of to beat.
At Kansas, Indiana was crushed within the paint by an undersized Jayhawk staff that was much more aggressive.
In opposition to Iowa, Indiana began shortly and constructed a 21-point lead, however as soon as Iowa regained its composure, Indiana’s focus and protection collapsed.
In Sunday’s loss to Northwestern, Indiana had a lackadaisical begin and noticed the Wildcats a 17-point lead earlier than deciding to choose up the depth.
And on Wednesday at Penn State, Indiana’s protection folded quickly after the Nittany Lions began to make 3-pointers within the ultimate 9 minutes of the primary half.
All of those examples, in combination, are indicative of a staff missing management on the ground and a disconnect between recreation plan from the teaching workers and execution by the gamers.
Accidents are an element, however can’t be used as an excuse
Mike Woodson has persistently mentioned “subsequent man up” is the philosophy when a participant is injured.
Indiana has two starters at present sidelined. Xavier Johnson and Race Thompson are each impactful gamers who convey a lot to this system on each ends of the ground. Their absences have little question left the Hoosiers shorthanded.
However even with out Johnson and Thompson, Indiana ought to have the expertise to be aggressive with Penn State.
It wasn’t aggressive on Wednesday and suffered its worst loss in program historical past to the Nittany Lions.
Presently, the Hoosiers are right down to 11 scholarship gamers, however in actuality, solely eight are within the combine for minutes as Anthony Leal, Kaleb Banks and Logan Duncomb are hardly ever utilized by the teaching workers.
“We’re younger,” Woodson mentioned postgame. “Two of our veteran guys are sitting on the sideline that we actually rely on. I imply, that performs a significant position in it proper there. However once more, I’m not utilizing it as an excuse.”
The fact is that each participant moreover Jalen Hood-Schifino who performed greater than 11 minutes on Wednesday has vital Large Ten expertise. A few of Indiana’s depth on the top of the bench could be younger, however many of the guys enjoying proper now know what it takes to compete within the league. And proper now, they merely aren’t enjoying at a excessive sufficient degree to supply successful outcomes.
A tricky night time for Jalen Hood-Schifino
Jalen Hood-Schifino received Large Ten freshman of the week final week regardless of the Hoosiers shedding two video games.
Woodson mentioned on his radio present Monday night time that he let Hood-Schifino know that his efficiency towards Northwestern, which included 33 factors, wasn’t adequate due to turnovers and protection.
Wednesday night time was a step backward for Hood-Schifino.
He took a team-high 15 pictures and related on simply 5 of these makes an attempt. His protection was as soon as once more beneath common.
From a stats perspective, the general numbers for Hood-Schifino are stable. However Indiana wants him to make much more successful performs as Johnson’s fill-in at level guard if the Hoosiers have any shot to get again to successful methods.
It’s on Mike Woodson to show the season round
There may not be a extra scrutinized place within the state than head basketball coach at Indiana.
Hoosier followers are as passionate as any fanbase within the nation. When issues are going effectively, adoration is poured on the coach.
The alternative, nevertheless, occurs when issues go poorly. Scrutiny occurred with each transfer Tom Crean made. And the identical occurred with Archie Miller.
In a season the place the Hoosiers had been as soon as ranked within the prime 10, it’s solely pure to level on the coach when issues go sideways. And that’s the way it ought to be.
Woodson is the chief of this system and is answerable for the present outcomes. Proper now, the outcomes aren’t adequate regardless of the accidents. And it’s on Woodson to show it round.
(Picture credit score: Penn State Athletics)
Filed to: Mike Woodson, Penn State Nittany Lions
