Indiana led by seven within the first half however collapsed in a 66-57 loss to Rutgers on Tuesday at Jersey Mike’s Enviornment.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from the loss to the Scarlet Knights:
Xavier Johnson’s turnovers and ejection present a scarcity of management
The return of Xavier Johnson after a seven-game absence was anticipated to spice up Indiana’s backcourt.
Johnson performed properly in Saturday’s win towards Ohio State, however has been a destructive in highway losses at Nebraska and Rutgers. His play and decision-making on Tuesday at Rutgers have been disappointing.
The sixth-year level guard turned the ball over 5 occasions and was ejected early within the second half for taking a shot at Antwone Woolfolk beneath the belt. The play was reviewed after Woolfolk knocked Johnson to the bottom with simply over 13 minutes remaining. Replay confirmed Johnson hitting Woolfolk within the groin space, deemed a flagrant two and an ejection.
In a winnable highway recreation for the Hoosiers, Johnson selected to hit an opponent beneath the belt and threat ejection over being out there for his staff. That’s not management.
Johnson is considered one of Indiana’s two appointed staff captains however isn’t taking part in like one. In 38 minutes towards Nebraska and Rutgers, Johnson has scored two factors and dedicated 9 turnovers.
Indiana goes too deep into its bench
Mike Woodson didn’t just like the questions on his substitution patterns within the postgame, however the inquiries have been honest. The Hoosiers performed 10 gamers within the first half of Tuesday’s loss, and the mass substitutions failed as a seven-point lead rapidly evaporated.
Reasonably than sprinkling in a sub or two, Indiana had two totally different cases the place it had 4 subs and a starter on the ground within the first half.
When requested in regards to the substitutions, Woodson provided this response:
“I’m not going to sit down right here and reply that query in terms of the followers otherwise you. I elected to go to my bench, which I’ve completed this season, and I’ve gotten some good outcomes right here and there. And tonight, they didn’t kill us however they allow them to again within the recreation. And I believed we withstood it. The large shot on the half I believed gave them momentum stepping into, however the recreation was nonetheless forwards and backwards.
“Then X (Xavier Johnson) has his little fiasco the place he will get kicked out and that modifications the sport just a little bit. On the two-minute mark, we have been down six, two possessions and we foul. After which we come again and get an intentional foul. In order that’s the sport, just about. Now you’re scrambling attempting to win the sport down the stretch. We simply gotta be extra strong … like we play at residence, we gotta play that method on the highway. And I gotta get us to that time.”
Whereas Indiana has tried to develop a dependable bench, the Hoosiers at the moment are 16 video games into the season and the bench remains to be unreliable. Enjoying bench-heavy lineups in a vital and winnable highway recreation in convention play is a recipe for failure.
Rutgers dominates Indiana on the offensive glass
After permitting Ohio State to seize 22 offensive rebounds on Saturday in Bloomington, Indiana didn’t shore up its defensive rebounding towards Rutgers.
The Scarlet Knights grabbed 19 offensive rebounds towards Indiana, turning into 12 second-chance factors.
Indiana pulled down solely eight offensive rebounds and scored only one second-chance level.
In Huge Ten play, opponents rebound 34.2 % of their missed pictures towards Indiana.
Regardless of rating third within the nation in common peak – in response to KenPom – the Hoosiers proceed to be a poor rebounding staff on each ends. Indiana ranks outdoors the highest 225 nationally in offensive and defensive rebounding percentages.
Turnovers once more show pricey in a highway loss
Indiana’s 19 turnovers in a loss at Nebraska final week have been abnormally excessive.
However the turnover problem arose once more on Tuesday in Piscataway. The Hoosiers dedicated 18 turnovers, resulting in 18 factors for the Scarlet Knights.
In 5 Huge Ten video games, Indiana is popping it over on 20.2 % of its possessions, the second worst within the league.
Many of the turnovers have resulted from Indiana forcing passes that aren’t there or gamers making an attempt to deal with the ball who shouldn’t be.
Johnson’s 5 turnovers have been a team-high, however each Indiana starter had at the least two within the loss.
Indiana leaves 11 factors on the free-throw line
Attending to the foul line is a significant energy of Indiana’s offense.
The Hoosiers solely received to the road 15 occasions on Tuesday, in comparison with 28 makes an attempt for Rutgers.
However the disparity was made worse by Indiana’s poor capturing on the line. The Hoosiers went 4-for-15 from the stripe and have been outscored by 15 factors on free throws by Rutgers.
“If I had a magic capsule that I might give them about making free throws, I’d,” Woodson mentioned within the postgame.
5 convention video games in, Indiana ranks final within the Huge Ten in free throw share at 60.7.
(Picture credit score: IU Athletics)
Filed to: Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Xavier Johnson
