Indiana dropped its second straight sport within the Battle 4 Atlantis. Whereas not as unhealthy as Wednesday’s 28-point drubbing in opposition to 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 supplied little resistance within the paint for the second straight sport.
Gonzaga received 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, outdoors of Kanaan Carlyle for a quick interval on Thursday, haven’t pressured the ball nicely within the Bahamas.
Via two video games in Battle 4 Atlantis, IU’s protection has surrendered 178 factors and is void of identification. There isn’t any cohesion, communication or plan to get stops constantly. Except that modifications, Indiana will proceed to be uncovered in opposition to energy convention groups.
This was Indiana’s fifth straight loss in a impartial courtroom sport 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 in opposition to a rudderless Louisville crew in New York final November and a slim win in opposition to Penn State within the 2024 Massive Ten event, the Hoosiers have been crushed in impartial courtroom video games.
Final season, IU was overwhelmed 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 in the present day by 16.
In yr 4 of Mike Woodson’s tenure, Indiana is way from aggressive in opposition to elite groups in impartial courtroom video games.
Indiana was down by double figures your entire second half and took a complete of 5 second half 3-point makes an attempt
In a sport 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 in opposition to Gonzaga.
Quite than operating motion to unlock its perimeter gamers for appears to be like, 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 sport the place it trailed by double figures for your entire half.
Woodson repeatedly spoke within the preseason of a extra trendy offense specializing in ball motion and 3-pointers. It hasn’t materialized, and it’s the identical fashion and offense as a season in the past.
Via six video games, Indiana ranks 336th nationally within the share 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 sport.
For the second straight season, Indiana has been a mediocre defensive rebounding crew. 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 night time, Indiana ranks 270th within the nation in defensive rebounding share.
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 crew’s play within the Bahamas.
Right here was Woodson’s reply: “Nicely once more, proper now my focus is on our crew and a brand new crew that’s received seven new gamers that we’re nonetheless making an attempt to work issues out and work by it. I’m gonna preserve dishing it ‘til I get this crew the place I believe it ought 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 school basketball in the present day. Groups throughout the nation routinely have seven (or extra) new gamers on their roster every year 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 to date, the outcomes have been underwhelming. Except that modifications, the grumbling from Indiana’s passionate fanbase will solely develop louder.
Filed to: Gonzaga Bulldogs
