The buzzer sounded, and the ball swished by the web. Caitlin Clark raised her arms triumphantly as Grace Berger and the remainder of the Hoosiers walked off the ground at Carver-Hawkeye Enviornment. The 2022-23 common season chapter was carried out.
However the story of Indiana ladies’s basketball is much from over.
“One other ebook comes out subsequent week, after we go to the Large Ten Event,” Teri Moren stated postgame.
Indiana suffered solely its second lack of the season to Iowa on Sunday in an intense, back-and-forth affair that ended dramatically, 86-85. Each groups competed till the tip, and it couldn’t have ended every other means.
“I’m actually, actually happy with our group,” Moren stated. “As soon as once more they confirmed how powerful they’re, how they’re one of many best groups within the nation when it comes to simply the best way they struggle and the way they deal with themselves.”
Whereas the truth that the Hoosiers misplaced to the Hawkeyes is a stormcloud over many followers, Sunday’s recreation was the most effective representations of the group’s grit and preventing spirit. They weathered the storm, preventing again from double-digit deficits and refusing to surrender simple performs on both finish of the ground.
Chloe Moore-McNeil, tasked with guarding Clark as soon as once more, performed powerful all through and completed with 18 factors, many coming below stress from the free throw line or whereas below foul bother.
Indiana adjusted out of halftime, discovering Parrish past the arc and switching up some offensive actions; Parrish shot 3-of-6 from deep and led the group in scoring within the second half with 16 factors.
4 starters scored 16 or extra factors, and Mackenzie Holmes led the best way with 21 factors on 8-of-10 taking pictures. Yarden Garzon was resilient below the web, grabbing a career-high 14 rebounds. It was, not at all, a nasty basketball recreation.
Iowa versus Indiana by no means is.
However on the finish of the day, it was a loss. And identical to with wins, Moren and her group observe the identical protocol of spending a most of 24 hours occupied with the earlier recreation earlier than transferring ahead.
“I wouldn’t say that Sunday in opposition to Iowa was our greatest 40 minutes,” Moren stated Thursday throughout media availability. “That’s why I’ve been so enthusiastic about how they’ve proven up right here the final couple of days. As a result of we all know we let one slip away, and there’s a little bit little bit of frustration, bitterness with that, which isn’t a nasty factor. However in addition they have flushed it they usually’re prepared to maneuver on.”
In the long term, the loss doesn’t — or at the least, shouldn’t — have an effect on the Hoosiers within the postseason. They’re the primary seed within the Large Ten match, and are projected to be a primary seed within the NCAA Event as nicely. It appears as if the one factor that might have an effect on that nationwide seeding is a nasty loss within the Large Ten match.
Large Ten match preview
The Hoosiers begin in Minneapolis on Friday at 12:30 p.m. ET, taking part in the winner of Thursday’s matchup of Michigan State versus Nebraska.
Michigan State handed Indiana its first lack of the season again in December, pulling out an 83-79 victory. The Spartans took benefit of a Grace Berger-less Indiana group and compelled 21 turnovers. The Hoosiers and the Huskers additionally produced a aggressive recreation — as most are within the Large Ten — going to time beyond regulation in Bloomington earlier than the Hoosiers scored 12 unanswered factors to seal the deal.
Nebraska closed out the common season 16-13, going 8-10 in convention to obtain the No. 8 seed within the Large Ten match. The Huskers completed the common season with 5 gamers averaging double figures, led by Jaz Shelley with 14.3 factors per recreation. Alexis Markowski is second on the group, averaging 12.4 factors per recreation however is Nebraska’s biggest menace on the boards, with 10.1 rebounds per recreation.
Markowski leads the Large Ten in rebounds per recreation, and Nebraska is the second-best rebounding group within the convention at 41. Indiana is seventh with 36.7.
Holding the No. 9 seed within the Large Ten match, Michigan State completed the common season 15-13 and 7-10 in convention play. Kamaria McDaniel leads the group in scoring with 13.7 factors per recreation — she scored 24 factors in opposition to the Hoosiers — adopted by Matilda Ekh’s 12.3 factors per recreation.
With the best way Indiana has been taking part in of late — deserving of the No. 2 spot on the AP ballot for 4 consecutive weeks — the group might be favored regardless of who their opponent is. Nonetheless, an upset isn’t out of the query, particularly within the Large Ten.
A number of groups might be taking part in for sure seeding within the NCAA match as nicely, including one more degree of depth to every recreation.
“There’s a desperation for a few of these groups, and that’s all the time a priority,” Moren stated.
If Indiana wins its first recreation, its opponent will possible be both Ohio State or Michigan. Michigan will play Penn State Thursday, and the victor of that recreation will play Ohio State.
If the Hoosiers attain the championship recreation on March 5, they are going to possible face both Iowa or Maryland, the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, respectively. The Terrapins appear to be the juggernaut this system is understood to be, not too long ago clobbering Iowa 96-68 and transferring as much as No. 5 within the closing AP ballot of the common season. Iowa, as all the time, brings heavy competitors and depth to nearly each recreation.
However as soon as once more, an upset can’t be dominated out; Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin and Rutgers are additionally on the opposite facet of the bracket.
Wisconsin appears to be getting sizzling on the proper time, upsetting No. 12 Michigan within the closing recreation of the common season to increase its successful streak to 3 video games. Illinois has been considerably of an unrecognized expertise within the convention, cracking into the AP ballot a number of occasions this season, and Purdue has the defensive capabilities to pressure even the hardest groups to compete (i.e.; Indiana).
Only a few issues are particular within the Large Ten match. However one factor is plain: Indiana is raring and decided to take cost of its story and can cease at nothing to succeed in its targets.
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