Indiana will attempt to avenge one other common season loss when it takes on Penn State at this time within the Huge Ten match semifinals on the United Heart in Chicago. The Nittany Lions beat Illinois 79-76 on Thursday and Northwestern 67-65 in extra time on Friday.
As we speak’s recreation will tip at roughly 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS:
Indiana handed its first postseason take a look at late Friday evening and eradicated Maryland 70-60 within the 2023 Huge Ten match quarterfinals. There’s no relaxation for the Hoosiers as they’ll tip-off of their second recreation in Chicago 16 hours after their first.
Penn State has clinched its first NCAA match bid since 2011 with a pair of wins in Chicago and the Nittany Lions are crimson scorching with wins in seven of their final eight video games. Whereas looking forward to a possible Sunday bout with Purdue for the match title may be tempting, there’s no wanting previous the Nittany Lions. Penn State is taking part in in addition to any staff within the Huge Ten.
THE FIRST MEETING
Indiana’s 85-66 loss to Penn State on Jan. 11 was one of many low factors of the common season. The loss dropped the Hoosiers to 1-4 in Huge Ten play.
The Nittany Lions made 18 3-pointers within the win and shot 58.1 p.c from the perimeter. Indiana was outscored by 42 factors on 3-pointers because the Hoosiers made simply 4 triples.
Seth Lundy made seven 3-pointers and completed with a game-high 25 factors and Andrew Funk additionally made seven 3s and scored 23.
Whereas Indiana did handle to place up 66 factors and scored 1.02 factors per possession, it was an off-night for each of its stars.
Trayce Jackson-Davis shot 40 p.c from the sector and 60 p.c from the free throw line. He scored a team-high 14 factors and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, however dedicated 4 turnovers whereas allotting 4 assists.
Jalen Hood-Schifino was 5-for-15 from the sector and scored 11 factors. On the time, he was nonetheless adjusting to his new function as the first ball handler with Xavier Johnson’s harm.
TEMPO-FREE PREVIEW
All stats are from convention play solely and embody all 20 Huge Ten common season video games.
Penn State is as reliant on the 3-pointer as all however one staff within the nation.
In keeping with KenPom, the Nittany Lions rating 43.8 factors of their factors on 3s, the second highest fee within the nation. The nationwide common is 30.9 p.c. Indiana scores 23.1 p.c of its factors from distance.
The Nittany Lions desire a halfcourt recreation and have averaged simply 63.1 possessions in convention video games, the third-lowest common within the league.
Penn State takes care of the ball – the Nittany Lions have the third-best turnover fee within the Huge Ten – and don’t attempt to power turnovers. PSU opponents are turning it over on simply 12.5 p.c of their possessions in convention play, the bottom fee within the league.
Penn State doesn’t crash the offensive boards and sends our bodies to the protection boards to restrict second-chance factors. The Nittany Lions have the bottom offensive rebounding share within the Huge Ten (16.7 p.c) and the third-best defensive rebounding share (24).
The Nittany Lions additionally rank final within the Huge Ten in free throw fee (FTA/FGA), which isn’t stunning with all of the 3-pointers they try.
WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO
The KenPom projection is Indiana by two with a 58 p.c probability of a Hoosier victory on Saturday afternoon.
Indiana has a number of benefits on this recreation.
The group, exterior of a small contingent of Nittany Lion supporters and any Purdue followers that stick round, must be closely in favor of the Hoosiers. Penn State can also be taking part in its third recreation in three days towards an NCAA match staff. For a staff that depends on the 3-pointer to win, fatigue and heavy legs may have an effect.
The Hoosiers even have a transparent benefit within the publish with Jackson-Davis, who has taken his recreation to a different stage for the reason that loss in State Faculty. Jackson-Davis was sensible on Friday evening towards Maryland, ending with 24 factors, 9 rebounds, seven assists, three blocked pictures and three steals in 38 minutes.
Indiana have to be linked in its coverages towards Penn State’s perimeter assault to prevail. That wasn’t the case within the first matchup because the Nittany Lions picked Indiana aside and shot open 3-pointers all night on the Bryce-Jordan Heart.
(Photograph credit score: Penn State Athletics)
Filed to: 2023 Huge Ten match, Penn State Nittany Lions
