Ideas on a 90-55 win towards the Panthers:
Indiana performed groggy within the first half of this midday tipoff.
“I believed we had been nonetheless in mattress asleep,” Mike Woodson stated. “It was terrible.”
The Hoosiers feigned curiosity, taking part in uninspired basketball with no edge.
As such, the Panthers, a crew that misplaced by 45 to Illinois to start their season, led 37-36 at halftime. The Hoosiers couldn’t cease Nakyel Shelton, who scored 15 factors within the first half and made extra 3-pointers himself (3-of-5) than Indiana made as a crew (2-of-7). Identical to to begin the opener, Indiana performed sloppy, turning the ball over on 23 % of its possessions within the first 20 minutes of the competition. Japanese Illinois bumped that one-point lead out to 5 (43-38) on the 18:48 mark within the second half.
However from there? It was all Indiana.
The Hoosiers closed out the sport on a formidable 52-12 run. How did they flip the deficit right into a blowout? By stepping it up on protection. With Indiana growing its physicality and depth, Japanese Illinois’ offense crumbled. The Panthers shot simply 16.7 % (5-of-30) within the second half. Oumar Ballo blocked three pictures. The Panthers turned it over 9 instances. After Indiana received a cease, it usually pushed in transition, scoring a number of simple baskets because of its superior expertise, measurement and athleticism. The Hoosiers had 20 quick break factors within the second half, with 13 factors off turnovers. Trey Galloway was within the combine pushing in transition, as he had a game-high eight assists after racking up 9 towards SIUE. Indiana additionally did extra harm from deep (4-of-11, 36.4 %) after the break, however its quantity from 3-point vary remains to be trending low by two video games.
Ten of the 11 gamers who noticed sport motion within the second half scored. Bryson Tucker picked up the place he left off towards Marian, scoring in varied methods and looking out like he belongs. He posted 12 factors (5-of-6 from the sphere, 2-of-2 on the line) in 14 minutes of motion within the second half.
Kanaan Carlyle, who has proven some grit defensively however remains to be on the lookout for his footing on offense, hit each his 3-point makes an attempt within the second half. Luke Goode made 2-of-5 for the sport, as he’s beginning to pattern in the best route from deep.
Indiana’s beginning frontcourt did many of the offensive harm. As he did towards SIUE, Mackenzie Mgbako led the way in which with 18 factors. Mgbako received going instantly and completed an environment friendly 7-of-10 from the ground, 2-of-4 from deep and 2-of-2 from the road. Ballo (17 factors, 8-of-10) and Malik Reneau (17 factors, 8-of-12) weren’t far behind.
To place this 35-point win in context: It’s Indiana’s first 20-plus level win in 57 video games since a 24-point win towards Elon on Dec. 20, 2022. The Hoosiers didn’t have a win by greater than 20 final season. It’s additionally Indiana’s first 30-plus level win in 63 video games because it beat Jackson State on Nov. 25, 2022 by 39 factors.
The pc rankings that finally decide the NCAA match subject ought to look upon this win favorably. For example, KenPom projected a 25-point win for the Hoosiers this afternoon.
As soon as Indiana awoke, it carried out because it ought to have after which some. The hope is the Hoosiers don’t want such a halftime jolt subsequent time.
Filed to: Eastern Illinois Panthers
