Indiana suffered an embarrassing 74-63 defeat to Rutgers on Wednesday night that will narrow the way significantly to make it to the 2021 NCAA tournament.
Here are five takeaways from the loss to the Scarlet Knights:
Indiana’s quick start quickly fades: With 9:42 to go in the first half, Indiana had increased its lead to 23-8 and the Hoosiers fired full blast. Al Durham knocked out four early three-pointers and Indiana’s defense brought together several stops.
But then the momentum of the game suddenly changed and Rutgers took over the game. The Scarlet Knights ended the half with a run of 27-8 and had a four point lead at half time. Indiana looked wrong on both sides of the floor and Rutgers was in an unstoppable rhythm. It also continued in the second half.
“We weren’t ready for rest from the start,” said Indiana head coach Archie Miller.
In the second half, the Hoosiers shot only 30 percent of the field while Rutgers converted at 48 percent. Rutgers ‘lead grew to 20 points and the Hoosiers’ chances were over. Earlier in the season, Indiana was able to fight back, but that was not the case on Wednesday.
“Whether it’s an offensive lack of confidence or things are starting to get difficult for us, our response is not to run faster, to talk more to focus more, to talk about the things we can control”, Miller said.
Turnovers and free throws hurt Indiana again: As was the case all season, taking care of the ball and converting the free throw were big problems.
Upon entering the game, Miller said Indiana should limit turnovers to 10. Instead, the Hoosiers gave up the rock 13 times, nine of them in the first half. It led to 13 Rutgers points. Most giveaways were the result of sloppy passes. Rob Phinisee and Khristian Lander each had three sales. Durham and Trey Galloway had two each.
“I thought their pressure really upset us tonight,” Miller said. “We had a hard time functioning properly on an attack and a lot to do with, I thought, their ability to pick up the ball and really work.”
On the free-throw line, Indiana went only 11-for-18. Trayce Jackson-Davis made 7-of-11 and Galloway made 2-of-4. The only other two Hoosiers to get to the line were Jerome Hunter and Durham.
Another defensive collapseOne game after Michigan State scored 52 runs in the second half, the Indiana defense collapsed again. The Hoosiers were slow in defensive rotations, leaving Rutgers’ gunmen wide open at the edge. Picking and rolling led to easy dunks. Indiana was outdone in paint 36-24.
Indiana was unable to use Ron Harper Jr. and Geo Baker, who both went for 20 points. Harper Jr. entered the game with only two three-pointers in his last eight games. On Wednesday he hit four three-pointers. Baker himself knocked out six from outside the arc and gave 10 assists.
“What’s disappointing at the moment is that when we’re not doing well, we’ve put up our hats and been able to do is really cut, compete and find a way to make it somebody’s game,” Miller said. “And in our last two seconds, especially when things haven’t gone well, our defense and our oppression, our ability to communicate, our response hasn’t given us a chance.”
There was also essentially no resistance in the paint. The Hoosiers did not record a single block, while Rutgers scored 10.
Indiana’s offense struggles outside of Trayce Jackson-Davis and Al Durham: Jackson-Davis and Durham combined for 41 of Indiana’s 63 points. Jackson-Davis was 7 of 16 off the field while grabbing 11 rebounds. Durham finished the game 5-of-7 from deep and added four assists.
Jordan Geronimo was Indiana’s third highest scorer with nine points, but most of his production came in the closing minutes when the game got out of hand. Thompson’s race had only two points and Rob Phinisee was held scoreless.
In all, Indiana shot only 36 percent of the field. They counted 15 assists in total compared to Rutgers ’22. The only statistical ray of hope for the Hoosiers was that 44 percent was shot from the depth.
“It’s a humble game, it’s a humble second half,” said Miller. “I think it’s the first time our team looked really broken all season where we didn’t know how to compete, what to do and that goes back to me. I have to figure this out and get this team off the mat again because we have a big finish. “
Armaan Franklin does not play the second half due to an injury: After 16 minutes of play in the first half, Armaan Franklin was offside for the entire second half. Miller said after the game that Franklin worsened his ankle again or hurt his achilles / foot.
In early January, Franklin fell after turning his ankle and had to sit out multiple games. He has not played at full power since then.
Franklin was one of the Big Ten’s most improved players this season, coming in on Wednesday averaging 12.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. If Franklin can’t play for the rest of the season, it will be a huge loss to an Indiana team with its backs to the wall.
“Just in general at this point I think we’re looking for an emotional man,” Miller said. “A man we can look to and help us. We’re generally a quiet bunch and I don’t think we have an alpha personality, but I definitely think we need a few guys to perform at this point. “
Filed with: Rutgers Scarlet Knights