3 Takeaways From IU Women's Basketball 84-79 Loss To Elite USC In Their Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal Game

Hoosier 19-12 Overall And Now Head To 6th Straight NCAA Tournament

Gainbridge Fieldhouse In Indianapolis Where The Indiana Women Took On USC In The Big Ten Tourney On Friday

USC Is Simply More Talented Than Hoosiers And Showed Them What Being Elite Is

Indianapolis-While many things could be looked at to describe the reason for the Hoosiers 84-79 loss, there is one glaring factor above all else. It is that USC is maybe the best team in the country and their star JuJu Watkins is almost undisputedly the top player in the nation. It is very possible adding them to the Big Ten (as well as UCLA) will finally end the conference’s national championship drought which goes back to Purdue in 1999 (when not counting Maryland’s title while they were still in the ACC).

Sometimes the answer for a loss is as simple as one side is vastly more talented than the other and that was mostly the case for Friday’s battle between the Hoosiers and Trojans. Indiana can very much speak to that being amongst the very top of college basketball the last few years with star center Mackenzie Holmes. While IU was never the very best in America, they were close, and the vast majority of the time they were victorious going 121-33 (78% winning percentage) simply by having Holmes on the court as easily the most talented option out there.

This is now the case with Watkins, and while Indiana is still a solid squad, they are not amongst the elite anymore. This is why the Hoosiers, as roughly a top-35 team, are headed to a sixth straight NCAA Tournament after just five in their program history prior to this run.

That said, this is a reminder of what they need to do to get back near the top of college basketball. While no one can remotely complain about this level of play, and being a yearly postseason squad is more than acceptable based on precedent, there are holes on this roster.

More than anything Indiana has not adequately replaced Holmes with a starting-level post player. This is especially problematic in a Teri Moren system that focuses on using top post-play to get shooters open. Backup Lily Meister was projected to take a leap forward as the focus inside. However, she has instead taken a step backward and injured herself on a scary non-contact play in the third quarter before returning to the lineup with seemingly no issues.

As a result, Indiana has turned to transfer portal addition Karoline Striplin as the primary option near the hoop. Striplin however, is better suited as a backup as she was previously with Tennessee. Her presence has kept the team as a March Madness- bound squad and provides a somewhat suitable choice.

However, given the way Moren’s system hums best as described above, a starting-level-post-player in the transfer portal is a must. Meister or freshman Faith Wiseman can provide minutes as an adequate backup in 2025-2026. To be at their absolute best though, the primary center option needs to be brought in from the outside. That and maybe one more high-level option in the portal is what is needed to get the squad back near the top to go with juniors Yarden Garzon and Shay Ciezki.

At Gainbridge Fieldhouse though on Friday, the final result was as simple as Watkins and her running mate Kiki Ifriafen showing why they are easily the best duo in America without much the opposition can do with 31 and 21 points respectively.

The Hoosiers led by Moren’s top-notch coaching, gave the Trojans all they could handle in two matchups. However, both times their opponent’s roster was somewhat better. As with the South Carolina result to end last season, Moren will always come up with the best game plan to give her team a chance. However, the talent is just a bit behind the very best which is the final say oftentimes.

Watkins indeed said the opponent gave them all they could handle and knew it would be a tough matchup.

“I think knowing what's on the line, all the games are going to be like that,” Watkins said. “We don't expect to just go in there and blow the other team out because there's so much on the line and this conference is so good.”

Hoosiers Cannot Get The Three-Ball To Go Down

IU very much relies on the long ball to make their offense hum. At just 8-19 from long range it was impressive Indiana remained close throughout given their best weapon was not working.

What the Hoosiers did to stay in the game was run pick and roll and ball screens to the basket to often score or draw fouls. IU was brilliant at the line going 25-27 on the afternoon to stay in it. Also, four of five starters reached double figures led by Yarden Garzon’s 23.

In the end though. it wasn’t enough despite a very well played game from the Cream and Crimson who never give up. Just like in Bloomington, the thousands of Hoosier fans in attendance gave a huge ovation for the terrific effort and will see this gritty squad again in March Madness in about ten days.

Moren said she was indeed pleased with her squad’s fight.

“I'm extremely proud of our team today,” Moren said. “I thought that they battled for 40 minutes. We asked them to do a lot defensively, change up some coverages and whatnot throughout. I thought that their focus was really good.”

IU Is Basically A Lock For The NCAA Tournament Now And The Only Question Is If 20 Win Season Streak Stays Alive in March Madness

Indiana has all but clinched a spot in March Madness for a sixth straight season at 19-12 overall. A win over an NCAA Tournament-bound squad in Oregon on Thursday to go with neutral court triumphs over postseason-bound Columbia and Baylor in the pre-conference is sufficient. This along with road victories at tourney participants Iowa and Washington in league play and huge home wins over Nebraska and Ohio State has done more than enough to once again be in March Madness. Also, they have avoided any bad losses since the very early season defeat at Butler.

The Hoosiers will find out their draw here a week from Sunday. However, unlike previous seasons, they will be on the road this time as a likely 9 or 10 seed after hosting the past three seasons.

The most important thing for their first game there is keeping Indiana’s long streak of 20-win seasons alive. Since 2015-2016 IU has hit this mark each year. The Hoosiers will now have one last chance in their first March Madness contest against an equal to pick up that additional victory and keep this impressive run alive.

Should they prevail there, a matchup with a one or two seed on the road will be a very tall task similar to the opposition this afternoon. However, given the personnel and imperfect roster, Moren maximized a flawed squad into yet another NCAA Tournament appearance and for that, every fan should be confident in this program’s leadership.

Garzon said the Hoosiers are indeed ready for their next challenge here.

“I feel like we want everybody to know we are tough,” Garzon said. “Every game, no matter who we're going to play, we want to win the game. No matter what's your name, what you have on your chest, we're going to want to win this game.”

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