[Postgame 3-2-1] What We Learned From Indiana's over Eastern Illinois

We break down three key stats, two observations, and one lingering question from Indiana's 80-61 season opener against Eastern Illinois.

As with Wednesday’s opener against SIUE, there were a few clenched-fist moments during yesterday’s Indiana basketball game.

In fact, after one half of play, the Hoosiers actually trailed Eastern Illinois 37-36. As you might expect, it was bleak inside of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall as the Hoosiers headed to the locker room. An already dormant crowd was lifeless, and there was a severe lack of energy from the home team on the court.

“I thought we were still home in the bed sleep. It was awful,” Indiana head coach Mike Woodson said postgame. “You got to give Eastern Illinois credit because they played hard and made shots.”

But in the second half, Indiana turned it around in a big way.

Mackenzie Mgbako once again led the Hoosiers in scoring with 18 points on an efficient 8-of-10 shooting en route to the victory.

Here are three stats, two observations, and one lingering question from Indiana's 90-55 victory against Eastern Illinois.

Did you miss yesterday's edition of the postgame show?

3 Meaningful Stats

1. Indiana Outscored EIU 54-18 in the Second Half

The second half gave us some of the best basketball Indiana has played since Mike Woodson took over in 2021.

Everything worked for the Hoosiers as they pummeled Eastern Illinois for the entire 20 minutes.

The cream and crimson scored 1.543 points per possession. Meanwhile, the defense stymied the Panthers to the tune of just .500 points per possession in the half.

“I thought our defensive intensity was just lacking the first half. We adjusted the second half and guys came out and got after it,” Woodson said. “Couldn't ask for a better second half.”

The most important stat leading to the lopsided score was the turnover margin in the half. After 8 first-half turnovers, the Hoosiers cut it in half while forcing nine Panther turnovers.

Contrary to Wednesday night, Indiana didn’t have a single lapse of effort in the second half. As soon as they smelled blood in the water, the Hoosiers jumped all over EIU and did not let go.

2. Ballo Breaks Away

There were questions after Wednesday night's game about Oumar Ballo's intensity, or lack thereof. Those same questions were often being pondered at times in the first half when Ballo didn't hustle back on defense after a turnover.

After that, a switch flipped for Ballo.

The Arizona transfer was brilliant from that point forward, finishing the game with 17 points, 9 boards, 3 assists, and 3 blocks.

© Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Ballo's offensive play picked up significantly as his intensity picked up defensively. As an all-American leader, Indiana will thrive when Ballo does.

Indiana will need this version of Ballo to continue showing up towards the end of the month when the competition stiffens.

3. Hoosiers Finish With 31 Fast-Break Points

All summer long, Mike Woodson preached playing fast and pushing the pace. At times, the Hoosiers were playing too fast for their own good. The early minutes of the first half were plagued with careless turnovers.

However, in the latter stages of the half, things started to click in transition, which led to Indiana’s offensive explosion.

Everything was working for Indiana. It helped that Eastern Illinois’ long shots required long rebounds and allowed Indiana to jumpstart the fast break.

In the second half alone, the Hoosiers amassed 20 fast-break points, highlighted by a beautiful touch pass in transition from Trey Galloway that led to a Bryson Tucker slam.

Playing fast will at times have its downsides, but if Indiana can continue its success in transition, then there’s reason to believe the Hoosiers will be a more consistent offensive threat than what we saw in the first half.

2 Important Observations

1. Luke Goode and Myles Rice Emerge as Leaders

Indiana has struggled to find an identity as a team through two games, but Sunday shed light on the leadership qualities of Luke Goode and Myles Rice.

After Ballo gave up on a play in the first half, Goode was the first player off the bench when Woodson called a timeout to get on Ballo for his lack of effort. Ballo listened to Goode’s advice as he went on to have a great game.

© Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

On the other hand, Myles Rice was the vocal leader in the huddle right before the second half started. Rice gathered the team at the Big Ten logo just below the free throw line and delivered a spirited speech. The call was heeded, earning Rice some praise postgame.

“Like Goode, obviously won where he's been at,” Tucker said. “He knows where we're trying to get to. He's been one of the main talkers.”

Indiana will need its vocal leaders to help keep the team accountable during games, and it is becoming evident that Goode and Rice will assume the role.

2. Indiana Crowd Suffering From Football Hangover

Noon tips on a Sunday don’t particularly draw crowds en masse, but add in the Indiana football program improving to 10-0 the day before, combined to make an awful crowd at Assembly Hall crowd on Sunday.

As the clock ticked closer to the start of the game, the student section remained sparse, nearly two-thirds empty.

It was a late-arriving general public crowd but nowhere near the standard of Indiana basketball.

In reflection of Indiana’s trip to Ann Arbor in December last year, the Crisler Center was bare, partly due to the Michigan football program playing in the College Football Playoff later that week.

Basketball obviously will take a backseat to football as long as Curt Cignetti’s team keeps winning, but the effect it has on the basketball program is noticeable.

1 Lingering Question

Will Indiana Be Able To Address Shortcomings in Week Off?

With six days in between games, Mike Woodson and his staff will have their work cut out for them as there are a plethora of wrinkles that need to be ironed out before the Hoosiers host South Carolina on Saturday.

From lapses of focus to careless turnovers, it is obvious that Indiana has things to work out.

Game planning for the Gamecocks is inevitable, but how much of the week will be spent watching film and fixing mistakes from the first two games of the season?

While you don’t want to harp on the flaws this early in the season, whole weeks without games are rare during the regular season. They are the optimal time to address flaws.

It will be interesting to see Indiana match up with a lightly regarded South Carolina team (they lost to North Florida in their season opener) on Saturday in the Hoosiers’ first power conference game of the young season.