[Postgame 3-2-1] What We Learned From Indiana's win against Winthrop
In its final non-conference game of the regular season, Indiana hosted Winthrop on Sunday afternoon in Bloomington.
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA. — In its final non-conference game of the regular season, Indiana hosted Winthrop on Sunday afternoon in Bloomington.
It was a hotly contested first half as the Hoosiers led the Eagles 41-37 heading into the break.
The Eagles refused to go gently into the night in the second half, cutting the IU lead down to one with three minutes left. However, Indiana went on a run to put the game on ice, ultimately leading to a 77-68 victory for Indiana.
“When they cut the lead to one, we didn't fold,” Indiana head coach Mike Woodson said postgame. “We made the plays that we had to make. We went on a 7-0 run, and those are the things that I look at.”"
Nine different Hoosiers scored as three amassed double-digit points.
Here are three stats, two additional observations, and one lingering question from Indiana's 77-68 victory against Winthrop.
Did you miss yesterday's edition of the postgame show?
3 Meaningful Stats
1. Indiana shot 1-for-20 from three
It was yet another uninspiring effort from behind the arc on Sunday afternoon as the Hoosiers shot a historically dreadful 1-of-20 from deep.
Luke Goode connected on the Hoosiers' first attempt of the game just three minutes in. However, that was the only three Indiana made the rest of the way, missing its next 19 attempts.
Luckily, the Hoosiers corralled some of their own misses, collecting 14 offensive rebounds and 16 second-chance points.
Indiana entered the game 326th in the country in three-point rate and 195th in percentage at 32.9%.
“Shooting, it's a funny thing, man. They were all good looks. So I can't sit here and complain that they were bad shots,” Woodson said. “They have just got to keep working, and eventually they will fall.”
As conference play looms, Indiana must continue to find shooters such as Goode and Mgbako open from deep in the game's opening minutes to instill confidence from behind the arc.
2. Myles Rice continues to lead the way offensively, scores 18.
When Indiana needed someone, Myles Rice was there to provide the offensive firepower for the team.
Rice scored 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Sunday marked the seventh time that Rice reached double-figures this season.
“I saw them pressuring me pretty much 75 percent of the length of the court. They were trying to pressure me at half-court, and to me, I found that like a little bit disrespectful just because of my speed and my quickness,” Rice said. “I just saw my opportunities to attack whether they was trying to like stop me from going one way and I would just got other way. But any time anybody tries to pressure me full court, I feel like I have the advantage just because of my speed and my quickness.”
Rice used his athleticism to remain focused defensively, hounding Winthrop guards up and down the floor. He finished the game with three steals in 32 minutes.
Indiana will likely continue to rely on the redshirt sophomore to be the quarterback of the offense during conference play.
3. Indiana had 19 points off turnovers
Amid offense struggles, the Hoosier defense has played well, forcing turnovers and challenging shots.
Entering Sunday’s game, Winthrop averaged 86.2 points per game, shooting 45.7 percent from the field.
Indiana held the Eagles to 68 points on 37.5% from the field, primarily because of Indiana’s physical, scrappy defensive effort.
The Hoosiers tallied seven blocked shots and six steals. Additionally, Indiana forced 11 turnovers, scoring 19 points off the giveaways.
“So we have to be playing better defense. We have to contain the ball more from the perimeter guy,” Rice said. “It's not just one collective thing or one person doing one thing. We all have to do our jobs better, and that's on the defensive side.”
Indiana’s stout defense could be the difference between big wins and heartbreaking losses in the coming weeks.
2 Important Observations
1. Langdon Hatton stepped up in a big way
As pregame warmups continued, it became evident that Oumar Ballo, who was listed as questionable before the game, would not be available to play in Indiana's final game of the calendar year.
Luke Goode started in place of Ballo, but Langdon Hatton came off the bench and provided a much-needed spark as the second forward.
Hatton saw more playing time after Malik Reneau went to the bench with a pair of fouls in the first few minutes of the game.
The Bellarmine transfer scored 7 points in 26 minutes, but his team-high 10-rebound effort on the glass was what earned Hatton his stripes. With less than three minutes left, Hatton hauled in a massive rebound, got fouled, and made both free throws to push the lead to four.
“Thank God for Langdon,” Woodson said in praise. “I thought he played his butt off. Gave him the game ball. Here is a guy who never complains. He works in practice. He came and gave us a big lift when we needed it. That's all about team. That goes a long way with me.”
For the Georgetown, Indiana native, having a breakout game inside Assembly Hall was a dream come true.
“Being from Indiana, it's just a dream to even be on the team,” Hatton said. “So when your number gets called and you get a play, it's like a dream come true. So it's pretty awesome. Just excited to be able to help the team out.”
2. Indiana is constantly battling the injury bug.
Oumar Ballo’s absence from Sunday’s game made him the sixth scholarship player to miss a game with an injury — or so it was reported on the pregame availability sheet. (Woodson would not address Ballo’s absence after the game.)
Indiana is fortunate that the injuries hadn’t all been at once, but it makes one wonder why it is almost a yearly occurrence for Indiana to have players in track suits on the bench.
No other team seems to have the same injury issues as Indiana, which is concerning.
The Big Ten regular season is usually won by the team that can avoid long-term injuries and stay healthy through a 20-game schedule.
The extent of Ballo’s injury remains unknown, but it will be important for him to be on the floor when Indiana restarts conference play on Thursday against Rutgers.
1 Lingering Question
When will Indiana show a sense of urgency?
Indiana will enter the 2025 portion of the season without a Quad One victory.
Though they didn’t have any premier opportunities outside of the woeful trip to The Bahamas, Indiana continuously played in rock fights against Quad 3 and 4 opponents at Assembly Hall.
The Hoosiers have played an uninspiring brand of basketball through 13 games, but it is comforting to remember that they didn’t drop any of the buy games and remain unblemished against Quad 3/4 opponents.
With 18 conference games on the horizon, the Hoosiers have many opportunities to earn signature victories, but Woodson and the players don’t feel a sense of urgency as Big Ten play begins. The main focus for Indiana will be the next game.
“Every game is important,” Woodson said. “We've got Rutgers coming in. That's my only focus right now.”
1.2 Million Dollars... for ONE Slow-to-react Player... for ONE Wasted Year... for NOTHING MORE THAN CONTINUED EXCUSES, with lackluster play and weak effort across the board, not just with Ballo. I've seen 8th Grade teams with more cohesiveness and hustle. Want to make more 3's? Try going STRAIGHT UP when shooting, with consistent, no fade follow-through, every darn time, and see what happens. I don't know if coach Cig knows much about basketball, but he sure as hell knows how to prepare and fire up young men to be great... every time they play, no matter the opponent. Not getting anything near that from Woody, "man!" So sad to watch (even in "wins" against inferior programs), it all makes me sick. Mark Deckard / GO IU!!
Call me "skeptical" about Ballo's "injury". Hatton said in post-game interview that he'd been told in the morning by assistants that he might be playing for Ballo...so much for Coach Woodson's suggestion it was spur of the moment. Also, there are photos of Ballo being in a Bloomington bar the night before...I have no idea if there is a team curfew.