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Indiana suffered an embarrassing 74-63 loss to Rutgers on Wednesday night, which will significantly narrow their path to play in the 2021 NCAA tournament.
Here are five takeaways from losing to the Scarlet Knights:
• Indiana’s fast start is quickly disappearing: With 9:42 to go in the first half, Indiana had increased their lead to 23-8 and the Hoosiers were shooting all cylinders. Al Durham knocked down the first four 3-pointers and the Indiana defense had a series of saves.
But then the momentum of the game suddenly changed and Rutgers took control of the game. The Scarlet Knights ended the half on a 27-8 run and held a four point advantage at the half. Indiana looked bad on both ends of the floor and Rutgers was in an unstoppable pace. This also continued in the second half.
“From the start we weren’t ready at halftime,” said Indiana head coach Archie Miller.
In the second half, the Hoosiers shot just 30% from the field while Rutgers converted 48%. The Rutgers ‘lead increased by 20 points and the Hoosiers’ chances were made. Earlier in the season, Indiana was able to fight deficits, but that was not the case on Wednesday.
“Whether it’s a lack of confidence offensively or things are starting to get difficult for us, our answer is not to run harder, to talk more to focus more, to talk about the things we can control,” he said. Miller said.
• Turnovers and free throws hurt Indiana yet again: As has been the case all season, taking care of the ball and passing the free throw was a major problem.
Entering the game, Miller said Indiana needed to limit its number of turnovers to 10. Instead, the Hoosiers gave up Rock 13 times, including nine in the first half. This led to 13 Rutgers points. Most of the giveaways were the result of sloppy passes. Rob Phinisee and Khristian Lander achieved three turnovers each. Durham and Trey Galloway each had two.
“I thought their pressure really rocked us tonight,” Miller said. “We struggled to function properly on offense and a lot of that was, I thought, in their ability to take the ball and really work.
On the free throw line, Indiana went just 11 of 18. Trayce Jackson-Davis went 7 of 11 and Galloway 2 of 4. The only two other Hoosiers to reach the line were Jerome Hunter and Durham.
• Another defensive breakdown: One game after allowing Michigan State to score 52 points in the second half, Indiana’s defense collapsed again. The Hoosiers were slow on the defensive rotations, leaving the Rutgers shooters wide open on the perimeter. Pick and rolls led to easy dunks. Indiana was outclassed in paint 36-24.
Indiana couldn’t contain Ron Harper Jr. and Geo Baker, who both had 20 points. Harper Jr. entered the game after scoring just two 3-pointers in his last eight games. On Wednesday he hit four 3-pointers. Baker knocked down six of his own from beyond the arc and distributed 10 assists.
“What’s disappointing right now is when things aren’t going well for us, what we got hooked on and were able to do is really give up, compete and find a way to play the game. anyone, ”Miller mentioned. “And in our final two half seconds, especially when things didn’t go well, our defense and our tightness, our ability to communicate, our response didn’t give us a chance.
There was also virtually no resistance in the paint. The Hoosiers didn’t record a single block while Rutgers racked up 10.
• Indiana offensive struggles outside Trayce Jackson-Davis and Al Durham: Jackson-Davis and Durham combined for 41 of Indiana’s 63 points. Jackson-Davis was 7 of 16 from the field while grabbing 11 rebounds. Durham finished the game 5 of 7 deep and added four assists.
Jordan Geronimo was Indiana’s third-leading scorer with nine points, but most of his production came in the dying minutes when the game was spiraling out of control. Race Thompson had just two points and Rob Phinisee was scoreless.
Overall, Indiana only shot 36 percent from the field. They had 15 assists in total compared to Rutgers’ 22. The only statistical light spot for the Hoosiers was shooting at 44% depth.
“It’s a humiliating game, it’s a humiliating second half,” Miller said. “I think this is the first time in the whole season that our team has really looked fractured where we didn’t know how to compete, what to do and it comes back to me. I have to understand and get this team off the mat because we have a big ending.
• Armaan Franklin does not play the second half due to injury: After playing 16 minutes in the first half, Armaan Franklin was sidelined for the entire second half. Miller said after the game Franklin re-aggravated his ankle or injured his achilles / foot.
In early January, Franklin fell after turning his ankle and was forced to miss several games. Since then, he no longer plays at full speed.
Franklin has been one of the Big Ten’s most improved players this season, entering Wednesday averaging 12.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. If Franklin is unable to play the rest of the season, it will be a huge loss for an Indiana team with their backs to the wall.
“Just generally right now, I think we’re looking for an emotional guy,” Miller said. “A guy we can turn to can rally us. We’re a calm bunch in general and I don’t think we have an alpha personality, but I really think right now we need guys to step up.
Filed at: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
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