Indiana lost an embarrassment to Rutgers 74-63 on Wednesday night, which will significantly narrow its path to reaching the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
Here are five take-away from the loss to the Scarlet Knights:
• Indiana’s fast start disappears fast: With 9:42 left in the first half, Indiana increased its lead to 23-8 and the Hoosiers shot on all cylinders. Al Durham struck out four early 3-pointers and Indiana’s defense hampered several times.
But then the momentum of the game suddenly shifted and Rutgers took control of the game. The Scarlet Knights finished the half on a 27-8 run and led at halftime by four points. Indiana looked out on both sides of the floor and Rutgers was in an unstoppable rhythm. It also continued into the second half.
“From the start, we were not quietly ready,” said Indiana head coach Archie Miller.
In the second half, the Hoosiers shot just 30 percent from the field, while Rutgers conceded at 48 percent. Rutgers ‘lead swelled to 20 points and the Hoosiers’ chances were taken. Earlier in the season, Indiana was able to fight back with backlogs, but that was not the case on Wednesday.
“Whether it’s offensively a lack of confidence or that things are starting to get difficult for us, our response is not to run harder, talk more to concentrate more, and talk about the things we can control,” said Miller.
• Turnover and free throws hurt Indiana again: As was the case all season, taking care of the ball and converting the free throw was a big problem.
When he entered the game, Miller said Indiana should limit its turnover to 10. Instead, the Hoosiers gave up the rock 13 times, nine of which were in the first half. That led to 13 Rutgers points. Most gifts were the result of sloppy passes. Rob Phinisee and Khristian Lander had three turnovers per piece. Durham and Trey Galloway each had two.
“I thought their pressure really hurt us tonight,” Miller said. “We struggled to function cleanly on offense, and a lot has to do with my ability to pick up the ball and really work, I think.”
On the free throw line, Indiana won just 11-for-18. Trayce Jackson-Davis made it 7-out-11 and Galloway made it 2-out-4. The only other two Hoosiers to come to the line were Jerome Hunter and Durham.
• Another defensive collapse: Indiana’s defense played once after scoring 52 points for Michigan State in the second half. The Hoosiers were slow on defensive rotations, leaving Rutgers’ shooters wide open on the perimeter. Pick and rolls led to easy dips. Indiana was outplayed 36-24 in the paint.
Indiana could not Ron Harper Jr. and Geo Baker, who both passed for 20 points. Harper Jr. entered the game after scoring just two tries in his last eight games. On Wednesday, he hit four three-pointers. Baker knocked down six of his own from outside the arc and dished out 10 assistants.
“The thing that’s disappointing at the moment is when we’re not doing well, the thing we hung our hat on and were able to do is really scratch, compete and find a way to do it. to make everyone’s game, “Miller said. “And in the last two halves, especially if it didn’t go well, our defense and our tightness, our ability to communicate, our reaction didn’t give us a chance.”
There was also actually no resistance in the paint. The Hoosiers did not record a single block, while Rutgers scored 10.
• Indiana’s Attack Strikes Outside Trayce Jackson-Davis and Al Durham: Jackson-Davis and Durham combined scored 41 of Indiana’s 63 points. Jackson-Davis was 7-of-16 off the field while grabbing 11 shots. Durham completed the game 5-out-7 from deep and added four assistants.
Jordan Geronimo was Indiana’s third highest scorer with nine points, but most of his production took place in the final few minutes when the game got out of hand. Race Thompson had just two points and Rob Phinisee was pointless.
Overall, Indiana shot just 36 percent of the field. They scored 15 total assists compared to Rutgers’ 22. The lone statistical bright spot for the Hoosiers shot 44 percent from deep.
“It’s a humble game, it’s a humble second half,” Miller said. ‘I think it’s the first time all season that our team looks really broken, where we do not know how to compete, what to do, and that’s going back to me. I have to figure it out and get this team off the mat because we have a great finish. ”
• Armaan Franklin does not play 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 that Franklin aggravated his ankle or injured his Achilles / foot.
In early January, Franklin went down after twisting his ankle and was forced to put out several games. Since then, he has not played at full strength.
Franklin was one of the Big Ten’s most improved players this season, averaging 12.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game on Wednesday. If Franklin is unable to play the rest of the season, it will be a huge loss for an Indiana team sitting against the wall.
“Right now I think we’re looking for an emotional man,” Miller said. ” A man we can look at can pull us together. We’re a quiet group in general and I do not think we have an alpha personality, but I definitely think now that we need some guys to act. ‘
Filed to: Rutgers Scarlet Knights