Final Score:
Indiana: 88
Penn State: 82
I don’t know about you, but I came into this game more worried than I was against Michigan. Penn State is not near as good as Michigan but I felt like they were playing well enough, their confidence was spilling over from their Purdue win, and IU was playing on the road in the B1G Ten. Just like the Michigan game, this game came down to the wire and the Hoosiers were able hold off a good effort from the Nittany Lions.
Inside The Hall pointed it out in their preview of the game that Penn State gave up the second highest percentage of their points from 3 in the nation. Stats don’t lie. The Hoosiers used good ball movement and good spacing, coupled with Penn State’s inability to get out on IU’s shooters, to set up for quite the shooting display on Sunday. IU finished the game 16-24 (66.7%) for the game. Roth and Hulls combined to shoot 12-15 from downtown. But yet, the game was still close.
I don’t think this game is one to get too worried about if you are an IU fan. Would it have been nice to actually play some defense at some point and/or knock down free throws throughout the game, yes. Were there some questionable substitutions being made, certainly. Is Verdell Jones not the most frustrating player to watch, of course. But a win is a win. I have to admit, this game was actually pretty exciting to watch. The B1G Ten is known for its tough, grind-it-out, first-team-to-50-wins type of games and to have a shootout like this was awesome.
Question for my readers: Who do you think would win in a game of HORSE (all shots have to be behind the three point line), Jordan Hulls or Matt Roth?
Each game someone different for this Hoosier team steps up and that is probably the most dangerous part about this team. Today it was Hulls and Roth. Next game it may be Watford and Zeller again. And then Pritchard and Wayer after that. Just imagine if this team brought in a good recruiting class next year how deep they could be!!
Team Grade: B
Looking Forward- IU comes back home to Assembly Hall on Thursday to face Minnesota and the students will FINALLY be back in the seats. This is my game to be behind the basket. I am thinking about making my own Big Head of myself. Look for me.
January 8th, 2012 on 5:16 pm
You HAVE to make the Big Head of yourself. And if you do, you need to post that picture here.
Must point out, that on a podcast a few weeks back, I did mention that Roth could be a real asset for this team while Sheehy was out.
So long as Zeller and Watford can keep teams honest in the paint, Roth & Hulls will continue to get good looks.
January 8th, 2012 on 5:28 pm
I will try my best on the Big Head.
Agree that Roth has been a key contributor with Sheehey out. Against teams like Penn State that don’t defend the three well, he is lethal.
January 10th, 2012 on 8:49 am
Sure he had 3 TO’s, but he also had 6 assists in 18 minutes and was ~50% from the field. Not sure that makes VJIII “the most frustrating player to watch.” W/O VJII, we have a couple more losses this year.
January 10th, 2012 on 9:40 am
Eric:
Really frustrating to watch was so KIND!!! Get’s beat over and over on defense, makes horrible passes even when not a TO, doesn’t feed the post well, and can’t hit freethrows at the end of games consistently. Dribbles with his head down so as to never be able to see the open man. I could go on and on and should but let’s go the other way and say what he is adequate at. He is a very good pull up jump shooter.
January 10th, 2012 on 9:44 am
Regarding the game of horse: Hulls vs Roth? I’d pick Roth. Fisch seemed to lean twd Roth on this question while chatting with Dakich after the PSU game. But the question went a little further: They compared Roth to some of the best pure shooters IU has seen … from behind the arc. They had a hard time thinking of anyone better than Roth. Alford has to be in that conversation, though. What an exciting, multidimensional team we have, though, huh? I love to love these Hoosiers!
January 10th, 2012 on 10:25 am
In Sarasota the group that watch the Hoosiers together…definitely agree that Jones is so frustrating, at times out of control, doesnt hit free thros… he does shoot well, but he is not th “go to guy” on the team..maybe third or fourth option…
January 10th, 2012 on 10:47 am
Gotta think Roth would win at HORSE based on shot difficulty – 30 footers. Hulls would win on consistency from just behind the line.
January 10th, 2012 on 12:35 pm
@eric- I say Verdell is the “most frustrating player to watch” because, even though he seems to have understood his role on this team really well this year, he still has those dumb turnovers or charges that drive, us fans, up a wall. Like against Penn State when Hulls had knocked down 4 threes in a row and then Verdell had it on the break twice without dishing it to the hot hand (Hulls). One time he forced a pull-up jumper and the next he charged. I agree Verdell gets too much of the blame most of the time from IU fans but watching him try to do too much when he doesn’t have to anymore is frustrating to me.
As far as the HORSE game would go, I would have to go with Hulls. I think Roth has more range but Hulls already displayed he can hit a left-handed three in a GAME. I am sure he has got some creative trick shots he could pull off.