Final Score:
Michigan: 68
Indiana: 56
Time and time again this team finds ways to lose games on the road. After being down by 20, the Hoosiers crawl back to within two points and just three minutes left in the game. Then the following happens. Elston loses Hardaway on a Burke drive, Hardaway drains a three. Elston gets fouled and misses the front end of a one-and-one. Burke drives again, Elston turns and watches, Douglass floats to the open spot, Burke finds him…swish. Game over. Just like that, IU’s hopes for coming up with that big time road win fades away again.
I singled out Elston because he failed to play disciplined defense at the end of the game but really, the Hoosiers might not have been in that position if it wasn’t for him. He brought a much needed spark off the bench and you could see his confidence spilling over from the Iowa game. If he can stop his brain from wanting to go 400mph every time he catches the ball, he can be such a threat offensively. He is much improved defensively, but the team won’t win games, as you saw tonight, if you don’t lock up down the stretch.
Remy Abell needs to play more. His knowledge of the game isn’t the highest yet but that will come with teaching and experience. He has the physical tools and talent mixed with a heavy dose of confidence it takes to be a good Big Ten player. The combination of Oladipo and Abell could work, but I don’t see the point in putting two kids that bring you the same sort of skill set to play at the same time. With Oladipo’s current offensive woes, why not go with Abell?
There wasn’t a more disappointing performance tonight than the one Will Sheehey produced. His stat line read: 10 minutes, 0 points, 3 turnovers, and 2 fouls. This, obviously, wasn’t Will’s night. Sheehey provides so much energy that Indiana can’t afford to have him play like he did tonight. I hope he forgets about this game and brings it on Saturday night.
The most aggravating thing about this loss was the start IU had. They didn’t come out ready to play and it cost them in this game. You would think coming off a 100-point game against Iowa that this Hoosier squad would come out over-confident. Something about playing a road game scares this team and you can see that in their play. Until they truly believe they can win on the road, they will continue to come up short.
Team Grade: C
Looking Forward- Purdue week has officially started. Saturday is the first match-up of the season for the two biggest in-state rivals. Michigan may be more talented than Purdue but the Boilermakers will be playing in front of a packed and loud Mackey Arena. Should be a great game.
(Photo credit: AP Photo/Tony Ding)
February 2nd, 2012 on 5:59 am
Shawn or somebody…please tell me you saw the flagrant foul away from the ball as Hardaway Jr. shot the 3 pointer at the end of the game? It looked like Matt Roth was thinking Novak would get the ball, so he went towards him, and then Novak pushed him backwards and Roth slid 10 feet in front of the ref, yet there was no call. I agree IU needs to play better on the road; however at that point, they were only down by 2, and would have got the ball back, instead of being down by 5. Be sure to watch the highlights on ESPN News. They dont mention it, but you can clearly see it…unlike both referees. Oh well…Go Hoosiers! T
February 2nd, 2012 on 9:44 am
If Indiana starts the game saturday against Purdue the way they did at Michigan it will be another disaster…look for I U to come out smokin….GO HOOSIERS..! It’s going to be another GREAT Game…!
February 2nd, 2012 on 12:10 pm
T- Watching it live, I did see Roth sliding when the shot went in. However, I didn’t see if Novak pushed him or not so I will take your word for it. Novak has always been an emotional player but I never thought he was a dirty player.
February 2nd, 2012 on 1:03 pm
Why was Elston a 4/5 forced to guard Hardaway, a 3 and/or Douglass, a 2, at the keypoint of the game? Put that on Crean not Elston.
February 2nd, 2012 on 3:15 pm
Michigan’s lineup consisted of 4 guards (if you count Hardaway) and Morgan. Who is Elston supposed to guard? He deserved to be in at that point of the game. My beef with him was simply, if Elston wants to earn a late game situation like that again, he can’t lose his man. It had nothing to do with being “overmatched.” It was all effort and mental breakdowns on his part.