Where Do We Go From Here

I, like I’m sure most of you I’m sure, have had to decompress a little after the past three games. The Maryland game stung the most because the Hoosiers out played the Terps. While sitting in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall watching the early three point barrage that Maryland unleashed I was a little shell shocked, but at the same time I kept thinking that they surely couldn’t stay THAT hot the entire game, and if IU could just weather the storm this would be a battle the rest of the way. I’m not sure that I’ve ever been as happy when trailing by nine at halftime as I was this game. But IU only trailed by nine because they were having their best shooting game of the year and not one time did they hang their heads. They just kept battling.

The start of the second half saw Maryland cool off, and Indiana become even more aggressive on both ends of the floor. They completely took control of the game. Every Maryland run was met with resistance and followed by a mini-run by the Hoosiers. The Hall was rocking and the Terps were reeling. Everyone that saw action contributed to what was their most complete game since the Florida State game back in early December. With 1:25 remaining and Indiana holding a 76-70 lead following a Devonte Green basket, the wheels came off. Jalen Smith scored in the paint for Maryland to make it 76-72. Jerome Hunter made an ill-advised pass that Maryland followed with a made three to make it 76-75 IU with 55 seconds left on the clock. Devonte Green then missed a jumper with :28 showing on the clock and with :14 seconds left Smith scored once again for Maryland giving them a 77-76 lead. Out of the timeout Indiana went inside to their freshman big man Trayce Jackson-Davis and his shot rolled off of the rim as the buzzer sounded. It was a good look and one that TJD makes more times than not, but this one didn’t go down.

A loss is a loss, period. But having one in your grasp and handing it to them is a tough pill to swallow. Getting beat and losing are two different things. Some ill advised early in the shot clock shots when having the lead late in the game show a lack of basketball IQ and leadership, especially when it’s coming from juniors and seniors. That’s not to give freshman and sophomores get a free pass, but in Jerome Hunter’s case, he was in at crunch time in a big game, in a extremely loud Assembly Hall and he panicked a little. Your first time in that situation can be a little overwhelming. Good players learn from it, and I think Jerome will.

The Penn State game. What can you say, the Hoosiers didn’t compete. Penn State is a pretty solid team, but Indiana, for the most part, seemed disinterested from the get go. It was the first time that I really saw some dissension amongst the players. Or at least I though that is what I was witnessing. Either way, Indiana pretty much got their asses handed to them. At Ohio State was about the same. The edge that I felt Indiana had developed as the season progressed, especially since the Northwestern game with about 10 minutes remaining. From that point up until the Penn State game it seemed as though IU understood that they have to be tough, physically and mentally, to have a chance to win, When they play that way they can play with anyone in the country. The key is doing it EVERY time out.

I’m sure not everyone will agree with me and that’s okay, because this is just my opinion. But until Indiana has a roster full of Archie Miller recruits I’m not sure we will see it consistently. I’m not in the business of bashing players and I’m not going to start now. But when a player is recruited by a coach that coach is recruiting someone that fits his philosophy and his personality. Indiana has four holdovers from the previous coach and I can see how they would fit into his system perfectly where he is coaching now. Unfortunately they don’t fit the mold of what Coach Miller is looking for in a player. Again, that’s not a knock on the players themselves. They didn't come to IU to play in the system they’re playing in. And don’t give me the whole, “Miller should have let them go when he took the job” argument. The APR was horrible and losing these four would have made it even longer to recover from. Sometimes players stay with a new coach and it works out. Sometimes it doesn’t.

I’ve been watching basketball for a long long time, and I hate turnovers. But I hate not busting your ass back on defense after a turnover even more. Seeing the ball whip around the perimeter, and inside/out, resulting in a wide open look is a thing of beauty. Seeing that come to a screeching halt for a dribbling exhibition has cost me crazy amounts of money in the “cuss cup.” Good teams show what they’re made of when faced with adversity. Where the Hoosiers go from here is starts Saturday. Indiana will have had a week off following a heartbreaking loss and two very lackluster losses when they welcome Purdue to town and ready themselves for the stretch run of this season.

Indiana is a tournament team. Will they make the tournament? That remains to be seen. If the “right” Hoosier team comes out each night there’s no doubt in my mind they will not only play in March, but they can also win games in March. If the “right” team doesn’t come out, we as fans can start looking to next years team and get excited about the three (as of now) newcomers arriving in Bloomington next year. This week has been about reflecting, and refreshing for me. I’m ready for the stretch run and to see the Hoosiers playing in the post season. Let’s all hope the week off has done the same thing for the team.

Go Hoosiers! Beat Purdue!