Two banked tri-vectas dropped. In a row! We were up 32-16, despite a last minute conventional 3 injecting a little hope in the Huskers, IU had them where we wanted them. Down 13 points. Good lead, right? 32-19. Not enough.
Similar to the Hoosier euphoria of a few Tuesdays ago, when upsetting then undefeated and #3 ranked Wisconsin, whom IU had not beaten in years, the young Hoosiers followed up by getting shut down by the Northwestern Wildcats a few days later. At home!
Now Northwestern has proven to be formidable, as is Nebraska at their home, but IU should play better. Then I was questioning too little play of recruited talents Hollowell and Davis. Now it seems to be an overall problem even with them.
But this team can play! For good and bad. But they can play very well.
They have shown it. And then taken it away. Like last night.
Evan Gordon had some egregious turnovers that cannot happen. I was upset with an offensive foul charged on Noah Vonleh when he made a layup during Nebraska's second half charge, the first 5 minutes of the ill fated second.
But IU did enough on its own without the referees poor judgment to give this back to the Huskers.
It hurts.
Upsetting the Big Ten undefeated Wolverines Sunday will make up for some of the unimpressive 13-8 (3-5) record at present, but Indiana should be at least 15-6 (5-3). No excuses, Indiana has under-performed. Wildcats and Huskers in close games will not get March Madness in shape as we had hoped.
The National Invitational Tournament is looking more like a reality now.
Too bad. A few personnel moves and a few plays would make all the current pains not so daunting.
IU still has a few chances, but last night may have proved another wedge keeping this year's team from getting in the Dance again and possibly making some noise.
Which they are capable of.
First half when Stanford Robinson was scoring, the defense was keeping Nebraska in the teens, and causing TOs rather than returning them like complete newbies, IU looked hard to beat.
And alas, they are easy to beat, as proven now a few times. A close loss in East Lansing after getting outclassed by the Spartans in Bloomington is one thing, but close losses to these bottom tier Big Ten teams will not cut it.
I still hold out hope, if we can beat Michigan and win against who we should.
But Crean? We do need more of Jeremy Hollowell and Devin Davis. Despite the rough edges.
There is still six weeks to go. Should prove interesting, if not continually heartbreaking. But perhaps exhilarating... There is much still at stake, even portending for the Bigger Dance.
Play on.
Blog it.
EMC
Ah, close loss to Iowa in January 2023. Too many mistakes. Some good shooting, but some key misses...
ReplyDeleteI watched it; IU led by 21 early, up by 10 at the half, lost the lead, gained by 6, and lost at the end by 2.
ReplyDelete