IU Hoosiers Eke out the Win in Double OT --Barely Hanging On

I felt like we needed to beat the Wildcats of Northwestern by 20. In Evanston. Early evening game; payback from a home loss in December. I say "we" for the IU Hoosiers. This after another win against ranked Iowa on Sunday.

 

But no. IU started off terribly, could not hit shots, could not hit free throws, was turning it over too much, and despite some good defense and serendipitous misses by Northwestern, trailed by three at the half. The second half got better for scoring, from 20 points to 34 points, but we ended up tied. Luckily. Some clutch play after quite a bit of poor play.

 

I feel like the Ohio State Buckeyes will crush us Sunday. IU is teetering at 11-8 now. 5 overtime games, now 2-3, the most in the country. Some teams have not played more than 10 games. Some teams have cancelled the season. 

 

The Hurry'n Hoosiers are still alive. Barely. We won in the second extra period.

 

Positives: 

 

1. Jerome Hunter is back! He did some clutch things off the bench. Late big three. Phinesee scored two points instead of zero. And he has been my favorite player... Must get better.

2. Race Thompson is solid. Makes free throws.

3. Aljami Durham played solid, especially late, and stepped up and kept the game alive with a huge long two pointer.

4. Trayce Jackson-Davis banged his knee, sat out, but came back in.

5. Contributions, some positive, from the four freshmen. Not as many as last game, but we'll accept it as long as we won.

6. Armaan Franklin did excellently. Overall, only a few turn overs smeared the night.

 

7. Jordan Geronimo gave some good bounce on a few plays. Love it.

After this latest tricky, play out of a win in Chicago at the Northwestern arena for the first time since 2014, 0-3 since then, I am still not convinced that Archie Miller has the right offense for this team.

Too slow, not aggressive enough. Defense can work, but the offense is too plodding and depends on last minute bailouts, many of which become turnovers.

Things have to improve. This team, certain individuals like Rob Phinesee, and the coaching. Free throws? At least they are going to the line, even though not hitting enough.

IU. 2021. 

Not over yet.

But, we have to play tighter, more determined, early. Otherwise, this Durham senior-only team looks like it will be done as fast as you can say one and done.

Getting Brunk back would be huge. Jerome on the court makes us better, 1-1 without him. Could have been worse. Justin Smith is in Arkansas, beating Kentucky. (That part is not bad!)