Indiana Men Stopped in Round of 32 - End of Season Report

    The promising Indiana Hoosiers were stopped by the very athletic Miami Hurricanes last night. I watched it, having some moments of optimism that the boys could come back and do it. But it was not meant to be. I will give a few thoughts on what could have gone right for IU to win. Or, how they lost.

    Jim Larranga of Miami says he likes to run. Jackson-Davis of IU says the Hoosiers want a slower paced game. That was the difference in the end, and Indiana failed to play it out that way. IU rolled with the punches of a faster paced first half, luckily only trailing 40-35, with a last second three by sharp-shooter Miller Kopp. The second half was a great start, IU pushed ahead and took the lead. Both teams went back and forth scoring.

    But here was the key point that IU lost it: Miller Kopp stole the ball mid-court, and had an open three that he took-- and missed. Then Miami kept up its frenetic pace and never stopped. This was a hard moment for Miller, because all season long he was urged to shoot the ball when open. However, with 13:27 left in the game, Indiana needed to stay slower on the game clock, with the lead, and importantly go inside to Trayce and Race, the big men inside, and get Miami into foul trouble.

    Even if Miller had hit that three, the pace favored the Hurricanes. IU needed to grind them down more on the offensive side, with both our seniors, and reduce their possessions, get them in foul trouble. They did that with Omier in the first half, but not in the second, and he pulled in 17 rebounds for the game. Mission failed. I feel for Kopp, because he had two different priorities in that moment.

    Had he waited for Jackson-Davis to get inside position, draw some fouls on Nachas Omier, their inside killer, who hurt us defensively with his offensive rebounding, things could have gone differently.

    IU almost made to the third round, but Miami kept hitting big threes as IU could not keep pace on shots and scoring. Or rebounding.

    Isaiah Wong had shot poorly against Drake the game before. He did not do poorly against IU. He was on and dynamic. As were quite a few other Hurricane players. They were high octane and impressive.

    IU had its moments, but Tamar Bates, for example, was ineffective at shooting, Reneau did not get his normal productive minutes, and Jordan Geronimo was not even a factor. Wasted talent. 

   The Good

    IU was able to go one game better than last year (losing in the first round), and finished higher in the Big Ten and national rankings than the year prior, the best in a long time. It entered the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row, the first time since Tom Crean in 2015-16. Right? Did they make it in 2015? IU had some great wins among some very disappointing losses this 2022-23 season. A lot of senior talent was on display, some good grit, and some good younger players were huge, too. Especially freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino.

    The Bad

        IU is bidding farewell to a lot of senior talent and experience. We could not take advantage of four-year starter and all-American Trayce Jackson-Davis, nor the other seniors Race Thompson and Miller Kopp. Could some other players leave? Maybe. Perhaps we could get some big-man transfers for next season. We have small guys, including speedy Xavier Johnson who broke his foot in December, some three distant months ago.

    

    I had some bothered moments this season with the IU (young) men, but overall I really liked this squad. We will stick with Indiana into the future, Mike Woodson as a returning coach for his third year, with better recruiting, hopefully, and we will be in it to win it. Another championship can be done.

    We just need bigger, better, and faster, and smarter players.

    That's all!

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    Well, that is not all. My family stayed up with me rooting for the Hoosiers, and they showed enthusiasm and hope for the Indiana boys. They even asked some of their names and questioned their styles. I appreciate the solidarity and support for a team and school that they do not have a degree from, nor the town where they have not grown up.

    I love them!