Indiana suffered an 85-68 loss to Nebraska at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Friday, dropping their record to 8-3 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play. Here are five key takeaways from the game:
- Indiana’s Defense Remains Broken Despite significant roster changes and improved talent, Indiana’s defense continues to struggle. The Hoosiers allowed Nebraska to score 1.233 points per possession, totaling 85 points. This mirrors similar defensive breakdowns against teams like Louisville (89 points) and Gonzaga (89 points). Ranked 66th nationally in defense, Indiana is 12th in the Big Ten in this category. Until significant improvements are seen, their ceiling appears to be an NCAA tournament bubble team.
- No Answer for Brice Williams Indiana had no defensive solution for Nebraska’s Brice Williams. The 6-foot-7 wing torched the Hoosiers for 30 points on 8-for-12 shooting from 2, 2-for-3 from 3, and 8-for-11 from the free-throw line. No matter who Indiana assigned to guard him—Mackenzie Mgbako, Bryson Tucker, or Luke Goode—Williams was unstoppable. Indiana’s wing defense is a glaring weakness, despite offseason additions like Myles Rice, Kanaan Carlyle, and Oumar Ballo.
- No Consistent Leadership While Myles Rice and Trey Galloway are listed as team captains, Indiana lacks consistent leadership on the floor. Although Rice scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half, other experienced players struggled. Galloway was 1-for-8 with two turnovers in the second half, Goode was 1-for-5, Malik Reneau was 1-for-4, and Mgbako was also 1-for-4. Ballo didn’t even attempt a shot in the second half. These performances hinder Indiana’s ability to close out tight games.
- Hoosiers’ Struggled from Beyond the Arc Indiana attempted a season-high 35 three-pointers but only connected on eight. Nebraska’s defensive strategy clearly aimed to force Indiana into perimeter shooting, and the Hoosiers took the bait. Many of the attempts came early in possessions and lacked rhythm. Mgbako, Indiana’s best shooter, only took one three, while Bryson Tucker, a poor shooter, attempted five. Coach Mike Woodson acknowledged that, despite the good looks, Indiana’s inability to hit threes cost them the game.
- Nebraska Continues Dominating Indiana Nebraska has now beaten Indiana by 15 or more points in four straight games, with an average margin of victory of 18.8 points. In all four of these losses, Indiana has allowed at least 85 points and 1.197 points per possession. This continued dominance from Nebraska further illustrates Indiana’s struggles and their current distance from competing at the top of the Big Ten and nationally—goals that head coach Mike Woodson set upon arriving at Indiana.
Indiana will need to address these issues, especially defensively and in terms of leadership, if they want to compete at the highest levels within the Big Ten and make a significant run in March.
To learn more about sports news, click http://cricinfo.cc/.