The Hoosiers have won four straight and are 1-0 in the Big Ten, but they continue to be an enigmatic bunch.
Minnesota and IU played to an early stalemate before a 16-1 Hoosiers run created a 13-point margin with 4:41 left in the first half. The Gophers would never get closer than nine from there. Indiana led by as much as 21 in the second half, but inconsistent play meant they were never able to fully impose their will, pull away, and stay away.
Let’s take a deeper look at how IU won 82-67 with our latest edition of The Report Card.
Indiana (8-2, 1-0) will next travel to Nebraska for an 8 p.m. ET tip in Lincoln on Friday (FOX).
COACHING (B-)
It’s still mostly just coming down to consistent effort with Mike Woodson’s bunch. He has to figure out how to keep his team locked in for 40 minutes.
When Minnesota started the game 11-of-15 from the field and his defense looked lethargic, Woodson was able to find answers. The Gophers only made 3-of-18 after that in what turned out to be the game’s decisive stretch. But then again, once IU built an advantage, Woodson’s squad seemed to get comfortable. There was acknowledgement from Woodson and the players alike, this wasn’t a complete effort
“When we do get comfortable, that’s when stuff starts to fall off and that’s when teams start to make their runs back, so we just got to make sure we put a good 40 minutes together where we play hard all 40,” IU guard Kanaan Carlyle said.
It’s worth noting IU missed 11 free throws and shot just 28.6% from three. So there’s an argument to be made that the Hoosiers could have truly pulled away with a bit better shooting, especially at the stripe.
OFFENSE (B)
This was a game where IU’s big men were featured and able to dominate. Malik Reneau and Oumar Ballo did a nice job at times running the floor and establishing early post position for transition buckets. The duo found each other in high-low actions and other big-to-big passing. And when Minnesota blitzed high ball screens, both players were open on slips to the basket.
The Hoosiers scored 1.2 points per possession, and that was despite poor free throw shooting (62%) and three-point shooting (28.6%). The key was elite efficiency inside the arc, where they made 67%, and a 42.9% offensive rebounding rate led to 14 second chance points.
Although they did turn it over too much, Indiana did move the ball well. They assisted on 21 of 31 makes, and they pushed the pace and scored in transition, especially in the first half.
DEFENSE (C)
Minnesota started the game 11-of-15 from the field, then made just 3-of-18, and then finished 12-of-22. If that looks like inconsistent effort, that’s because it was. To be fair, the Gophers made some tough first half shots, but IU wasn’t able to sustain high-level play on this end. Case in point — the second half help defense at the rim was nowhere to be found at times, as Minnesota got at least three straight line drives all the way home for dunks. Multiple players were culpable on those.
IU was able to limit Minnesota to just a 2-of-11 shooting day from three. The Gophers aren’t a great perimeter shooting team, but it’s really the 11 that is most encouraging as IU was able to run them off the arc. But Minnesota made 24-of-44 from two — good for 54.5%, again highlighting how things were too easy at times.
At .98 points per possession, there was certainly nothing exceptional about this effort, but it had its moments. One notable numbers was Minnesota’s 20.7% offensive rebounding rate. That was a season-best for IU thus far against high major competition.
MORE GAME COVERAGE
THE PLAYERS (*starters)
*Mackenzie Mgbako (C+) It was a mixed evening for Mgbako, who made some shots and played with good effort at times. But he wasn’t very active on the glass, missed multiple good looks, and added a couple turnovers.
*Malik Reneau (A-) Reneau is easily the most overlooked player on the team, as his production is almost just expected at this point. He turned in an efficient night from the field and passed the ball at a high level.
*Oumar Ballo (A-) The big man was listed as questionable before the game but had good energy for most of the night. He showed no signs from whatever was bothering him. 18 points on five shots isn’t easy to do. Ballo shot free throws well and had several hustle plays in this game.
*Myles Rice (C+) Rice had four assists to just one turnover, and he was generally solid on defense. But the scoring wasn’t there. He tried to take on shot blockers at the rim unsuccessfully. He left the game briefly with an injury, so it’s unclear what role that played.
*Trey Galloway (D) The roller coaster ride continues for Galloway, who is having a hard time stringing together a run of consistent high-level play. He struggled with turnovers and couldn’t get anything to drop from the field or the free throw line. It’s not about effort, but the results haven’t always been there.
Kanaan Carlyle (A-) Indiana can win a lot of games with this version of Carlyle. He was tough, physical and aggressive. He played defense. And Carlyle was a shot maker on this night. That’s something he was able to do at times a year ago for Stanford, but this was his best offensive night as a Hoosier.
Bryson Tucker (A-) Tucker’s impact was felt right away, as he scored and rebounded at a high level. While he likes the midrange, his most impressive scoring plays were on drives to the rim. The one thing Tucker is struggling with is his three-point shot, as he doesn’t seem to get enough arc on his shot.
Luke Goode (C) This wasn’t a game where Goode’s impact was felt at a high level, as he was only able to get off one three in 18 minutes, and he didn’t record a rebound.
Langdon Hatton, Jakai Newton, Anthony Leal and Dallas James did not play, coach’s decision.
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Gabe Cupps was out with an injury
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