This season can officially be called a rebuilding campaign. IU is just 5-6 over its last 11 games, and the schedule only gets tougher.
Indiana only scored two points over more than seven minutes to start the game, and they’d never lead. Iowa took multiple double-digit leads in the first half. The Hoosiers got as close as 49-45 with 11 minutes remaining, but as they’ve done on multiple occasions, Indiana cratered midway through the second half. A 17-3 Iowa run from there put IU away for good.
Let’s take a deeper look at how Indiana lost 74-57 with our latest edition of The Report Card.
The Hoosiers (12-6, 3-4) will return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Michigan.
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OFFENSE (D-)
Indiana’s top scoring threats struggled in this one, as Lamar Wilkerson and Tucker DeVries were a combined 5 of 19 from the field. And with those two unable to connect, IU shot its second-lowest effective field goal percentage of the season (44.2%).
Turnovers weren’t as big of a problem overall, as IU only had nine for the game. But during the five-plus minute second half stretch when an a four-point deficit became 18, the Hoosiers had four miscues. It was a stretch very similar to Indiana’s meltdowns against Michigan State and Nebraska.
“As we get into the middle of the second half, there’s 10, 12 minutes to go — and it’s been consistent the last three games — we look fatigued,” coach Darian DeVries said. “That’s where some of that maybe sloppiness and the turnovers, and that’s where you start to see some of that showing up.
Indiana struggled to get into any kind of flow in the halfcourt.
“I thought Iowa did a good job of making our movements tough and being physical with them. We didn’t get into our actions very well,” DeVries said. “For us, when our offense is good, we get a lot of movement, a lot of cutting, a lot of action. Again, it probably comes back to a little bit of that fatigue as they get tired or movement gets less. We’ve got to be able to fight through that a little bit better.”
Tayton Conerway found answers with one-on-one dribble drives to the rim. It probably wasn’t a coincidence that when he left the game with an ankle injury IU started to crumble. He came back but didn’t appear to be comfortable.
Indiana scored .99 points per possession, and they’ve lost every game this season when they’ve been under one.
DEFENSE (C-)
Indiana’s defense seems to be falling apart.
The Hoosiers gave up 1.29 points per possession, the third straight game they’ve allowed 1.24 or more, and fourth time in five games. They hadn’t allowed more than 1.17 in any game this season prior to this stretch.
And while DeVries was concerned about his team being fatigued, he acknowledge the trouble on this end started earlier in the game.
“The first half they shoot 54 percent. That had nothing to do with any fatigue or anything,” he said. “That’s just us not doing a good enough job from a scouting standpoint and us executing that and also just getting it done. There’s a big piece of that.”
Iowa shot 56% from the field after a 4 of 12 start. The Hawkeyes’ methodical offense wore Indiana down. The more Iowa worked the shot clock and moved the ball from side-to-side, eventually they found a mismatch or an IU mistake. The Hawkeyes often found their way to the paint and shot nearly 60% from two and got to the free throw line a lot, making 21 of 23 at the charity stripe.
IU did limit Iowa to just six offensive rebounds, but the Hawkeyes aren’t a great rebounding team.
MORE GAME COVERAGE
- Watch: Darian DeVries, IU players discusses home loss to Iowa
- IU basketball: Indiana 57 Iowa 74 — Three keys, highlights, final stats
THE PLAYERS (*starters)
*Tucker DeVries (D) There’s not a lot you can say here beyond repeating what’s already been written. He’s struggling to shoot the ball and doesn’t appear to have great energy or movement for whatever reason.
*Lamar Wilkerson (C) Wilkerson needs more from his teammates or the open looks will become less and less. He’s bound to have off games, and IU’s offense really struggles when he does.
*Sam Alexis (C) Alexis was more impactful and efficient in this one, and it earned him more minutes. His eight rebounds were his most in a Big Ten game this season.
*Conor Enright (D) Iowa was leaving Enright open at times. He’ll have to shoot better to negate that approach. He certainly competed against Bennett Stirtz, and drew some charges. But the overall results don’t speak favorably against a tough cover.
*Tayton Conerway (C+) Conerway gave IU’s struggling offense life with a flurry of finishes at the rim. And he had active hands at times on the defensive end.
Reed Bailey (D) Bailey was struggling to finish on good opportunities at the rim. The scouting report seems to be to play him physically. And inconsistency has been the name of his game all season.
Trent Sisley (D) Sisley saw limited action at least in part because he had four fouls in eight minutes.
Nick Dorn (D+) He continues to shoot threes at a nice rate, but Dorn doesn’t wow you with a lot of intangibles when he’s on the court — at least not to this point.
Jasai Miles and Aleksa Ristic played late minutes.
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Andrej Acimovic did not play — coaches decision.
Jason Drake and Josh Harris were out with injuries.
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