These Hoosiers may have flaws, but they also have plenty of grit. That was necessary from the opening tip against Michigan after Indiana suffered their worst loss of the season.
It was a game of wild prolonged runs, with punches and counterpunches. Indiana opened the game with a 27-13 lead before Michigan went on a 39-13 run that spanned the end of the first half and well into the second. And then IU closed regulation with a 29-17 answer.
Let’s take a deeper look at how the Hoosiers won 75-73 in overtime with another edition of The Report Card.
Indiana (21-10, 12-8) will next play in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Friday evening in Chicago at approximately 9 p.m. Eastern.
OFFENSE (B-)
You know the drill by now — Indiana played through Trayce Jackson-Davis all night. Whether it was a post entry, getting it to him on the wing, or pick-and-roll, seemingly every possession involved TJD as a primary option. Michigan stunted his way more often than they doubled, and that created plenty of one-on-ones against one of the few big men in the country, Hunter Dickinson, who can put up some resistance.
Jackson-Davis took more than a third of IU’s shots, and when the doubles did come, he was ready. He had more than half (6 of 11) of the Hoosier assists.
Overall, it was nothing complex, just playing through your best player and taking what the defense gives you.
Michigan gave IU some zone looks occasionally, and for the most part the Hoosiers were quick to recognize it on those possessions.
IU scored 1.03 points per possession, generally enough to win. They didn’t shoot the basketball especially well, and didn’t get many second chances, but a season low 11 percent turnover rate helped Indiana make just enough of their opportunities. And save for four excruciating late misses by Race Thompson, the Hoosiers made their free throws.
DEFENSE (B+)
Indiana’s defense carried them to the win late, with two blocks from Trayce Jackson-Davis, two steals from Race Thompson, and a steal by Tamar Bates to close out the game. All of that came in the final 5:29 of the contest.
Over the last ten minutes of regulation plus overtime, with IU getting desperate, Michigan made just 5-of-22 shots. They had five turnovers in that span.
That late run looked a lot like the way the game started, as the Wolverines scored only 13 points during the first 15 minutes of the game and made just 5-of-21 shots.
“I didn’t know how we would respond after the Iowa game and I thought we came out and defensively, we were as good as we’ve been all year and then right before the half, they made I think a 10-0 run that cut our lead to two, and you know, kind of knocked us for a loop a little bit,” IU coach Mike Woodson said.
In between the great start and the great finish was a complete implosion, and enough to nearly cost IU the game.
Michigan made an incredible 16-of-20 shots including six threes over a roughly 15-minute stretch of game clock that spanned halftime.
When their defense struggled during the middle part of the game, Indiana wasn’t getting back in transition, and they were losing track of shooters.
Indiana adjusted just in time, and overall the numbers suggest a respectable effort.
Michigan scored 1.01 points per possession and made just 41.3 percent overall from the field with 13 turnovers.
MORE GAME COVERAGE
- With a double-bye at stake, and Michigan in control, Indiana and its seniors showed resolve
- Indiana earns No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament
- Watch: Woodson, Jackson-Davis and Thompson discuss overtime win over Michigan
- Watch: IU basketball 2023 senior day speeches
- IU basketball: Indiana 75 Michigan 73 (OT) — Three keys | Highlights | Final stats
- Long form highlights:
THE PLAYERS
Trayce Jackson-Davis (A) In his last home game, TJD willed Indiana to victory with a massive second half plus overtime. In those final 25 minutes he had 17 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks — with both blocks coming in the extra session. He played another huge minutes load (44), and was up to the challenge against Dickinson.
Race Thompson (A-) Thompson was moving as well as he has since coming back from his midseason knee injury. Indiana probably doesn’t win without his two late steals, he led the team in rebounds and was efficient from the field. A healthy Thompson could clearly provide a boost to IU’s postseason fortunes. And yes, he missed four straight free throws when he could have put the game away in overtime.
Miller Kopp (B) While he struggled shooting the ball early, Kopp made a couple big shots over the last 15 minutes of game clock. He added seven rebounds, and for the most part defended well.
Jalen Hood-Schifino (B) Lost on the chaos — Hood-Schifino made a massive three to force overtime. He made his free throws, and the freshman point guard seemed intent on playing better on the ball defense. While not the explosive game he’s capable of, it was a steady, clutch game for a first-year player.
Trey Galloway (B) He appeared to be the victim of at least a couple questionable foul calls. When he was in the game, Galloway was solid on the defensive end and facilitated well. Early foul troubles for both him and Hood-Schifino may have influenced IU’s mid-game defensive slide.
Tamar Bates (B+) Indiana probably doesn’t win without a solid effort from Bates, who saw significant minutes (18 in the second half plus overtime) with Galloway in foul trouble. He made two key second half threes that fueled the IU comeback, and he was much improved defensively. “He earned his stripes tonight,” Woodson said.
Malik Reneau (B) Indiana was better when their bench was on the floor according to the plus/minus numbers. Reneau was physical, he’s improving when switched out and has to guard the perimeter, and he seems to be having fewer head-scratching moments.
Kaleb Banks (B) IU was getting torched defensively when Banks came in during the second half — and his length and energy on the perimeter helped slow the Wolverines.
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Logan Duncomb was out after having sinus surgery, and Xavier Johnson (foot) is out for the season.
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