Wichita State 73 Indiana 63: Three Keys | Final Box Score | Specialty Stats

Indiana lost to Wichita State on Tuesday night in NIT quarterfinal action.

The loss concludes Indiana’s season.  The Hoosiers finish the 2018-19 campaign with a 19-16 record.

THREE KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Meet the new problem.  Same as the old problem. It is only fitting that the season ends with a game where Indiana shot below 40% from the field.  After the game head coach Archie Miller referred to perimeter shooting as the number one thing that prevented this team from getting over the hump this year.  At 38.5% overall, 33.3% from long range and 53.8% from the foul line, the Hoosiers couldn’t hit anything at a high enough rate against the Shockers.  Credit Wichita State’s defense including their length around the basket — almost every shot Indiana took was challenged.  But Indiana will need more natural and high volume scorers to avoid more of the same next season.

2. Indiana doesn’t draw enough fouls. With Indiana’s inability to knock down shots, the plan according to Miller was to get into the paint, draw fouls, and get points at the free throw line.  Wichita State committed just 12 fouls for the game and IU attempted just 13 free throws.  The Shockers had nine blocks on the night as virtually every attempt at the rim was contested by a strong help side.

3. Wichita State hits timely three pointers.  Believe it or not, the Shockers came into this game shooting three-pointers as bad as Indiana.  They didn’t exactly light it up, but their 11 makes from deep were above their average and seemed to come at the worst moments for IU.  In fact, both times IU cut the second half lead to one point the Shockers answered with a three-pointer.

See also:  Archie Miller post-game.

FINAL BOX SCORE AND SPECIALTY STATS

You can follow us on Twitter:  @daily_hoosier