The Good and The Bad: Rutgers

Conference play is among us and Indiana opened again a foe that was marginally better than the majority of its pre Big Ten slate. So let us relive the things we like and the things we disliked about Wednesday's matinee victory over Rutgers in New Jersey.

The Good

1. Max Bielfeldt - Really, Hoosier reserves in general could fill every spot on the this list but the senior from Illinois was definitely Wednesday's biggest star.
Bielfeldt tied his career high in points with 18 (his new career mark as a Hoosier, the previous occurance came when the senior played at Michigan) and set a new career mark in rebounds with 14. With freshman Thomas Bryant struggling (something we'll check in on later), Bielfeldt ensured the Hoosiers still had an interior presence. Something that the team dreadfully lacked last season.

2. The bench - Bielfeldt stole headlines for certain with a career effort, but few if any would have made a pit stop in Atlantic City and placed good money on seeing IU's reserves post 37 points. Also, who had O.G. Anunoby and Ryan Burton combining for 14 points and 4-of-4 3-point shooting beforehand? Put your hand down and make your New Year's resolution that you won't lie to impress your friends folks.

3. Colin Hartman - The junior from Indianapolis is taking his role in stride this season. With James Blackmon Jr. sidelined by a sore knee, Hartman rejoined the starting lineup and contributed nine points on 3-of-3 shooting from 3-point range. Hartman has been both a starter and reserve already this season and while he'll likely never post eye-popping numbers he's one of the Hoosiers who's effort and consistency don't seem to waver.

4. One for the win column - The formula certainly didn't look like the recipe for a Hoosier win. Blackmon Jr. did not play. Bryant barely did. Robert Johnson did not score. Troy Williams seemed to play the game like he was juggling flaming chainsaws on one of those trendy hoverboards everyone got for Christmas. But Indiana found a way to keep its win streak in order and earn an always important road conference win.

The Bad

1. Robert Johnson - Yikes. Johnson's re-entry into the Hoosier starting lineup has largely been credited with helping Indiana slightly right the path of a season that appeared headed off the rails in early December. Wednesday though was arguably the sophomore's biggest struggle since he arrived in Bloomington. Johnson missed all six of his field goal attempts. He didn't score. He had five turnovers. For one of Indiana's steadiest performers it was certainly an outlier. Here's hoping for a bounceback.

2. Turnovers - At some point something more drastic may be in order. Hypnotherapy in which Hoosier players are trained that the ball is a kitten or their favorite nephew and should be valued as such may be the next step. But 23 turnovers that led to half of Rutgers' total points is just unbelievably, wretchedly bad. Williams led the way with seven. Yogi Ferrell ignored all stereotypes about the steadiness of senior point guards and chipped in with six and Johnson contributed his five. When Blackmon doesn't play those three comprise Indiana's three most talented perimeter players, so needless to say 18 turnovers among them is a bit disheartening.

3. Bryant - Better days lie ahead for the freshman, but it would have been understandable for anyone casually watching to wonder if Bryant suited up on Wednesday. Six total minutes with just a single field goal, a single rebound and five fouls for his effort made the McDonald's All American big man a footnote.