Game Thread: 2/10 IU @ NW 5:30 pm BTN

[mamasa]

NOTES: IU Travels to Northwestern on Wednesday

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OPENING TIP
Indiana University is in its 121st season of competition in men's basketball and opens the doors of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for the 50th season. The Hoosiers will visit Northwestern on Wednesday night after defeating #8 Iowa, 67-65 on Sunday.  The Wildcats won the first meeting in Bloomington, 74-67 in December.  IU is looking to snap a 3-game losing streak in Evanston.

GAME INFORMATION
Indiana (10-8, 5-6 B1G) at Northwestern (6-10, 3-9 B1G)
Wednesday, Feb 10 • 5:30 p.m. ET
Welsh-Ryan Arena • Evanston, Ill.
TV: BTN (Brandon Gaudin and Len Elmore)
Radio: IU Radio Network  (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr,  Joe Smith) | TuneIn
Series History: Indiana leads, 118-53
Last Meeting: NU 74, at IU 67; 12/23/20

THE COACHES
Indiana Coach Archie Miller is in his fourth season of guiding the Cream and Crimson and is 65-51 with the Hoosiers and earned career win 200 against Penn State. He is 204-113 in 9+ years as a head coach, which includes 6 years at the University of Dayton. His Flyer teams made NCAA Tournament appearances in each of his last four seasons, including a trip to the Elite Eight in 2014. Northwestern is led by Chris Collins who is in his 8th year in Evanston and is 115-129.

JACKSON-DAVIS LIVING UP TO EXPECTATIONS
Sophomore forward Trayce Jackson-Davis ranks among B1G leaders in scoring, rebounds, field goal percentage and blocked shots.  He has twice been named Big Ten Player of the Week.  His most dominant performance this season was a 25-point, 17-rebound effort at Florida State. He had a career-high 31 points in the win over Stanford in the 3rd place game at Maui.  He had 23 points at Iowa and had 19 points and 14 boards against Illinois. He followed that up with 17 points and 12 boards against the Hawkeyes on Sunday.  He was named a second-team Mid-Season All-American by Dick Vitale and The Sporting News and was named to the Wooden Award Mid-Season Watch List.  He has had 19 career double-doubles. The Hoosiers are 15-4 when he reaches that milestone.  He is averaging 19.9 points, 9.2 rebounds while shooting 52.0% from the floor and a team-high 32 blocks this season. He is the only Hoosier in the last 25 years to have 3 games of 25 points and 15 rebounds (at Minnesota, Nebraska). He is 3rd in the nation FTs made (106) and 2nd in FT attempts (159).  Both lead the Big Ten. He is rated 5th in the KenPom National Player of the Year rankings.

ODDS AND TRENDS
The Hoosiers have made 20 of their last 47 3FG attempts (42.6) in the last 3 games.  Junior Race Thompson is averaging 14.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in the last 3 games.  Senior Aljami Durham has made 13 of 15 free throws in the last 2 games.     Thompson (19) and Jackson-Davis (36) have gone to the line a combined 36 times in the last 2 games.  IU held the nation's second best offense (87.8) to 69 and 65 points in their two meetings.  Freshman Jordan Geronimo has made 8 of his last 10 field goal attempts (5 games).  Sophomore Armaan Franklin (2nd, +8.4), Thompson and Jackson-Davis (6th, +6.4) are among the top 10 most improved scorers in the league this year.  Against Providence, Texas, Stanford, Florida State and Butler, the IU defense held those 5 top 37.4% shooting from the field and 31.7% accuracy from long distance.   IU is tied for the national lead in overtime games with 4.  The Hoosiers lost 3 of those including at Florida State, at Wisconsin and Illinois.  

[kreigh8]

Saw we have the dreaded noon tip on Saturday for OSU, at least dreaded for this team it would seem. Will 5:30pm be too early for IU? Need this one - "Just Win, Baby"

[mamasa]

I've seen the line on this from -4.5 to -3.5.  O/U 138.5

[HoosierCoop]

I think Northwestern caught us off guard the first time.  Hopefully we realize they are good shooters and we will clamp down.  Please don't let Miller Kopp have another career game and act like a crazed goof ball every time he makes a shot.  Shut that S*** down!!!

[HoosierAloha]

I just don't feel like we can handle success.  Last time we beat Iowa, we laid a stinker against Rutger at home.  Can we get the ball inside early to let Race and Trayce get them in foul trouble?  Can we knockdown open shots when they collapse on defense?  Can we contest their jump shots? 

They were hot going into the matchup in Assembly Hall.  Now, they're struggling again and we need to take advantage of that but I don't know if that is the mindset of this team.  Just feel like they're gonna go through the motions and miss 10+ FTs in a loss.

[mamasa]

5 minutes ago, HoosierCoop said:

I think Northwestern caught us off guard the first time.  Hopefully we realize they are good shooters and we will clamp down.  Please don't let Miller Kopp have another career game and act like a crazed goof ball every time he makes a shot.  Shut that S*** down!!!

Wouldn't it be awesome for one of our freshmen to catch fire like that? Love to see Lander, Leal, and Galloway all w/ double doubles!

[mamasa]

1 minute ago, HoosierAloha said:

I just don't feel like we can handle success.  Last time we beat Iowa, we laid a stinker against Rutger at home.  Can we get the ball inside early to let Race and Trayce get them in foul trouble?  Can we knockdown open shots when they collapse on defense?  Can we contest their jump shots? 

They were hot going into the matchup in Assembly Hall.  Now, they're struggling again and we need to take advantage of that but I don't know if that is the mindset of this team.  Just feel like they're gonna go through the motions and miss 10+ FTs in a loss.

Fischer said he felt/saw a different energy and focus from the team after Rutgers. Hope it wasn't just hyperbole and he's right :)

[coonhounds]

I am going to miss this one my daughter has a game same time since they changed the game to 5.30. Disappointing first game this season with a conflict

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[IUc2016]

Don't have a good feeling about this one. I don't remember the last time IU played well against Northwestern. Main thing is not letting them get comfortable to start the game like we did last time and against rutgers. Gives a reeling team confidence that they need to win.

Go Hoosiers!

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

Must win. Can't get embarrassed again. 

[Trish]

Would be nice to win tonight coming off that HUGE win vs Iowa.

 

We tend to play better on the road. I wish we had a few more days between games but I guess we'll see how these guys can step up. 

[Whoozhers]

I am going to miss this one my daughter has a game same time since they changed the game to 5.30. Disappointing first game this season with a conflict

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You’re doing it right.... You’re a great Dad! Enjoy her game!



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[HoosierAloha]

I am going to miss this one my daughter has a game same time since they changed the game to 5.30. Disappointing first game this season with a conflict

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I’m going to be in a group Zoom session while watching. Did the same for the Iowa game. Maybe we’ll get another win?!


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[Hoosierfan2017]

Must win tonight. Hope the guys show up ready to play from the opening tip off. If we do it should be a pretty easy win. 

[IUc2016]

What is the terrible stat that was brought up after the Rutgers game? IU is like 2-9 or 2-10 following a win over a ranked team?

Well they get their 3rd win today. Trayce goes for 30! 

[LamarCheeks]

Funny thing ... In promoting its TV lineup for tonight on social media, BTN uses a photo of Hunter! 

 

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

[colonel06]

Cant wait to see the Knight project on the int’l tour the team took . Debut on BTN originals later in the month.


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[LIHoosier]

Oh god, we're getting Bo'd again.

[FloridaHoosierGirl]

Here we go, missing inside.  LET'S GO!