Rapid Reaction IU vs. PSU

[mdn82 25,763]

Well.  That was the weirdest game IU has won in some time.  I should start by saying a win is a win.  When you are struggling, that is the most important feeling you need to find.  Winning.  Today, it wasn't pretty.  At times it was downright odd.  Jeff Howard for Noah Vonleh, offense for defense anyone?  It was good to see Noah put this team on his back and score the first 12 points when nobody else could find the rim.  We limited turnovers as a team and in turn gave ourselves a chance to win.  In the end that is all that matters.  This was a game we didn't back into a win.  We went out and took it after trailing 4 at half.  

 

As a team the most glaring statistic was the 13 assists to 13 turnovers.  Obviously, a better team would have beat us today the way we shot the ball.  The key thing to take away from that stat is when things weren't going good, they kept with it and didn't fail.  Ultimately, PSU quit hitting everything.  We won this game at the line.  We hit 29-35 Free throws on the day.  We did a good job going to the rim and not settling when we weren't hitting shots.  We only hit 36% on the day.  Both Will and Stan were 3-10 and Yogi was 4-13.  We flat struggled from the field today.  Even on a day that seen a possession where Jeff Howard had like 100 rebounds we only out rebounded them 37-32.  I would be willing to bet the splits from 1st half to 2nd are pretty wide.  When Howard came in during the 2nd half the energy came up.  We even had the announcers saying Jeff Howard and Austin Etherington should be MVPs.  

 

Individually outside of Noah Vonleh it isn't too pretty on the surface.  Noah had 19 and 6 while carrying the Hoosiers in the 1st half, not letting the game get out of hand.  Yogi did not have the greatest game from the field, but he was fantastic in a role we have all been screaming for.  He had 7 assists to 1 turnover.  If he gives us something close to that the rest of the year we will be better for it.  I also liked what Troy brought with his 8 points and 3 blocks.  He was very active today, but disappeared in the 2nd half.  Evan brought us 8, and Will brought 9 and 5.  Austin hit a key 3 down the stretch for the Hoosiers.  Jeff Howard and his wonderful hair brought energy to the game that was needed.  Stan struggled from the field, but that kid is just around every play when he is on the court.  Nothing on Jeremy Hollowell?  Well, he didn't play.  It is pretty obvious this isn't part of the game plan.  We have seen some possibilities out there, so I won't re-hash that here.  

 

All in all, it wasn't pretty, but it is a win.  We needed that more than anything.  Going into a game with Wisconsin we needed something good to happen.  These kids fight.  I like that.  Unfortunately, we are in a league where fight isn't everything.  Talent level is high.  Coaching levels are higher.  We will see very quickly if the kids can take this positive and go on a run needed to make the tournament.  Until then it is time to celebrate a W. 

[brwnlw 6]

mdn82, you forgot to mention that we made two absolutely stupid and unnecessary fouls in the final minutes that cost us four points. It's that kind of stuff that drives me nuts.