Rapid Reaction IU vs. Wisconsin

[mdn82 25,751]

Jay Williams is the man after that!  Nobody outside of a few fans on this board thought IU had a chance.  I will be the first to admit.  I had us losing by 15.  I was shocked how that Wisconsin team let us get to the rim at will.  I was equally shocked we stormed the court, but that is for another day…  Today, the only thing that matters is that W against a team who had owned us in our previous 12 games.  Outside of a Crean out of body experience thinking Austin Etherington for Noah Vonleh made sense, he pushed the right buttons to get this team to play.  

 

As a team, we had 9(!) Turnovers to their 10.  That is easily the story of the game.  That stat alone kept us in it.  We out rebounded Wisconsin 33-28.  We also shot 51.6% in this one in spite of taking 14 3 pointers.  On a night where we could get to the rim at will, that team should run sprints for taking 14 3 pointers.  That stat almost cost us the game.  We had 14 assists against their 13.  Ultimately, we won every winning category.  They shot better than us when they weren't shooting 3's.  

 

Individually, I know everyone wants to discuss Yogi Ferrell.  I am going to start by talking about Stanford Robinson.  That kid was the best Freshman on the court for us.  Noah Vonleh is our most talented, but this kid is improving by leaps and bounds.  It seems to have clicked for him, and he has played at a level on both ends lately few can match on this team.  He ended up with 13 points and 5 boards.  I was equally impressed with Will Sheehey.  He has been hit and miss this year.  Today, he hit a home run.  He had 13 huge points with 6 boards and 3 assists.  He like Stan showed up for 40 minutes today.  Yogi had 25 and 4 assists, but took 24 shots and a benching to get there.  Ultimately, he needs to realize when he can get to the rim at will, he needed to score 35 on the amount of shots he took.  Noah had 10 and 5 with 4 blocks.  Evan had a solid 8 points, 6 assists, 4 boards, and a pair of steals.  

 

In the end, this was a win we needed.  For a team lacking a signature win, we had to win at least 1 against one of the best if we were to have a chance at making the tournament.  We will savor this for today.  Tomorrow, we will have to answer why a team who was ranked #1 for most of the year last year stormed the court at home agains the #3 team in the country.  That move by the student body really minimized that win for me.  

 

 

[mr wing 69]

I am so proud of how our boys came together as a team and when they were being selfish and not producing they were benched no matter who they were coach proved his point and it worked yogi stopped shooting from outside and drove

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[JaybobHoosier 12,349]

Well said Mdn! Such a huge win, and like yourself, predicted a 15pt loss. Couldn't be happier with this team right now! I hope this proves how good they can be if they play smart and to their strengths. This was a huge effort win as well. Loved the effort and passion displayed by our Hoosier players.

Props to Hanner for a few solid minutes. Outside of trying to dribble in traffic, he has shown he can play off the bench. He has really improved, and can't wait to see him next season!

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[jayben00 75]

With such a great student base at all home games, you must appreciate the frenzy and enthusiasm they produce! To rush the floor and get a "hands on" involvement with the players is an expression of their exuberance. As long as the action does not generate accidents or injury I have no qualms about this practice.

 

In fact, making a court rush (with decorum) on every win would elevate it to a new Hoosier tradition. 

[mdn82 25,751]

The problem with court rushing is the fact it makes you look like you did not expect to be in the same building as that team you faced.  You look weak.  I don't think we should have won that game, but we were #1 last year.  We are Indiana.  Rushing the court vs. #1 Kentucky on a last second 3 vs. beating #3 UW is different.  There is a reason you don't see UNC, Duke, Kentucky, Syracuse, Louisville, or Kansas fans rush the court.  At home, you should have an advantage.  IMO, last night in that regard was embarrassing.  In NCAA Football, that is a huge fine.  I hope NCAA Basketball gets there. 

[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

I've actually read, I'll have to search for it, that ESPN encourages rushing and requests all the guards to block for them instead of stopping students from rushing. It makes good tv.