Rapid Reaction IU vs. OSU

[mdn82 25,765]

How huge was that?  A win against a top 25 team without Noah Vonleh?  Oh yeah, the tournament committee will remember that.  I think after that game we are back to needed 2 more wins to get in to the tournament.  We have to beat Nebraska, and win either one of UM (on road) or BTT game.  This is just the weirdest IU team I have followed in my 31 years of life.  Our crowd was dead.  Our team was flat to start.  No Noah Vonleh for this one.  We turned the ball over close to 20 times.  We won.  How?  

 

In the most impressive stat I have seen in some time, we had 16 assists on 24 makes.  OSU had 5 assists today.  That is the key winning stat.  Another huge one is without Noah we still out rebounded them 34 to 32.  We had 18 turnovers.  They had 14.  This was a huge win, we played a large roll in.  I don't want to minimize that with what I am about to add.  However, OSU did as much to lose, as we did to win.  They went 0-11 from 3.  They had 5 assists.  They also shot 14-23 from the line.  Make no mistake about it.  We won this, but they helped us.  It was nice to be on this side of it for once.  We are usually the ones leading at half only to lose it.  We have lost more games this year, than teams have truly beat us if you think about it.  This was one of those games where they lost it.  As we can see from our W-L record, it doesn't who causes it, only matters who wins it.  

 

Individually, I thought we punched them in the mouth, and they couldn't react.  They thought without Noah today, they would walk over us.  You could tell by the crowd.  You could tell by demeanor of both teams.  Somehow, some way, we woke up long enough to realize we could truly win with an inspired effort.  I have to start this one with Hanner Mosquera-Perea.  There were people who put up more points, but few were bigger than the big fella.  He had 8 points, 5 boards, and 3 blocks in this one.  He just played in control all night, and his performance cannot be overstated.  Will and Yogi each had big games today.  Yogi was not as efficient in his 20 points, but they were huge all the same.  Will had 19 points and 6 boards, to go along with 4 steals.  That is one senior who doesn't want to finish college in the NIT.  Another senior who had a decent game is Evan Gordon.  He gave us 9 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals.  Jeremy and Austin did not have the numbers to back up their performances, but each brought something that was much needed.  Some good intensity.  

 

This was just a weird game.  There are so many things that can be said about what got us to the W.  Ultimately, the only thing that matters is the W.  It was something that was needed.  It was something that put us in a position to not count ourselves out of a chance.  A chance to steal a tournament spot.  Every year, teams with 18 wins make the tournaments.  They typically have a season like ours.  Wins against the top teams, and bad losses.  Still at this point, the only way we feel good is by getting to 19 wins before selection Sunday.  I am done trying to sound like I have this team figured out.  I don't think Tom Crean can truthfully say he feels 100% of anything about this team.  Until next time ladies and gents.  

[LIHoosier 27,177]

It was something that put us in a position to not count ourselves out of a chance.  A chance to steal a tournament spot.  Every year, teams with 18 wins make the tournaments.  They typically have a season like ours.  Wins against the top teams, and bad losses.  Still at this point, the only way we feel good is by getting to 19 wins before selection Sunday.  I am done trying to sound like I have this team figured out.  I don't think Tom Crean can truthfully say he feels 100% of anything about this team.  Until next time ladies and gents.  

Teams with 18-19 wins do make the NCAA's, but their RPI is usually in the 40's and their SOS is at least top 20-25. Our RPI and SOS are really low even with winning our next two games. I honestly feel IU has to probably make the B1G final, not necessarily win it in order to sniff an at-large bid. From our non-conference schedule, only UConn and Syracuse are making the tournament with Washington, Stony Brook, and Notre Dame probably making the NIT.

[Parakeet Jones 3,872]

IMO at 9-9 we'd have to make it until at least Saturday at the B1G tournament.  That might not even be enough.  The worst thing that can happen is for a team like Wichita St. to lose their conference tournament.  

 

Even if we don't make the NCAA, with the way we are coming on if we can have a strong finish to the year with a strong run in the NIT, then we can have some hope going into next year.  

[mdn82 25,765]

Teams with 18-19 wins do make the NCAA's, but their RPI is usually in the 40's and their SOS is at least top 20-25. Our RPI and SOS are really low even with winning our next two games. I honestly feel IU has to probably make the B1G final, not necessarily win it in order to sniff an at-large bid. From our non-conference schedule, only UConn and Syracuse are making the tournament with Washington, Stony Brook, and Notre Dame probably making the NIT.

 

Eh, I wouldn't go that far.  Most people on the bubble are usually 60-75 in RPI.  It would be almost impossible to get a top 40 RPI with 19 wins.  If we don't win at UM, I think we have to win 2 games in BTT to feel safe, but I think we get in regardless with 19 wins.  Mainly due to who we have beat.  Our bad losses are worse than some of the bubble team's worst losses, but we have superior wins than anyone they would put us up against.  Very few teams remotely close to the bubble have 3 or 4 top 25 wins.  

[Dalton26 16,957]

Hopefully we can win out and pick up a few more in the B1G tourney.


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[Hovadipo 59,060]

I was just looking around and I saw that we are 4-4 against top 25 teams. That would put us in a tie for 3rd in the conference. Can't hurt our resumé at all. Looking like we could get a decent draw in the conference tourney, too.


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[Whoozhers 3,758]

Noah who??

Just kidding. Nice to know that HMP is finding his game to compliment NV.

Get well soon!!

[mdn82 25,765]

I was just looking around and I saw that we are 4-4 against top 25 teams. That would put us in a tie for 3rd in the conference. Can't hurt our resumé at all. Looking like we could get a decent draw in the conference tourney, too.


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Right now I would think we would not get a first round bye.  Is it bad that I am more scared to play bad teams than good teams?  

[Hovadipo 59,060]

[quote name="mdn82" post="44086" timestamp="1393816461"]Right now I would think we would not get a first round bye. Is it bad that I am more scared to play bad teams than good teams? [/quote]

I meant 3rd in the conference in wins against top 25 teams. We will most likely finish 8th. Possibly 7th. I'm scared to play in Banker's Life period lol.


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[OliviaPope40 7,007]

AH where ranked teams come to die.

[schoosier 3,613]

Missed the game because of son's travel ballgame, but very big win tonight. I can't wait to see the replay.

[TheWatShot 14,801]

The Buckeyes had won 4 of their last 5 in Assembly Hall and wrecked what should have been a special moment for us last season. 

 

 

I hate it when teams do well on our court. Today's win was very satisfying. 

[All_Hoosiers 873]

It's fun seeing Will Sheehey and Evan Gordon step up as seniors as the year winds down. It's also fun seeing this team improve. Much better than the beginning of the year.

Nice win today.


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[protectthishouse 162]

Great thing to win this one. But i have to ask, how serious is Vonleh's foot inflammation? I'm assuming he has been dealing with this for a long time becasue I have seen him on campus in the walking boot pretty much all year, but if it is keeping him out of games how much pain is he in? Will he be back by the Nebraska game?

[JSHoosier 21,441]

I'll take the win, and this team has definitely shown improvement since Assembly Hall decided it didn't want to see the Iowa game yet.  Will has stepped it up the last couple games, we could've used this from him all year.

[mesaiufan 30]

Ok, the last two games have got me excited about this team again.

[mdn82 25,765]

You and me both my man.

[mdn82 25,765]

I think it is the same it has been, but with 3 games in a week stuff like this happens.  I wasn't too surprised I guess.  If we make a deep run in the BTT he won't play all of the games I would assume.  I just hope he hasn't been dealing with something a little more for a while. 

[Whoozhers 3,758]

Any news/forecast yet on NV's return?
I'm hoping like everyone else he will on Wednesday.


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[Hovadipo 59,060]

[quote name="Whoozhers" post="44140" timestamp="1393862175"]Any news/forecast yet on NV's return?
I'm hoping like everyone else he will on Wednesday.


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When it comes down to it, I wouldn't mind seeing him not play Wednesday. Give that foot an extra few days before a huge game in Ann Arbor. We played pretty well without him against a better team. Or play limited minutes on a need to play basis. We absolutely have to have him healthy for the last push and the B1G tourney.


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