Analysis: It was a bad night to be a non-IU Big Ten basketball fan

[IndyHutch 1,718]

This was supposed to have been a reality check game for Indiana Basketball. Instead, the Hoosiers turned it into a statement game. And that statement was that these Hoosiers are for real.

Picture this scenario for a moment.

 

It will be a little difficult but imagine if you were a Big Ten basketball fan tonight but not rooting for the Indiana Hoosiers.

 

Imagine what that faction of the conference basketball population was thinking when it tuned in to the opening tip between Indiana and Michigan at right around 9:10 p.m. ET.

 

They were all thinking the same thing: That Indiana was about to be delivered a slice of humble pie.

 

Once and for all, they all believed, Indiana’s early Big Ten schedule was going to be shown for what it was and Michigan was going to bring Indiana back down to reality.

 

Now, imagine what those same people were thinking when the Wolverines jumped out to a 15-4 lead. Everything was clicking for the home team and the Hoosiers looked a little out of sorts.

 

Non-IU Big Ten fans were fist-pumping each other and patting themselves on the back. This one was about to get ugly and they were going to enjoy every minute of it. If they were following many IU fans on Twitter, they had to be enjoying those comments, too. People weren’t happy in IU Nation early.

 

And then it all changed very quickly. Indiana finished the first half on a 25-0 run. From the time it was 15-4, IU finished on a 41-9 run. And just like that, non-IU Big Ten fans sunk down in their sofas. Opposing teams in the title hunt couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

 

But to all of the doubters, Indiana served notice Tuesday night.

 

It was just one game, but it was an IU basketball statement game. And that statement, loudly trumpeted for most of the night, is that Indiana is a legitimate Big Ten title contender.

 

In Tuesday’s 80-67 victory (that was much more lopsided than the final score indicated) the Hoosiers came in to the Crisler Center and pushed the Wolverines around like they had never experienced before this season. At one point IU led by 27 in the second half, the largest deficit the Wolverines had faced this season.

 

This was a Michigan team that was 11-1 at home and 4-0 at home in conference play. The conference wins had come against Maryland, Rutgers, Penn State and Minnesota. Michigan’s only home loss on the season had been to Xavier – until the Hoosiers took it to them Tuesday night.

 

This was a Michigan team that had won four in a row and five of the last six. It was a Michigan program that went into Tuesday night’s game completely expecting to finish the night in a tie with Indiana with 8-2 conference records. Instead, the Wolverines fell to two games behind the conference leading Hoosiers.

 

Seth Greenberg said at halftime on the ESPN Halftime Show that one thing was clear with this Indiana group: They’re fun to watch.

 

And he’s right. Indiana is playing defense like we certainly didn’t see early in the year. The Hoosiers are playing really well in transition and when they look like they did tonight, you have to think they can play with anyone in the Big Ten.

 

But most of all, Indiana fans will agree on one thing: This team is fun to watch.

 

It’s fun to watch OG Anunoby grow up before our eyes. The same is true with Thomas Bryant. How much do you think Michigan fans wish that Max Bielfeldt was playing for the Wolverines? Yogi Ferrell is clearly playing his best basketball of his Indiana career. And you have to love the contributions you’re getting from a player like Collin Hartman. He just does it all.

 

It’s a win that Indiana needs to build on. The Hoosiers are now 9-1 in the Big Ten and will be at Penn State on Saturday. That’s a potential trap game especially with Iowa coming to Assembly Hall for a potential battle of the top teams in the Big Ten next Thursday.

 

Indiana has a chance to go into that game with a 20-4 overall record and a 10-1 mark in conference play. If IU can beat Penn State on the road, the Hoosiers would improve to 5-1 away from Assembly Hall in Big Ten play this season. That’s only going to help them on Selection Sunday.

 

Now, forget about imagining what it feels like to be a non-IU Big Ten basketball fan tonight and head back to reality which is you’re proud to be a Hoosier.

 

And proud about something else, too – This is a fun team to watch.

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[Apopka Hoosier 30]

Anunoby is the most exciting and complete freshman player to wear the Indiana uniform in a long, longtime in my opinion.  Anunoby is always around the ball and is as solid on defense as he is on offense! 

 

Crean's timeout that allowed him to share some words of wisdom early in the first have was the turning point of the game.  Yogi began attacking the rim and got the team into a positive flow. 

 

I enjoyed last nights game buzzer to buzzer!

[IndyHutch 1,718]

There is a lot to like with OG's game. I like the fact the seems to be a lunch pail guy, too. Someone who is willing to work hard, play defense, move toward the ball, and find ways to impact the game. That is all instincts more than anything else and he has that. I have no idea how long he'll be at IU but from the looks of his first 10 Big Ten games it's going to be fun to watch him as long as he's here.