After two straight road games, the Hoosiers returned home to host Illinois, their Big Ten foe 150 miles northwest of Bloomington.
The fans welcomed their team back to Assembly Hall with loud cheers and a rowdy atmosphere. In fact, tonight was the loudest it’s been in Bloomington for a Big Ten game.
In a game where another IU opponent tried to deliver punches, Indiana responded and were able to match them blow-for-blow. Indiana outscored the Illini by 11 in the second half to capture their 19th win of the season, 84-71.
Indiana stepped to the free throw line a remarkable 42 times and missed just seven for a 83-percent clip. Add in their attempts at Purdue, and IU went to the line 79 times in the last two games. Illinois tried to bruise the Hoosiers but instead got in foul trouble and had three players fouled out.
Fouls: Illinois 30, Indiana 16.
Cody Zeller had another hard-fought test facing 7-foot-1 Myles Leonard. While Leonard won the battle in the first half — scoring 15 points and allowing just one field goal from Zeller — he was limited to two second half points and fouled out with 3:09 to play.
The physicality didn’t faze him. He held his own, didn’t panic and remained composed. All characteristics rarely possessed by freshman.
“I’ve just come to expect it,” Zeller said of the physical harassment. “I just have to keep my head staright. It’s not going to do any good to throw a fit.”
“The only thing soft about Cody is he’s soft-spoken,” coach Crean added.
Another test and Zeller held his own against a guy that will someday play in the NBA. Just a freshman but Zeller has played like one against the likes of Anthony Davis (Kentucky), Jared Sullinger (Ohio St) and now Leonard.
After a losing four of five in January — including bad losses at home to Minnesota and at Nebraska — IU has since won three of four. Coach Crean believes they have improved a lot, crediting their maturity, willingness to get after the rebound, and not backing down.
Their next four games will be tough but look like wins on paper: Northwestern, at Iowa, North Carolina Central, at Minnesota. That would give the Hoosiers 23 wins with Michigan State and Purdue to close out conference play.
Indiana now has five days off until hosting Northwestern for their only regular season meeting of the year. The Illini remain winless against ranked opponents this season, 0-6, and they have lost two straight at IU.
[Photo via AP / Darron Cummings]