They were due. A team that had defied the odds, knocked off a No. 1 and No. 2 in the same season, and off to the best start in the Tom Crean era finally hit a big bump in the road.
It’s not surprising that No. 7 Indiana took a Mbakwe-less Minnesota Gophers team lightly, weren’t locked-in and were maybe more focused on Will Sheehey’s return to the lineup than getting down in a stance on defense.
It was that kind of night for Indiana. Four IU players watch, as Minnesota's Maverick Ahanmisi has a layup.
Minnesota scored the first three points and hit two free throws to seal the win, 77-74 over Indiana in Bloomington. And it’s Minnesota’s first true road win over a top-10 team in nearly 31 years. (Jan. 24, 1981 at Iowa)
“We didn’t have our edge,” said team leader Jordan Hulls. “We didn’t get the stops we needed…we were very poor defensively and needed to communicate.”
Energy, emotion, edge. Call it whatever you want, but the Hoosiers were without it. And it was noticeable from the outset.
IU went back and forth with a 2-3 zone on defense, playing more zone than they had all season.
“This game starts with our lack of awareness defensively,” Coach Crean said postgame. “Communication, weak side, ball side, challenging shots, block outs, the awareness never got where it needed to be until the end of the game.”
Until tonight, Indiana was a perfect 11-0 at home. Defending Assembly Hall was a top-priority especially when every conference win is important. (Note to self: the Big Ten Tournament is going to be really good.)
“Any loss is going to be terrible,” Hulls added. “It was on our homecourt…we have to protect our homecourt.”
After games like this, I’m looking for an attitude check. Will they dwell on the loss or be better in the long run for it. I’ll take the latter. Against Minnesota, it was an overall poor performance. One that is uncharacteristic, one that Indiana can learn from and improve upon.
Freshman Cody Zeller paced Indiana with 23 points, tying a season-high. Entering the game, IU had the best three-point field goal percentage in the country. But against Minnesota those same shots weren’t falling. Just 4-for-18 from long-range.
The Indiana program under Tom Crean has made large strides in his fourth year. This isn’t a fabrication, just another rock they have step over. So they’re shooting was off. It happens. But the defensive effort, switches and communications never should be down.
“We’re not the most talented team, even in our league, not even close. When what you have plays on edge and plays with togetherness on defense and communication and that ball is moving, and then you’re going to play better. As I said to them in the locker room, I’m not going to overreact, but I’m not going to under-react.”
“The number one thing is to stay committed to that improvement and keep that edge.”
In Big Ten play, nothing is easy or handed over. Next up, Ohio State on Sunday, in Columbus.