The Hoosiers are in the final stretch of the regular season. Three games in a week. One on the road (Minnesota), one against the best team in the Big Ten (Michigan St), and another against a rival (Purdue).
1-0. On to the next.
Indiana went into ‘The Barn’ at the University of Minnesota, came out with a toughness and put the pedal down, 69-50. IU (22-7) earned their 5th road victory, third in conference play and began a challenging week on the right note.
IU went down six to start the game but rallied for nine straight and never looked back. They played with a toughness and an edge that took the Gophers out of the game early.
They were distributing and moving without the ball well. There was constant motion. Shots were falling, IU was winning 50-50 balls and the confidence increased.
All positives, and all peaking at the right time.
The game was over so early that the broadcasters were on their E material. They covered the raised court, Cubs baseball, and Kory Barnett (known as the human victory cigar). In this IU win, we learned a lot of things.
We learned that the slump is over for juniors Jordan Hulls and Christian Watford, who both finished with 12 points. We learned that Coach Crean isn’t afraid of going to his bench. Freshman Austin Etherington was one of the first subs and nine different players scored.
We learned Indiana can win an important game on the road. We learned that Minnesota has thrown in the towel. The atmosphere, to quote Dan Dakich, was the “dullest of the season.” We learned that Indiana can win a game against a competitive team without big numbers from Cody Zeller, who finished with just seven points and two rebounds. And we were reminded that Verdell Jones can dunk (first of the season), and make a three (first since Jan. 15 at Ohio State).
Coach Crean was encouraged by his teams’ performance, noting that statistically it was their best defensive performance in a Big Ten game over his four seasons. The Hoosiers held Minnesota to 31-percent from the field, outrebounded them by five, turned it over fewer, and had three more blocks.
Indiana is now 9-7 in conference play and they picked up their first win at Minnesota in the Tom Crean era.
The next test: Michigan State. The leader in the Big Ten comes into Assembly Hall on Tuesday, a place that the opponent has left with a win just once this year. Indiana fans are making the game a stripe-out, which will air in prime-time on ESPN (Mike Tirico, Dan Dakich, Jay Bilas).