The Hoosiers are struggling to say the least. With six losses in a row, IU tries to get back in the win column Saturday at home versus the Wolverines.
Both teams are coming off losses. IU played one of their worst games of the season at Northwestern in a 93-81 losing effort while top-ranked Ohio State just edged Michigan 68-64.
Darius Morris and Tim Hardaway Jr. lead the maize and blue into Btown Saturday. Morris, averaging a team high 15.4 points per game is an attacking guard that isn’t easy to guard. He has also scored in double figures in 13 of 17 games. Hardaway Jr. is just a freshman but already making an impact while starting for UM.
Michigan, who plays their next three of four games on the road also features two Indiana guys. Zach Novak from Chesterton, IN will start while Carmel’s Stu Douglass will come off the bench. Novak is a streaky point guard with a quality outside shot. Douglass is a pure shooter when he is on.
Tom Crean and his team look to win their first conference game of the season like last year against UM, 71-65 on New Years Eve. Michigan later returned the favor, winning at home 69-45.
Indiana has won 12 of its last 13 games against Michigan in Bloomington.
The Wolverines have played a quality schedule this season, including four ranked opponents: No. 9 Syracuse, No. 12 Purdue, No. 3 Kansas and the soon to be No. 1 Buckeyes. In those four games, they have had leads and hung around every game…maybe even enough to win.
More than anything, Hoosiers fans just want their team to compete, play hard and be in the game. The losses aren’t easy to take but are expected with the lack of talent on IU’s roster…that will certainly change over the next few years.
Indiana plays undisciplined and makes poor decisions. Half the time the team looks disinterested and lacks focus necessary for a 40 minute game. That’s what coaches and fans can’t stand. Be active on defense, get deflections and stay after it. End this one-on-one nonsense and play together, fundamental basketball.
It doesn’t help that IU doesn’t have a true big man. Now into the Big Ten, it’s really a big blow.
If somehow Indiana could come away with a victory, it would be a tremendous accomplishment. Maybe it’s my optimism but surely one of these days it will just click with the team and they will rattle off some victories. They can make up for the last of talent by exerting energy, focus and by following the game plan.