Indiana 60, Minnesota 57: Tom Pritchard, Verdell Jones III help Hoosiers beat Gophers.

by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Feb 3, 2011 12:00 PM EST in Indiana Hoosiers Basketball

One of the strange characteristics of the last few years has been the inability to watch an IU game with any confidence. If this game had happened when I was a student (and I was at IU from 1992-93 through 1996, a solid but not glorious time for the program), I would have been comfortable from the time IU extended its lead to 12-6 five minutes into the game. Instead, with an 11 point lead and five minutes to go, I found myself pacing, pounding my fists, tapping my feet, and so on. At that point, I tried to tell myself that I needed to calm down: while IU's previous two teams had blown home games with bigger leads than that, this one hadn't. Well, my instincts proved more prescient than my logic. The Hoosiers led wire to wire, and by as many as 16 midway through the second half, but the Gophers, with a furious comeback, kept the game in doubt until the final buzzer, when a Blake Hoffarber three point attempt that was on line (the Minnesota bench thought it was good, and so did I) bounced harmlessly off the front of the rim. Less than two weeks ago, after the debacle at Iowa, I and other IU fans wondered if the Hoosiers would win another game. Since then, IU is 2-1, all against ranked opponents, and with the one loss coming at Michigan State in overtime. Certainly, these games against ranked opponents aren't equivalent to games against Ohio State or Purdue. I'm fairly certain that Minnesota and Michigan State (stomped by Iowa last night) have made their final appearances in the top 25. Still, despite mounting injury problems, IU has played hard and effectively. All three games came down to the wire, and neither 3-0 nor 0-3 would be a stretch, but we made it through at 2-1. Not bad at all.

Here's the box score. This was an even game, not just on the scoreboard, but in nearly all statistical categories. IU had a slight edge in shooting (39-37). Minnesota had the edge from behind the arc (33-20). The Gophers had a slight edge in offensive rebounding percentage (41-37). IU was slightly better on turnovers (9-10, or 15.6% to 17.3%). Minnesota shot more free throws (they were 11-22) but IU made more (13-15). Given the completely different physical attributes of the teams, each coach went with a zone defense. IU's zone was surprisingly effective against the Minnesota big men, until Ralph Sampson III began draining 15 foot jumpers. Minnesota did a nice job of preventing a flurry of three pointers by IU. Still, when it came down to it, the Hoosiers bent but didn't break, and it was solid defense that forced the errant pass that forced Hoffarber to be off-balance when he tried to tie the game at the buzzer.

From an individual perspective, the stories were Tom Pritchard and Verdell Jones III. Jones, playing for the first time in four games, scored 12 points on 4-7 shooting, including 2-3 from deep (he said being immobile gave him time to work on his three point shooting). He had three turnovers, but overall, Jones was a positive and essential presence against the team that he spurned in favor of IU back in 2008. Tom Pritchard, simply, was a beast. His tomahawk dunk off Jones's one missed three pointer was rated ESPN's play of the night. He scored 12 points on 5-5 from the field and 2-2 from the line. He had 7 rebounds and no turnovers. His teammates say that this is the Tom Pritchard they see in practice. Hopefully he will continue to appear publicly.

Others:

Derek Elston was effective, with 8 points and 6 rebounds;
Matt Roth scored 9 on 3-10 from behind the arc;
Jordan Hulls is in a bit of a shooting slump (3-9 from the field, 0-5 from three), but his more aggressive play is paying off. He had 6 assists and 1 turnover.
Daniel Moore made almost no impact in the stat line (1 foul in 11 minutes), but his mistake free play was and will be crucial for the Hoosiers. With all of the injuries, we will need his minutes. He's not a playmaker, but doing no harm while Hulls or Jones takes a breather has some value.

This has been a maddening team at times, but despite being without their two most talented players, the Hoosiers are holding it together. They are finally understanding how hard they have to play at both ends of the court. It sounds cliche, but they are learning to play together. One thing that struck me last night was to what degree these guys are now on the same page. Snap-judgment passes that would have ended up in the stands a month ago now are finding the intended recipient. We still are young, and there still will be some personnel limitations in upcoming games. But we're getting better. Iowa, playing very well and owner of a three-game winning streak over IU, is next.

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Don't stop, git it git it.

"It's an easy game, man. Easy game."
~Edgerrin James

by 87 Rides A Surfboard on Feb 3, 2011 1:13 PM EST reply actions

SOCIALMEDIA:"FACEBOOK" DOWN, MUST FIND NEW WAYS TO DEEPSTALK AREA FEMALES FOR HUMAN GANT RON TO SEX AKA DONG AFTER BRAVES ATL LOSSES --CyborgHanson48

by Chopaholic on Feb 3, 2011 2:16 PM EST reply actions

Wait, wait, wait...

I like this team and am starting to enjoy watching basketball again. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves in predicting how the balance of the schedule will play out, and whether we’ll make some second-class postseason tournament. It’s still a young team; two of our four best players are out for (likely) the season; and a third has a gimpy knee. (The other best player, though, eats 16d nails for breakfast, and shows moments of channeling Steve Nash). Let’s just enjoy the ride for awhile.

And, for the love of God, do not – DO NOT – ruin this for me by adopting as a theme song some Journey schlock that sucked anyway and has now been transformed into toxic nightmare fuel by hordes of slack-jawed White Sox fans. Gah.

by hoosierdaddynow on Feb 3, 2011 3:07 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t recall making any predictions about how the rest of the schedule will play out. But I do think it is appropriate, given how this team has played the last three games, to be optimistic about the future – the rest of this season and beyond.

Personally, I don’t care for the song either. I thought it was an amusing image though, so I used it. Sorry it reminds you of the White Sox. I’m a Braves fan, myself.

SOCIALMEDIA:"FACEBOOK" DOWN, MUST FIND NEW WAYS TO DEEPSTALK AREA FEMALES FOR HUMAN GANT RON TO SEX AKA DONG AFTER BRAVES ATL LOSSES --CyborgHanson48

by Chopaholic on Feb 3, 2011 4:53 PM EST up reply actions

It is an amusing image

And optimism is appropriate. I apologize for being the wet blanket. I have seen some speculation in other circles about the remainder of the schedule. I am happy with the intangible progress that I have seen from the team. It has not been linear by any stretch of the imagination. There was a point last year where the wheels kind of came off, for a lot of reasons. I was concerned that was going to happen again this year, after the Iowa game. And it may yet. But I have been most pleased by the fact that the team did not only not fold, but seems to have really responded.

I am concerned that those who want to speculate on wins and losses the rest of the season may lose sight of incremental progress. But, hey, I am the guy who posted the fanpost that suggested that it is time to start expecting them to win. So I should probably just shut up.

by hoosierdaddynow on Feb 3, 2011 5:30 PM EST up reply actions

I'm happy if we finish with 15 wins

3 more and the season will be a success considering the injuries and ineligibles we’ve been dealt.

"Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power."
- George Bernard Shaw

by JustAJ on Feb 3, 2011 5:46 PM EST up reply actions

Also of note

Wee Little Danny Moore with the solid (if unspectacular) defense on the last-second Hoffarber miss. He made the pass difficult and then had two hands straight up, in the Hoff’s face. Not going to foul him and not going to let him get a clean look. Hoosier Nation applauds you, Daniel.

by hoosierdaddynow on Feb 3, 2011 3:09 PM EST reply actions

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