Indiana Hoosiers v. Penn State Nittany Lions (preview).
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Jan 20, 2012 12:37 PM EST
in Indiana Hoosiers Basketball
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Penn State Nittany Lions
Current record: 10-10 (2-5)
Current RPI: 142 (IU is #24)
Current Sagarin: 130 (IU is #13)
Current Pomeroy: 135 (IU is #12)
2010-11 record: 19-14 (9-9), lost to Temple in first round of NCAA Tournament
2010-11 RPI: 39
2010-11 Sagarin: 49
2010-11 Pomeroy: 37
Series: IU leads 29-9 (27-9 since Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1992-93)
Last Penn State win: March 10, 2011 (61-55 in Big Ten Tournament, Indianapolis)
Last IU win: 1/8/2012 (88-82 in University Park)
Pomeroy scouting report
TV: noon Sunday, Big Ten Network
Blogs: Black Shoe Diaries, Linebacker U, Nittany White Out
The Big Ten season is approaching the halfway point. Of IU's seven Big Ten games to date, IU has looked consistently good in only one: the home win over Ohio State. Against Michigan State, IU sandwiched its best 10 minutes of the season between the 30 worst minutes of the season. In three games (@ Penn State, Michigan, @ Nebraska) IU appeared to have the game in hand but allowed the opponent to come close to winning or, in the case of Nebraska, allowed the opponent to win. It's not much of an exaggeration to say that the only thing IU is doing well in Big Ten play is shooting three pointers. Nearly all of IU's decent offensive numbers arise from IU's 43 percent shooting from deep. IU is dead last in conference play in defensive efficiency, offensive and defensive steal percentages, is #11 in offensive turnover percentage and #10 defensively (and comfortably in the red). We are #7 in three point defense and #10 in two point defense. The sudden decline of the defense is fairly difficult for me to understand. I realize that IU doesn't have super-athletic guards, but to be so bad, after a pretty respectable non-conference performance, even against good teams, is tough to understand. I don't understand how IU can get onlu 18 percent of its offensive rebound opportunities against an overmatched Nebraska team. Of course, IU is capable of playing better, but I've still seen no reason to believe that the Hoosiers are going to begin playing better.
A good start, of course, would be a lockdown performance in a home blowout of Penn State. The game at Penn State was a shamefully sloppy performance (16 turnovers, 1.15 points per possession allowed) that was saved only by 16-24 shooting from three point range. The Nittany Lions have gone 1-2 since the last IU game, losing at Nebraska and at home to Minnesota before rallying for a home win against Illinois last night. The Illinois game did not end until after 11 p.m., so if nothing else, this may present a slight scheduling advantage for IU. Penn State will have barely 60 hours between games. In the first game, Penn State leaned heavily on Tim Frazier and Jermaine Marshall, and I expect that will be the case again. I have no predictions and no feel for this game. Even a blowout win isn't cause for much optimism, but anything less will mean that the concern continues at least through the Wisconsin game next Tuesday, if not beyond.
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Need a good win here
IU had a very strong start to the season, but since conference play I feel like Zeller is the only starter who has consistently shown up. The rest of the team has to pick up the slack if they want to keep a good season going
Solid victory needed
I don’t think a blowout win is needed. But Indiana needs to show that they are a better team for the full 40 minutes at home. If the threes don’t fall, it won’t be a blowout, but IU doesn’t need that to demonstrate superiority. Cut down the turnovers, keep the Lions off the glass, and don’t let them run their offense cleanly – that alone would be enough to churn out a 10+ win.
Yes, blowout probably is overstating it. “show that they are a better team for the full 40 minutes” is probably closer to what I mean. A 13-15 point win in which it never feels like we are going to lose would be fine…you know, a game that feels for 40 minutes like the Nebraska game felt until the 5 minute mark.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Jan 20, 2012 1:57 PM EST up reply actions
show that they are a better team for the full 40 minutes
Amen on this. For lack of a better term, it seemed during much of the season that we were able to dictate the pace, flow, feel and outcome of a game. I can’t think of a better term for it than that. We just seemed to be in control. I did not see almost any of the Nebraska game, so I cannot comment on that. The Minnesota game was the first one where I felt like, from the first minute to the last, the other team just imposed it’s will upon us. In Columbus last week was pretty much the same. I’d just like to see that team reassert itself here. If it does, it wins, and I don’t care by how much.
by hoosierdaddynow on Jan 20, 2012 2:20 PM EST reply actions
show that they are a better team for the full 40 minutes
Amen on this. For lack of a better term, it seemed during much of the season that we were able to dictate the pace, flow, feel and outcome of a game. I can’t think of a better term for it than that. We just seemed to be in control. I did not see almost any of the Nebraska game, so I cannot comment on that. The Minnesota game was the first one where I felt like, from the first minute to the last, the other team just imposed it’s will upon us. In Columbus last week was pretty much the same. I’d just like to see that team reassert itself here. If it does, it wins, and I don’t care by how much.
by hoosierdaddynow on Jan 20, 2012 3:10 PM EST reply actions
Willis to UK.
Not excited about it, but not surprised. The drama provided a few minutes of entertainment because from the message boards it appears that a lot of Purdue fans truly thought they were going to get him.
"It's an easy game, man. Easy game."
~Edgerrin James
by 87 Rides A Surfboard on Jan 20, 2012 4:18 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Schadenfreude,
Thy name is John Purdue.
by hoosierdaddynow on Jan 23, 2012 9:05 AM EST up reply actions
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