IU 71 NW 66

* 20 WINS - After 3 straight 20 loss seasons, how sweet it is!

* Verdell Jones!  You have to be happy for the senior.  After missing two games with a shoulder injury, a vocal online minority chatted that this team was better with VJIII on the bench.  Hopefully those haters will shut up now and let this kid enjoy a well-deserved successful senior season. 

Ignoring Verdell's offensive flurry to close the game for a moment....I thought Verdell was fantastic even before that.  He was rebounding, getting steals, and making some great decisions and passes. 

But how about the key sequence to close out the game.  Shurna had just completed that circus 3-point play that was also Cody's 4th foul to tie the game at 63.  Gulp.  Verdell answered with one of his patented mid-ranged jumpers.  Up by 2.  Then, Verdell with a nice drive and scooping layup.  Up by 4.  The teams trade baskets as the clock drops below a minute.  With about 30 seconds left, Verdell hits the dagger with a toe-on-the-line two.  Up by 6.  Defensive stop.  Game over.

* At times, this game was not looking so good and it certainly would have been a tough loss to swallow.  In the end, they found a way to win and that's the important thing in the Big Ten.  IU found a way to win in a game where Shurna poured in 29, NW threw in some prayers at the shot-clock buzzer, IU shot only 2-13 from the arc, and Jordan Hulls was completely out of sorts.

* Cody had a strange game.  I thought he had some really bad plays.  A weak, but stupid foul in the first minute of the game.  Some ugly turnovers -- box shows 3 but I'm pretty sure he had 4.  Then, that one play where Shurna missed a runner and Cody and a NW player were really the only two in position to rebound.  But with the ball on the rim, Cody turned to run down the court.  The ball rolls off the rim to the NW player who is now all alone.  Cody was actually laughing afterward as if he knew he had just done something really stupid.  I think he thought the shot had gone in or was at least going to go in. 

Anyway, for those reasons, I didn't think it was Big Z's best game.  Now, here's what I LOVE about Cody -- 23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 9-11 FG, 5-6 FT.  What if he actually had a good game!

* I really like the way Victor has been bringing it the last few games.  High energy and aggressive.  That's the way he has to play.  Even if it leads to a questionable play every now and then, it seems the positives far outweigh the negatives.  When he plays that way, he gets in the lane, he gets to the rim, his defensive energy is up, and he rebounds.  Tonight, he missed a few point-blank layups, but he kept after it and had a key fast-break layup and and another 3-point play down the stretch.  How about Vic's line tonight -- 12 pts, 6 rebs, 4 assts, 2 stls, 1 blk, 1 TO.

* Verdell's final line is also worth noting -- in just 18 minutes, 6 pts, 4 assts, 3 rebs, 2 stls, 1 blk, and 0 turnovers.

* FT Shooting -- the Hoosiers free throw shooting has been tremendous the last two games.  Tonight, after starting only 1-3 to start the game, they made 14-15 after that.

* Ed Hightower -- Somebody has to stop this man.  It's really become quite ridiculous.  How about that charge call tonight?  What was that?!?  He blows his whistle and then emphatically, and I mean emphatically, points at who knows what 5 or 6 times. It wasn't until he finally turned to the scorers table and put up 3 fingers that I knew it was a charge on the NW PG (#3) and not a block by Hulls.  Isn't that why we have 100-year old hand signals for officials to use?  And it wasn't close to that new half-circle under the bucket, so he wasn't pointing at that.  For a charge, you just need to get that hand behind your head.  Once you do that, everyone knows it's a charge and if you still want to emphatically point with your other arm, go ahead, I guess.  One tweet tonight compared Ed's charge call to Lesley Nielson calling strikes in The Naked Gun.  Spot on.

Hightower pulls that crap when the ball gets knocked out of bounds too.  Instead of just signaling whose ball it is, he emphatically and repeatedly points at the player that touched it.  The problem is that sometimes you think he's pointing in your team's direction.  Only to find out 17 seconds later that he finally points the other way. 

But, all things considered, Crazy Ed has given IU a fair share of calls over the years.  I think the irrational exuberance started when he began taking steroids to grow hair.  Anyway, if we start kicking refs out the Big Ten, TV Teddy is still easily on the top of that list.

* Eddie Johnson as a color commentator.....ummm, no.

* 3-game conference winning streak - longest of Crean era.

* Let's go get a win in Iowa City!

Go Hoosiers!

Indiana Wins, Purdue Loses

Honestly, I'm so pumped that all I can remember is Remy's 3!!!!!!   What a shot by an unheralded freshman!

I guess I remember Purdue's crazy 8-40, 0 turnover first half performance.  That's just crazy.  40 shots in a half of a game that was not up-tempo!  What's even crazier, 0 turnovers and 40 FG attempts and only 22 points.  IU wasn't exactly lighting it up, but that was some putrid shooting by the Boilers.  And they weren't just misses, there was brick after brick after brick, followed by an airball.  Even Hummel was sending shots off the backboard like he was trying to break it.

After falling behind 13-8 early, IU finished the half with a 25-9 run to have a nice 11 point lead at the half.  But, as I was texting Tom at half, if PU starts hitting, it could be trouble.  As predicted, Purdue came out on fire -- they were nailing 3s after going 0-11 in the first half.  However, the Hoosiers kept scrapping and kept finding a way to score.  The lead would dip to 7, but IU would answer to keep the lead at 9 or 10.  IU even pushed the lead to 13 at one point, but then Purdue made their run.  The Hoosiers were impressive at the line, but Zeller and Elston missed back to back front ends and left the door open for Purdue.  The Boilers took advantage and cut the lead to 5.

Somewhere near the 4-minute timeout, it looked like the Hoosiers might completely collapse.  Hummel hit 2 freebies to cut the lead to 4, which was the closest the game was since the early-going.  After a couple more possessions, the lead was 6.  That's when somebody found Remy in the corner, the freshman caught and fired with confidence.........BUCKETS, IT WAS BUCKETS!  (Pretty sure that's how Daryl Thomas described Keith Smart's shot).  What a shot by the freshman from Kentucky.  I love this kid.  He could really, really be a good one.

From there, the Hoosiers buried them!  After PU only turned it over 1 time in the first 36-or-so minutes, they suddenly started turning it over every possession.  Next thing you know, IU is up 17 and clearing the bench.  Beautiful, just beautiful.

Another big rivalry win and I am back inside, safely off the ledge.

Go Hoosiers!!!!

P.S. - I forgot to mention that Victor was outstanding.  The most athletic player on the floor used his superior athleticism to a big-time advantage.  Nicely done, Vic!  He even hit a 3 for the first time in who knows how long and was outstanding at the line.  And his sophomore running mate came back to form as well.  It was great to see Sheeladipo back in form!

Indiana/Michigan according to Twitter

@IUSportcomIUSC

Turnovers and threes have been the story so far. Mich 4 threes, 0 TOS; IU 0 threes and 5 TOs.

 

@peegsMike Pegram

Indiana shooting just 27.3% with five turnovers here in first nine minutes

 

@IUSportcomIUSC

@CrimsonCast maybe Crean likes the zone because it makes his offense look so bad in practice?

 

@ChronicHoosierChronic Hoosier

That #iubb offense that scored 103 against Iowa is on track to score 27 against Michigan.

 

@AssemblyCallThe Assembly Call

That was just some terrific off-ball defense by Watford. This is some extreme sarcasm by me.

 

@AssemblyCallThe Assembly Call

Is Will Sheehey drunk?

 

@CrimsonCastCrimsonCast

Verdell is a master of the old "go behind your back 20 feet from the basket and then stop your dribble" move.

 

@ids_sportsIDS Sports

The lead keeps growing in Ann Arbor. Michigan leads 27-8 with 7:36 left in 1st half. Still no timeout has been taken by IU to stop the run.

 

@ids_sportsIDS Sports

Michigan has 6 assists and 0 turnovers. IU has 0 assists and 7 turnovers.

 

@AssemblyCallThe Assembly Call

Early start, so I was going to watch without beer today. Made last second decision to grab 6-pack. Best decision ever.

 

@ChronicHoosierChronic Hoosier

Well, this is a hot fucking mess, isn't it?

 

@AssemblyCallThe Assembly Call

Coach Crean's clapping seems as enthusiastic as normal, so it's not that...

 

@IUSportcomIUSC

Crean hasn't yet called a time out.

 

@BtownBannersBtownBanners.com

Indiana goes on a run, Michigan calls a Time-Out. #GroundBreaking idea right there... #iubb

 

@IUSportcomIUSC

Maybe Crean was waiting for Beilein to call timeout first... you know, mental advantage?

 

@AssemblyCallThe Assembly Call

Based on what I've seen so far in this game, there is little reason for Watford to play again.

 

@ChronicHoosierChronic Hoosier

From his 1/23 radio show. RT @DustinDopirak: Crean "The greatest feeling when you win a game and have timeouts in your pocket."

 

@AssemblyCallThe Assembly Call

How come they never show Dusty Keil at IU basketball games? Oh...

 

@CrimsonCastCrimsonCast

Brilliant set of plays there at the end

 

@ids_sportsIDS Sports

Michigan still with just 1 turnover at half

 

@AssemblyCallThe Assembly Call

Positive: IU committed only 2 fouls in the 1st half. Negative: We were rarely close enough to a Michigan player on D to commit one.

 

@CrimsonCastCrimsonCast

Why is sheehey still in?

 

@insidethehallAlex Bozich

Even John Beilein can't believe this call and it's in his favor.

 

@kbikoffKen Bikoff

There is no situation where a made basket + a block equals a basket and possession. It's just not the call.

 

@AssemblyCallThe Assembly Call

THe officials have decided we're now going to play make it-take it.

 

@AssemblyCallThe Assembly Call

I love how Victor has responded to becoming the 6th man, but I'd be okay with him not shooting anymore 3s. Maybe ever.

 

@CrimsonCastCrimsonCast

Two huge possessions, two empty possessions. Our offensive plan is laughable

 

@ChronicHoosierChronic Hoosier

Time to sack the fuck up & finish this one, boys.

 

@ids_sportsIDS Sports

Hardaway Jr. hits a big 3 from the left corner and Elston misses the front end of the one-and-one. IU down 55-50 with 2:25 left.

 

@insidethehallAlex Bozich

Hoosiers leaving too many points on the foul line.

 

@bigtengeeksJosh and Mike

That was Michigan's 3rd offensive rebound all game. Nice timing.

 

@AssemblyCallThe Assembly Call

Two straight 3s for Michigan. Slipping away. 58-50 Michigan.

 

@CrimsonCastCrimsonCast

All those timeouts will sure come in handy now

 

@CrimsonCastCrimsonCast

Great timeout, gives us a chance to set up another watford foul

 

@ChronicHoosierChronic Hoosier

So, we saved all those TO's to plot a desperate comeback rather than use them to stop a runaway start, w/o which we wouldn't be here. Got it

 

@AssemblyCallThe Assembly Call

Looking more and more like the quick 13-0 start by Michigan will be the difference in this one.

 

@bigtengeeksJosh and Mike

IU defense continues to show cracks. Just a roller coaster of expectations this year for the Hoosiers.

 

@insidethehallAlex Bozich

Hulls hit 4-of-5 from behind 3-point line. Everyone else? 1-of-9.

 

@IUSportcomIUSC

Sheehey played 7 minutes in 1st, 3 in the second. No points, two fouls, 3 TOs.

 

@indianauniverseIndianaUniverse.com

Crean on the post game interview, "Our starting line up was a joke. An absolute joke." He's not wrong.

 

@CrimsonCastCrimsonCast

How do you not have your team ready for a crucial road game against an opponent you already played down to the wire?

 

@insidethehallAlex Bozich

Fischer just said that's as negative as he's ever heard Crean talk about his team.

 

@peegsMike Pegram

Crean: "Our players came out like they had seen a ghost"

 

@DustinDopirakDustin Dopirak

Crean: "I'm looking for guys in February that are playing with a warrior spirit."

 

@ids_sportsIDS Sports

Crean on waiting for the first media timeout: "It was all us. It wasn't anything that a timeout was going to correct."

 

@DustinDopirakDustin Dopirak

Crean: "They're human beings, young ones. I'm not going to make an excuse for them. They just weren't very good tonight."

 

@ChronicHoosierChronic Hoosier

If Crean shares the opinion that tonight's starters were an "absolute joke," why'd he wait so long to pull them? Can't wait for media TO's.

 

@ids_sportsIDS Sports

Crean complimentary on freshman Remy Abell. "He will play more there's no question about that."

 

@DustinDopirakDustin Dopirak

Crean: "We stayed in front of the ball (after the first five minutes.) we were over-helping big time."

 

@DustinDopirakDustin Dopirak

Crean: "We didn't move very well on offense. We were very stand-still on our cutting game."

 

@ids_sportsIDS Sports

Crean: "I'm not real interested in motivation. I'm interested in playing the guys that are going to come in and be fearless."

 

@ChronicHoosierChronic Hoosier

How many points allowed w/ subs at the table? RT @peegs: Crean: on the bad start: "It wasn't anything a timeout was going to correct"

 

@ChronicHoosierChronic Hoosier

Let's be honest with ourselves, Crean coaches like 15 yr olds fuck: just a mess of frantic activity without ever hitting the right spots.