I really can't gather any meaningful thoughts at this point. I am just devastated.
So, I'll try for some quick hits and leave it at that.
- Obviously, missing all three one-and-ones in crunch time was costly. In fact, it likely cost them the game. In case you missed it, the culprits were Elston, Hulls, and Jones. This wasn't Rivers, Pritchard, and Jobe. Tough to swallow when you leave 6 points at the FT line in the closing minutes when you are trying to upset #7 in the country. Empty possessions at the worst possible time.
- What a great first half. 47 points and a 4-point lead at half. Beautiful.
- This team desparately needs one of these close games to go their way.
- No moral victories, but I do like the elevated brand of basketball that we have seen at Illinois and tonight against Purdue. Sucks to lose these close games, but honestly, these last two games have been two of the best and most complete games that the Hoosiers have played this year.
- So great to see Tom Pritchard in the first half. He was outstanding. Yes, he didn't do as much in the second half, but I prefer to focus on the positive because he was truly great in the first half. If Pritchard can play at that level, we will continue to compete.
- If you think about the plays and possessions that we are giving away due to youth and freshmen mistakes, we win this game next year. Think about it. Hulls, Elston, and Watford all made some great plays during this game, but they also made many bonehead plays. Experience doesn't make ALL of those foolish playes disappear, but it usually does make some of those plays disappear and that can be the difference in winning and losing in the last two games.
- It's going to be tough for Tom Crean to keep these guys up, but I sure hope he can do it because I truly think they are playing pretty good basketball right now.
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2 comments:
it does hurt to lose games like this, and we seem quite good at it. the FTs just kill me, but we have a lot of good pieces to build on the next few years. i liked the starting lineup. rivers kills me, then does something great. i think i like hulls in there better, but he picked up his dribble way too much last night. throw in mo creek and a 5 star some time in the next 2 years, and we'll be back solid. i think purdue was stunned that the officials actually called some fouls on them!
This one really felt like a lack of experience thing. I had hoped in December that the Pitt when would be where they realized what they needed to do to close out games, but last night it really seemed like panic set in starting at about the 2 minute mark. The missed free throws were huge, but they took care of the ball all game and then turned it over twice right at the end.
Hard to say if it would have made a difference, but when Verdell got open to the lane he should have gone up with both hands for the jam. If he got the dunk and foul the roof when have blown off and they maybe could have carried that momentum to the end. I agree with Jeff, next year these same games are wins. If you look at the Big Ten games in the book so far they've had 4 games they could have or should have won (Purdue, Illinois twice, and Iowa). With one more year of experience or a healthy Creek they win at least 2 or those if not more.
Another big Indiana Sunday. I prefer the sweep, but if we have to split them again then Go Colts!
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