INDIANA UNIVERSITY MEN’S BASKETBALL GAME OBSERVATIONS VS. LOUISVILLE
While most everybody assumed that the Indiana University men’s basketball team would lose a game eventually this season, it is safe to say that nobody expected it would be in such embarrassing fashion.
The Hoosiers kept things close throughout the 1st half, but were outscored 52-32 after halftime en route to a disappointing 89-61 defeat at the hands of Louisville. Do not get it twisted, you have to tip your cap to the Cardinals for coming out ready to go from the jump. They played with much more enthused energy than their cream and crimson counterparts all day long.
What went wrong in this one? And were there any silver linings to cling to? If you watched the game closely, you probably noticed similar sights to what we saw.
PAT KELSEY IS A HOME RUN
Once upon a time, some interesting imaginations pondered the idea of Pat Kelsey potentially jumping ship from Charleston to Bloomington if Mike Woodson and his alma mater decided to part ways. There was never any real seasoning to those speculations, and Kelsey ended up earning the assignment of restoring glory to the Louisville men’s basketball program. He has undoubtedly compiled a solid track record as a coach, accumulating a 261-122 record (.681 W-L%) across his first 12 seasons running the show at Winthrop and Charleston. Now, Kelsey has the Cardinals out to an impressive 4-1 start to the season, and there has been an obvious uptick in energy surrounding this team since his arrival.
INDIANA’S DEFENSIVE COMMUNICATION WAS LACKING
Aside from controlling the boards (40-35) and avoiding any foul trouble altogether (Louisville only attempted 7 free throws in the game), Indiana’s defensive resistance looked under-motivated and overmatched. The Cardinals shot a scintillating 56.9% from the field while connecting on 10/27 triple tries (37.0%). Time and time again, the Hoosiers missed rotations. On multiple occasions, you could visibly see confusion between players when it came to switching. Every possession is critical, and the squad must mitigate their lapses on the less glamorous end of the court.
THE BACKCOURT FORGOT TO SHOW UP
Here is the combined daily statline of IU’s backcourt rotation (Rice, Carlyle, Galloway, Cupps): 3 points | 3 assists (compared to 9 turnovers) | 4 rebounds | 3 steals | 1/18 FG | 1/6 3FG | 0-2 FT. In the offseason, Woody echoed the sentiment that “you win with great perimeter and guard play.” Surely this type of performance was not was he had in mind, and it should go without saying that these types of outings are unacceptable going forth.
MALIK RENEAU + ANTHONY LEAL WERE THE SOLE BRIGHT SPOTS
If you squinted hard enough, you could vaguely identify a pair of positive notes from the blowout loss. For starters, Malik Reneau had his best run of the season to date, finishing with a game-high 21 points (7/12 FG x 2/3 3FG x 5/6 FT) plus a team-high 7 rebounds and 4 assists. We also had the pleasure of witnessing our first Anthony Leal sighting of the young season. The senior splashed 2 silky jumpers within a matter of seconds of each other, and it will be interesting to see how he fits into the rotation looking ahead. If he continues to exude the type of confidence he showed late in the game, chances are he will earn himself a steady role on a team in need of all the shooting they can get.
OUMAR BALL HAS TO CLEAN UP HIS BALL CONTROL
In terms of offseason transfer acquisitions, Oumar Ballo’s relocation from the desert to the Sample Gates district was among the most hyped across all of college hoops. Early in the season, the big fella has certainly made his presence felt in the paint. Most of his numbers stand to support his positive impact for the Hoosiers on both ends of the floor: 11.8 PPG | 9.0 RPG | 2.4 BPG | 68.6% FG. But for a traditional center with a relatively low usage rate, the native of Mali has been a bit sloppy with his decision-making through 5 games. He is averaging 2.6 TOPG compared to just 1.6 APG, and must showcase enhanced sharpness with regards to taking care of the ball.