Over the past two seasons Indiana University Women’s Basketball Head Coach Teri Moren has spoken of the goals her Hoosiers share: to win a Big Ten Title; reach an NCAA Final Four; and, compete for a National Title. These goals are lofty, but not out of reach with the level of talent and determination of the 2021-22 Lady Hoosiers.
Coach Moren compares her team with what the top competitors are doing, such as ‘the Marylands’. She said, “[We look at] who’s scoring the most points in our league and what would our point production have to look like to rank in the . . . top 3.”
The numbers Indiana aspires to achieve are 80/11; 80 or more points and 11 or fewer turnovers, per game.
Coach Moren explained that IU can achieve an increase in point production in two distinct ways, “We can lessen our turnovers to give us more possessions, and the other piece would be [to increase our] free-throw percentage.”
Currently, 4 Big Ten Teams stand ahead of Indiana in offensive production, with Ohio State, Iowa, Maryland, and Michigan State all producing higher point per game(ppg) averages. IU stands at 73.7 ppg (10 games played) and 15.1 turnovers per game.
Moren has vocalized the desire to stand neck and neck with the best teams in the Big Ten as well as the best teams in the nation. She has successfully elevated the stature of the program to be in the running to accomplish such goals. Last season marked several milestones, including the 6th consecutive season of 20 or more wins, and the program’s first ever NCAA Elite 8 appearance (loss to Arizona 66-53).
Indiana has returned all 5 starters this year, although many teams in the country have, considering a bonus year has been provided to student athletes due to the limited season last year. All-American Junior Forward Mackenzie Holmes leads the Hoosiers in many stat categories, but all 5 have positively contributed to the success of the team. The 10th nationally ranked Hoosiers seem to be a complete package, executing their flagship defense and rollercoaster offense that has managed to put up enough points in 8 of their 10 games.
To date, Indiana has matched-up well against the nation’s best this season, achieving a 2-2 record against top-20 teams. The 2 losses they experienced, this year’s only losses to date, were closer than the final scores might elude. IU’s defense kept them in both of these games until the waning moments. But a challenge that might begin to loom as their schedule focuses on conference play, in a conference with up to 6 teams receiving votes in the national rankings, is the depth of the team.
Indiana has not gained very much productivity from their bench over the opening ten games. Although Forward Kiandra Browne and Guard Chloe Moore-McNeil have been regular substitutions, Coach Moren is seeking more consistency out of each of them.
“[Browne’s] Achilles Heel right now is fouling too much,” says Coach Moren, referencing the need for ‘KB’ to be more disciplined and stay out of foul trouble from her defending.
While looking great several times throughout the season, Moren described Chloe’s play as, “a tale of two halves,” not being able to maintain an aggressive level of play throughout an entire game.
Coach had many positive words for the flexibility of Forward Grace Waggoner, “the great thing about ‘Wags’ is her versatility.” She added that Waggoner really understands her role and is effective on both sides of the ball.
Calendar year 2022 will unravel all new challenges for the Hoosiers, suiting up for 15 contests, 2 against Maryland, 2 against Iowa, and a road game against Michigan, all top 15 teams. Will the Hoosiers control the ball to their desired turnover numbers? Will the Hoosiers increase their field goal and free-throw percentages in order to increase their ppg? Will the Hoosiers receive more consistent minutes from their bench over conference play?
These are all questions for which the answers will directly impact whether or not Indiana University Women’s Basketball can reach their desired outcome for 2021-22.
The answers begin this weekend, as Indiana welcomes the 6-2 Western Michigan Broncos to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Sunday, December 19th, at 1pm. The Broncos are led by Sophomore Guard Lauren Ross, who is averaging over 20 points and 5 rebounds per game.
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