There will not be 7,000 Hoosier fans cheering for each basket, applauding each opponent turnover, or chanting disbelief for a perceived blown call. But if momentum is factor, Indiana should stand tall as they enter Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 8pm on Monday evening to face Iowa for the second time in 3 days.
The challenging schedule Indiana has to wrap up this regular season is largely due to previously postponed games, but most Big Ten teams are in similar boats, having a 2-week cram with several games to play. For the Hoosiers, they had 6 games in a dozen days, and have to conclude the season with 3 games against top 25 teams, two of which are against Iowa.
Hoosier/Hawkeye part I was controlled by Iowa, from the onset. 6’3” Hawkeye Center Monika 6’3” Czinano dominated inside, scoring at will, accumulating 16 points in the first half, and confusing the Indiana offense. At halftime, Indiana found themselves trailing by 17 points, and they played the statistical worst half of their season. But ruling these Hoosiers out of any game is a mistake.
Whatever was said in the locker room seemed to work, as the Hoosiers demonstrated a spark of determination, perhaps even stronger than during their comeback win against Purdue. Although they ran out of time in the end, what IU accomplished in the 4th quarter, after trailing by 24 points, was nothing less than spectacular.
“Up to that point we didn’t play well at all,” said Graduate Guard Ali Patberg. “We knew we had one more quarter to give everything we had, and that’s what we did. We never give up.”
Indiana outscored Iowa 42-25, amassing the largest offensive quarter in Big Ten basketball this season. They were finally grabbing rebounds on defense, eliminating the endless additional chances Iowa accomplished through the first 30 minutes of play. The Hoosiers also began hitting shots. IU had discovered how to approach Iowa’s defense and were successful in breaking into the paint to score lay-ups, and this opened up some open looks from the perimeter.
“We fought like crazy in the fourth quarter to get back in the game and to make it a game,” said Indiana Head Coach Teri Moren.
Their fight did not change the outcome, with #5 Indiana losing to #22 Iowa 96-91; but, demonstrated several important facts:
- Indiana can work the paint even with Mackenzie Holmes not 100%
- Officiating frustrations will not dampen the hunger Indiana has to close out games on a positive note
- While there is still time left on the clock, IU truly believes they can still win – an important quality to success in the NCAA Tournament
Winning at Iowa will not be easy, considering it is a road game, there was less than 48 hours to rest, and Iowa is among the nation’s most talented and balanced teams, but momentum goes a long way. The short interval between games could very well play into Indiana’s strengths, and experience. And if any coaching staff is capable of learning on the fly, it is the team Coach Moren has assembled.
Iowa’s strengths are size and 3-point shot percentages, along with a Sophomore Guard that can beat you from every single aspect of the game. But the biggest key to their offence is the fluid ball movement and selfless passing. Iowa had an unbelievable ratio of 27 assists on 34 made shots. Indiana will need to pack the defense that their program is built upon in order to ride Saturday’s 4th quarter success to a victory on the road in Hoosier/Hawkeye part II.
Recent IUWBB News . . .