The Hoosiers were 20-point underdogs going into West Lafayette. Indiana had never been that big of an underdog in the three years of the Mike Woodson era, and it’s not even close. The largest line the Hoosiers have faced all year was at Illinois, where they were 14.5-point dogs. Indiana tied the Illini with 53 seconds to go and did cover despite a 72-64 loss.
The Boilermakers dominated 79-59, as they did in Bloomington the month before, 74-62. In fact, for the first time since 1933-34, Purdue ended up winning both games by a margin of 20+ points. The hapless Hoosiers didn’t even get to 60, let alone get there first! P.U. led 61-35 with 9:48 remaining. There was no magic at Mackey! Zach Edey had 29-points and rubbed it in with his first career three. Braden Smith scored 19 as the Boilers pushed the lead to 28. C.J Gunn was the leading IU scorer with 13. I.U. would need the week off to prepare for Northwestern.
I remember the decade of the 70’s when I.U. won 20-straight over the Wildcats. There was another 26-game winning streak that ended in 2003. The longest winning streak Northwestern was ever able to put together was five in a row from 1913-15. However, Northwestern has been able to recently turn the tables with an 8-6 record against the once dominant Hoosiers since 2019.
Overall, the Hoosiers are 119-57, including this disturbing 76-72 loss in Bloomington. The Wildcats led at halftime 34-26, got to 60 first on a Boo Buie three with 6:34 to go, and held on for the victory after allowing the Hoosiers to creep within 4. Kel’el Ware led I.U. scoring with 22 and Mackenzie Mgbako added a career-high 20. Northwestern got 12 more shots at the basket due to a combination of low turnovers (3) and high offensive rebounds (14). They also shot 22-28 from the free throw line. Threes and frees, again, have haunted the Hoosiers. Malik Reneau and Kel’el Ware combined for seven turnovers against Northwestern double-teams, clearly part of the scouting report. Reneau fouled out for the second straight game. Coach Woodson could soon join the ranks of Ohio State’s Chris Holtmann on the outside of the BIG looking in. Oh, and the black uniforms with red lettering were as bad looking as the I.U. players wearing them.
I continue to emphasize the importance of getting to 60 points first in the game of college basketball. Due to surgery, I was unable to watch the next few games as three-straight I.U. opponents took advantage of “The Rule” and handed the Hoosiers a trio of BIG losses. The first was Purdue who led 60-51 with just about 13-minutes left on the fast track to an 87-66 victory at Assembly Hall. According to reports, Zach Edey The 7-foot-4 senior “drew fouls, made shots and even chased loose balls,” finishing with 33 points and 14 rebounds while leading the second-ranked Boilermakers to the 21-point rout. Trey Galloway scored 17 points and Mackenzie Mgbako had 15, but Indiana trailed for the final 37 minutes, most of that time by double digits, after falling into an early 25-13 hole and a 51-29 deficit at halftime.
Indiana has gone entire seasons without losing at Assembly Hall, including 1973, 1975, 1976, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2007, and 2016. This loss to the Boilermakers ranked fourth on the list. Here are the worst home losses in the modern era:
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February 25, 2010 – 32-point loss to Wisconsin
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February 25, 2009 – 22-point loss to Northwestern
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November 10, 2017 – 21-point loss to Indiana State
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January 16, 2024 21-point loss to Purdue
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January 27, 1977 – 19-point loss to Minnesota
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January 24, 1990 – 18-point loss to Michigan State
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March 6, 2004 – 18-point loss to Wisconsin
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December 31, 2010 – 18-point loss to Ohio State
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January 6, 1977 – 17-point loss to Purdue
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February 19, 2009 – 17-point loss to Wisconsin
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December 12, 2009 – 17-point loss to Kentucky
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February 10, 2010 – 17-point loss to Ohio State
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February 3, 2024 – 14-point loss to Penn State
There was then no rest for the weary as the Hoosiers traveled to Wisconsin for a 91-79 beating. Max Klesmit scored 20 consecutive Wisconsin points during a second-half span of just over 4 1/2 minutes, and the 11th-ranked Badgers prevailed. To add to the ugliness, this time it was C.J. Gunn who was ejected as the Badgers won the “race to 60” with the tally showing 61-47 and13:07 left. Wisconsin (14-4, 6-1 Big Ten) had now won its last 20 home games against Indiana and hadn’t lost to the Hoosiers in Madison since 1998, the Kohl Center’s inaugural season. Indiana (12-7, 4-4) was missing top rebounder and second-leading scorer, 7-foot Kel’el Ware due to a lower-leg injury. Malik Reneau scored 28 points, Mackenzie Mgbako 17, and Trey Galloway 10 for struggling Indiana.
It was then on to Champaign and another thrashing 70-62 by the #10 Illini. After a 60-56 Illinois lead at the 3:01 mark, Terrence Shannon Jr. made six free throws in the final minute. Indiana actually tied the game at 62 to keep things interesting with 1:29 left on a basket by Mackenzie Mgbako, part of his 12-point contribution. Malik Reneau, who scored 21 points for Indiana (12-8, 4-5), fouled out with 3:02 left. Xavier Johnson had 14 points while Ware once again was sidelined.
Iowa then came to town and IU managed to top the scoreboard 74-68 despite squandering a 17-point lead. It was Anthony Leal’s time to finally shine, scoring a career-high 13. Kel’el Ware returned with a 23-point effort including a free throw at 5:43 for a 60-58 advantage. Iowa came back to tie it at 60, but the Hoosiers prevailed in spite of both a Reneau ankle injury and Xavier Johnson’s banged-up elbow late in the game.
The Nittany Lions then came to Assembly Hall but I.U. couldn’t capitalize on the home court advantage, adding Penn State to the list of worst home losses. Malik Reneau came back to play, after missing practice while Johnson remained out of the lineup. Penn State (10-11, 5-6 Big Ten) hadn’t beaten Indiana in Bloomington since a 66-65 win on Feb. 12, 2014. At 11:05, the hot-shooting Nittany Lions were up 61-48 on the way to the 85-71 upset.
Kel’el Ware scored 17 of his 25 points in the first half for the Hoosiers. Malik Reneau added 16 points, MacKenzie Mgbako 13, and Trey Galloway 12 for the Hoosiers.
After this disheartening 1-3 stretch, the team headed to Columbus. Xavier Johnson didn’t dress, and I.U. trailed by 18 points twice in the second half, 47-29 at 18:58 and again 49-31 with 17:39 remaining. The Buckeyes even won the battle to 60, cruising to a 60-47 lead at 10:33 on a Dale Bonner three and all seemed futile. Then, the resilient Hoosiers mounted an incredible comeback by a 29-13 margin capped by Anthony Leal’s two free throws to win 76-73.
Here’s what Coach Woodson said after the game: “I thought tonight Gallo was huge in the second half. Our defense was solid in the second half, you hold this team to 31 points, that was the difference in getting back into the ballgame. Gallo coming down the stretch and Anthony making the big three was huge. Then getting the stop we needed when we stole the ball. It was big.”
Thus, the tale of two halves: Ohio State shot 50% in the first half and just 32% in the second but finished 24 for 27 at the line. Indiana shot 33% in the opening period and 55% after halftime. Galloway scored 19 second-half points and Reneau added 16 for the Hoosiers, combining for 51 of IU’s total points. Ware played just 10 minutes in the first half before picking up two fouls, and four total fouls in the game limited him to just 26 minutes. He then awkwardly landed on his leg and limped off the court. Ultimately, the careless Hoosiers gave up 22-points on 12 turnovers but still managed to win.
It didn’t get any easier as the wounded Hoosiers (14-9, 6-6) then traveled up I-65 to West Lafayette and once again squared off with #2 Purdue (21-2, 10-2). The Boilers were a perfect 11-0 at Mackey, so fan expectations were low. Would there be magic or more misery?
Working on the computer remains a daunting task. I haven’t been able to clearly focus on a single task, struggle with finger coordination, and shiver & shake from the blood thinners. My digits are often ice-like, needing to be warmed for even a proper blood oxygen reading. Most of this writing was done on my phone and transferred to this blog. I wanted to make sure to document this adventure while it was still fresh in my mind. I’d spend a few minutes on taxes, shift suddenly to baseball card organization, try to make a phone call, attempt to pen a poem, answer a text, pay a few bills, fill out another medical document, and then collapse for a nap. I did the daily Wordle, but any other of my regular card and word games took a back seat. All these once routine daily chores exhausted me, and I found myself unable to finish an entire chapter of a book or frequently confused on the plot of a TV series. They say that being heavily sedated for those two straight days of surgery had taken its toll and I needed to remain patient. Not so good of one, I’m afraid!
I returned to my role of grandfather, accompanying my wife in getting my granddaughter to the school bus and dropping off a belated birthday gift for my grandson. The bumpy car ride made me sore and the short distance seemed to stretch forever. I collapsed back in bed once we returned home, but failed to fall asleep, much like the restless effort before the 6a wake-up call. A shower, lunch, and shaky walk were next on the agenda before another boring afternoon of watching movies and attempting naps. I’ve come a long way in these first full three weeks since surgery.
Neck and back muscles ache from another restless night of trying to find a comfortable sleep position. Last night was nothing more than a series of short naps and trips to the bathroom. I often feel like there is a hole in my chest from a Howitzer blast. The surrounding skin remains sensitive and sore. There is a constant chill running through my body, but today is my last dose of blood thinners, so maybe my fingers and toes will finally begin to thaw. I continue to work the spirometer to strengthen my lungs and help warm my body. The cool Florida temperatures are not helping. I would like to sit outside in the sunshine but the air still gives me the shivers. Combine this with the existing tremors and my hands struggle with dexterity. I’m not much company for our guests that leave this afternoon.
I was buoyed by the IU basketball victory last night, after a first half performance that I can only describe as buffoonery. The team showed resilience, something that I need to get better at in fighting through this recovery. Everyone has been so supportive and I hate to let anyone down. Preliminary speculation is that my most recent EKG report no longer shows the irregularity of Afib. More frequent and longer walks, breathing exercises, a positive attitude, and a healthy diet are the keys to healing. I still feel like a Weeble-Wobble toy when I walk, unsteady on my feet. My thighs even burn as the leg muscles have obviously deteriorated from inactivity. I hate being out of shape, as my arms remain uselessly dangling at my side while raising them causes pain and stress on the repaired breast bone. I once again sit here starting at the TV screen while not really absorbing the content.
A neighbor reminded me that “the surgeon’s knife is a year long.” I can see where it will take that long to make a full recovery but will continue to do my best to make it shorter. I’ll fill you in on the surgeon’s report as to my progress after I catch you up on the trials and tribulations of I.U. basketball and “The Magic of 60.” I need a short break from the gory details of surgery, so why not focus on the equally ugly details of I.U. basketball.
The Hoosier men managed another home victory against Minnesota 74-62, with a game that was never in doubt. Malik Reneau’s lay-up at 13:02 took them over the magic mark (61-39) and went on to score 16. However, it was really Mackenzie Mgbako who flexed his freshman muscles with a 19-point career high. Two other starters were in double figures, including Kel’el Ware’s double-double and Trey Galloway’s ten. Xavier Johnson primarily rode the bench as retaliation for his actions at Rutgers. The Cream and Crimson accounted for 16-points off 14-turnovers, limiting themselves to a respectable ten, a vast improvement over the Scarlet Knight debacle.
The Hoosier women were on a 13-straight roll since the Stanford loss. They stood at 14-1 headed into icy Iowa City to play before a national audience on FOX. The #3 Hawkeyes left little doubt after an 84-67 drubbing behind Caitlin Clark’s 30-points and 11-assists, after missing her first six three-pointers. I can’t even say she then finished hot in the blizzard-like conditions outside because she has averaged 31 for the season. I.U. had fifteen-turnovers and only scored 20 in the second half. Mackenzie Holmes led Indiana with 16-points. Yarden Garzon and Sydney Parrish each totaled 11. Iowa is now in sole possession of the BIG Ten Conference lead, while I.U. will surely drop from their #14 national ranking. Purdue, Illinois, and Wisconsin, all ranked in the Top 20, loom for the men, while the women next host Minnesota. At least, the Purdue battle is at home.
Despite consuming two bottles of white wine last night, watching the I.U. basketball loss with a neighbor, my run this morning was relatively good. There were no major breathing issues or strong winds and rain, so I was able to get back to a normal 2.1-mile jaunt. This was after four days of miserable miles and many thoughts of quitting “The Streak.” After all, there’s little motivation knowing that it will officially end next Monday morning. However, I now confidently feel I can muddle through the last five mornings. The end is now in sight.
As I prepare mentally for a long stint of relative inactivity, I’m getting my financial affairs in order, along with a haircut and final tele-consult with my surgeon, Doctor Lozonschi. I’m finally learning to proper pronunciation of his name, moving on from simply Doctor L. He has a very capable team of associates to assist him on Monday morning. I still plan to use the hotel treadmill for a ceremonial final run. The days after will more than likely be a blur.
On the home front, our pool heater is two months over the warranty, so getting it repaired will put another dent in the budget, let alone the out-of-pocket costs of the hospitalization. I’ve taken a three-month leave from my weekly Chiropractor visit to save a few bucks. This afternoon, we have to plan our shore excursions for my recovery cruise in mid-March. Most are included, but there is a wine-tasting event in Argentina that has intrigued my wife and some other tours that may add to our trip expenses. We’ve all agreed that tasting the local fare will not add to our costs since we’re perfectly satisfied with the on-board restaurant options. On a positive note, I won’t have to navigate the unsteadiness of a treadmill or ship deck in rough waters to maintain my running streak. By then, the addiction of running for fifteen years straight will have likely passed. I will need to simply relax.
Before surgery, I will have to endure another I.U. basketball game, the Saturday night “Borrego Bash,” and another nerve-racking drive to Tampa. My wife and I will also have another Sunday Night Financial meeting that has wisely been on hold for several months because they typically result in a disagreement. Holiday expenses were naturally extensive and mortgage/insurance costs have predictably gone up. I want to make sure that we’re both on the same page before my costly hospital stay, assuring a peaceful recovery period. She will be at my bedside as much as possible, as she reluctantly gives up any opportunity to substitute teach for the next few weeks. I think she enjoys having the rewarding responsibility, while my needs likely will be exhausting. Five days and counting, with just a few more miserable running miles to complete!
As BIG Conference play resumed to bring in 2024, the late-night game against Nebraska was the worst I ever watched (and turned off out of frustration). Xaviar Johnson returned from injury but showed a lot of rust. The Huskers dominated 86-70, with 12-threes and 15-steals. They had a 61-47 edge on two Sam Hoiberg free throws at the 11:41 mark. Keisei Tominaga had a season high 28-points (he then scored 19 to top #1 Purdue as a follow-up) while Kal-el Ware managed 20 for the Hoosiers. The loss dropped I.U. to 2-1 in the BIG and out of all the tourney projections.
The Hoosiers were then grateful to be back home, licking their deep wounds from the nightmare in Lincoln. They stumbled through the first half, falling behind at halftime 39-38 after a brief lead. They then came out if the locker room flat and gave up 8 straight points before responding to tie the game at 48. Ohio State trailed 60-54 with 6:11 remaining on a CJ Gunn trey, as the Hoosiers began to remember “The Magic.” I. U. only had 4 turnovers total versus 19 miscues for Nebraska and this led to a much-needed 71-65 victory over a Tier-2 tourney team. Malik Reneau was the leading scorer, amassing 19 of his 23 in the second half. Xavier Johnson had 18 and C.J. Gunn 10.
Indiana has lost its last four games in Piscataway, N.J., while scoring just 54.8 points per game and losing by an average of 10.8 points. Historically, I.U. Is just 2-8 against Rutgers dating back to the 2017-18 season, and they snapped a six-game losing streak last season. However, the Scarlet Knights have yet to claim a BIG victory this season, sitting at 0-3 in conference play and 8-6 overall.
Make that 2-9! Rutgers defeated Indiana at Jersey Mike’s Arena by a final score of 66-57, once again losing the race to the “Magic Mark.” The Scarlet Knights led 30-27 at the half, while the struggling Hoosiers were led in the game by three players with 13 points — Kel’el Ware, Mackenzie Mgbako and Malik Reneau. 18 I.U. turnovers led to 18-points, the difference in the game. Xavier Johnson had five of those before he was ejected with a flagrant foul, hitting below the belt. Fellow Hoosier supporters were embarrassed by his immature actions, reminiscent of the speeding incident back in 2022. Can I.U basketball sink much “lower” than the already reduced expectations?
Shooting and rebounding once again raised their ugly heads. The Hoosiers were a pitiful 4-15 from the line, 39.7% from the field, and 26.9% from three. Rutgers rebounded 19 of their own misses that resulted in 12-points. Overall, despite our size advantage, the Scarlet Knights achieved a 51-40 rebounding edge. The ball was not bouncing our way and clanging off the rim, if they even hit it! Air ball! Indiana (11-5, 3-2) will host Minnesota next.
It took every bit of resolve to complete the minimum mile this morning. I got up early, did my pushups, sit-ups and stretching, took my wife to work, and drove Tally to the dog park. She is currently curled up in my office chair, seemingly content. I could feel the absence of Tylenol in my system as old age stiffness was more pronounced than ever. I wanted to quit in that first Fassio Street stretch as a strong headwind pushed me back a step for every two strides I progressed. My plan was to run 2.1-miles, but my heart was racing. Coordination and balance were difficult, as the 1.1-mile distance I covered felt like a marathon. It looks like I’m destined to finish this 15-year running streak in misery, as I huff and puff along.
There’s an I.U. game tonight at Rutgers, and I hope the Hoosiers find the stride that I couldn’t this morning. A neighbor and Rutgers alum is coming over for some pre-game chicken pot pie and to watch the action while I wives are at book club. We’ll set our sights on a couple bottles of wine, since one of us will be the loser. Former I.U. quarterback, Michael Penix, Jr. did not set a good example of competitive play in the Washington loss to Michigan in last night’s National Championship. I send this important message to our basketball team: Don’t be like Mike!
I’m headed to Chair Yoga yet this morning, an eye doctor follow-up this afternoon, the chiropractor tomorrow, a tele-video conference with my surgeon on Thursday, and the Saturday night Borrego Bash before the drive to Tampa on Sunday. Maybe we can get in a movie, Date Night and a haircut? All of these routine activities, fun and not so fun, will come to an end on Monday as my new life begins. In the meantime, the struggle of anticipation continues.
Purdue looked unstoppable, easily defending their new #1 status over Jacksonville 100-57. Everyone in the BIG seems to be routing their Holiday opponents but struggling I.U. just squeaked by Morehead State and couldn’t seem to pull away from North Alabama, leading 43-34 at halftime. Free throws continue to be an issue, finishing 9-14 from the charity stripe, while being matched by the less physical Lions in rebounding. Loose balls don’t bounce their way and the offense is subject to scoring stalls. The one positive was three-point shooting, a puzzling missing piece on this year’s team. However, North Alabama is apparently good for what ails ya’ as the Hoosiers hit a season-high twelve from behind the arc. It was the most in the Mike Woodson era, and only one off the mark from the last time the two teams played in December of 2020. It’s been three-years since I.U. has had that level of long-range production.
Hopefully this is a sign of things to come rather than a blip on the radar screen. Malik Reneau led all scorers with 25, a career high for him on 4-4 three-point shooting and 10-14 overall. He even made his only free-throw. Mgbako added twelve and Walker 11, but most importantly seven different players scored from distance. North Alabama was only 9-32 afar in retaliation, an indication of our defensive improvements.
The final score was 83-66, after a Kel’el Ware dunk moved them over that magical sixty mark, 61-42 with 12:36 remaining on the clock. The up-and-down Hoosiers stand at 9-3 overall, but most importantly still on top of the BIG standings at 2-0. They next play Kennesaw State in Bloomington before returning to conference play at Nebraska on January 3rd. The three losses are against teams that are a combined 28-5: U. Conn, Auburn, and Kansas, all sure NCAA tournament selections. I.U. is still precariously on the bubble, but at least have yet to have what the committee considers to be a “bad” loss.
Some of this information I repeat from previous posts, but on November 1, 2023, the Hoosier Nation bowed their heads in acknowledgement of the passing of Robert Montgomery Knight, the original architect of my “Rule of 60,” that has never been the same since the Fall of 2000 following his ugly dismissal from the University after 29-years.
He went on to coach at Texas Tech from 2001-2008, resigning mid-season of the final year while putting his son Pat in charge. He showed some defensive magic in the first game he coached for the Red Raiders topping William and Mary 75-55. The team went on to finish 23-9 holding their opponent to sixty or less points seven times. Year two it happened nine times with a 2-13, while year three peaked at 11 times to end the season at 23-11. In total, 49 of his 138 victories at Texas Tech held the opposition to 60 or less.
Bob Knight, the defensive genius, had come to Bloomington from Army to coach basketball just after I arrived as a student, at an age of only 11-years older. I watched many of the specials on his life after his death. The most touching moment was his return to Assembly Hall for the first time in twenty-years to be honored at half time of the Purdue game in 2020. I was watching from a Las Vegas Casino, just before Covid shut everything down. Otherwise, it may never have happened!
I only talked to him twice in my life. The first was a short exchange during the 1998 Maui Classic that my wife and I attended. The last was a lengthy conversation at a private affair in the kitchen of a Texas politician that he supported back in 2012. It was the night that Neil Reed died, and his speech was abruptly interrupted by that urgent phone call. He quickly left the event without an explanation. A friend of mine who played for him remained close after graduation and attended several reunions with him and his teammates. He credits Coach Knight for getting his career started.
He was a complex study who was adamant with his players about attending classes and ultimately graduating (most did), supported the I.U. library, and numerous other educational causes. He was both tough and personally supportive of those around him. He threw a chair, hit a policeman, supposedly head-butted a player, and had his hands wrapped around Neil Reed’s neck. It was hard to defend these actions, whether true or not. The public perception was that he was a bully with a quick temper, but privately he was much loved. He expected to win, but never crossed that line of inappropriate recruiting or violated NCAA rules, as was too often fashionable at the time. At Indiana, he insisted his base salary not exceed that of other professors. At Texas Tech, he sometimes gave back his salary because he didn’t think he earned it. Coach Knight expected players to exceed expectations on the court and in the classroom.
He was a winner and a brilliant basketball strategist and described by most as larger-than-life, although he did not appear that way at that only Assembly Hall public appearance. He looked fragile, reminiscent of my father in his final days. as he tried to shake his fists to fire up the crowd. His complexion was ruddy and voice a bit hoarse, but it was still a great moment. We all knew that he wouldn’t be with us for long, and now just three years later he’s gone. He reportedly made some Mike Woodson practices, spent time with Gene Keady, and began to show signs of dementia. We were lucky to see him again in Bloomington after the way he was treated during the firing. It should have been handled differently and, if so, it would already be Bob Knight Court with a statue out front that would all have been celebrated with him. Instead, it’s Simon Skjodt Arena, with videos of Knight’s numerous achievements, and the players now wearing a RMK uniform patch.
Many more Coach Knight tributes will obviously come as time passes, but the last few decades have been miserable for me without his presence. These are honors that I care more about than he probably ever did, giving all the credit to his players while drawing all the attention away from them to allow them focus on winning, as they did a lot! We’ve gone through coaches like sand through the hourglass, have lost our winning edge, and can no longer find our way in even in the BIG Ten Conference, let alone become a factor in the national picture. Hopefully, Coach Mike Woodson, one of his numerous prodigies, can channel his presence and return the Hoosiers to former glory. He’s the future – Rest in Peace Coach Knight.
At this point in the season, there were seven teams practicing the Magic of Sixty. Ironically, at the top, allowing an average of only 49.7 points in 10 games was former I.U. coach Kelvin Sampson. Virginia was at 53.2 through the first nine, McNeese 56.5 in 11, North Texas 58.4 in 9, UCLA 58.8 in 8, Iowa State 59.2 in 10, and Weber State 60 in nine games. It’s still possible in the modern era of basketball to play Knight-like defense. However, according to sportsrec.com in January 2023, the NCAA DI average for men is 67.875 and women 60.937.
With defense in mind, it was time to the Hoosiers to regroup with a 7-3 record after the Kansas disappointment, but instead the wheels nearly fell off. If Coach Knight had watched the Morehead State game, something would have been thrown. Coach Woodson, however, appeared to remain calm while I could definitely hear some boos from the Assembly Hall crowd. It was 36-25 at the half in favor of the visiting Eagles, as the Hoosiers came out flat. After I.U. closed the gap to three, but Jordan Lathon was unstoppable. His 4-pt shot put Morehead State over 60 with a 14-point lead at the 8:47 mark and the margin grew to 15 at 9:29 for his 30th point but failed to score from that point on thanks to stellar defensive pressure from Trey Galloway. Miami transfer Anthony Walker had a breakout game with a team-high 18 and hit a layup at 4:11 to finally move the Hoosiers over sixty and once again within 3. It was part of a 17-0 run that led to a 69-68 victory, despite 10 3’s from the Eagles. Lathon had six of those, but his final attempt to score at the buzzer was blocked by Malik Reneau just after he missed 2 clutch free throws and leaving the team’s precarious single point margin vulnerable in the waning seconds.
The 2023-24 Hoosiers got off to a slow campaign start, eking out victories over FGCU, Army, and Wright State before being outclassed by defending National Champion U. Conn. and then rebounding against Louisville. In disturbing fashion, through the first five games, Indiana ranked 351st in 3-point percentage and 358th in attempts per game out of 361 D1 teams. Following the Wright State game, 61% of points allowed had been 3’s.
To end the month of November, even Harvard led them 40-39 at halftime, after drilling 8 three-pointers. The Hoosiers limited them to one in the second half and went on to win 89-76. Were they really ready for BIG play?
To get things started in the conference, Maryland went 2-16 beyond the arc and Michigan was 4-17, as they started the BIG 2-0 for the first time since 2018-19. They still couldn’t hit from long range but at least they stopped the defensive bleeding.
Next, in unfriendly Ann Arbor, after a first half with 10 turnovers, Indiana cleaned up its sloppiness as the game progressed. Michigan, typically a good 3-point shooting team, knocked down some critical 3-pointers in the first half, but Indiana’s defense limited them to just one in the second, same as Maryland.
After 18 ties and 12 lead changes, the game restored my fading faith in the Rule of 60. Down 59-53 with 8:59 remaining, Mgbako and Reneau each made jumpers while the Wolverines failed on three attempts. This set the stage for CJ Gunn’s triple, as the Hoosiers hit 60 first with 7:30 remaining and went on to win 78-75. Do you believe in Magic?
I do – and this is further proof of Sixty Magic! Could this be the turning point for the season? It was C.J. Gunn’s fourth career 3-pointer and couldn’t have come at a better time. He hit two of IU’s three baskets behind the arc. Are there many more in his future? We will need it, considering we’ve only hit 34 total so far in 8 games. However, we still stood 7-1 with the only loss against a Top 10 team.
So as Indiana sits at 7-1 and 2-0 in the Big Ten, why did they find themselves all the way down at 65th in the country on the rating service, KenPom — 15 spots lower than they started? Well, their stats sadly proved correct in Atlanta against favored Auburn. Although IU jumped out to a 14-point bulge after 4-straight threes, they quickly faded to a 52-37 halftime deficit. The Tigers made more adjustments during the break and hit 60 with 15:45 remaining. Auburn had 14 threes and forced 12- turnovers, routing the Hoosiers at the buzzer 104-76.
Then, in Bloomington the Magic of 60 fell short against #2 Kansas. Has Coach Knight taken the magic with him? Assembly Hall was rocking in a Stripe-Out atmosphere. It was an opportunity to put the Hoosiers in the tournament spotlight with a nationwide audience, instead they will once again struggle to even get in. The Cream and Crimson led at halftime 40-32 but could not get over that fifty-to-sixty-point hump, passing 50 at the 15:07 mark, struggling over the next nine minutes to finally surpass 60 and what would normally lead to a win. In that same time frame, Kansas knocked down 18 and erased a 13-point deficit. Gabe Cupps eventually made a layup with 6:23 remaining, while the determined Jayhawks quickly took the lead shortly after. The final score was 75-71 in favor of Kansas, despite a career high 28-points from Trey Galloway and another double-double by Kel’el Ware. Hunter Dickinson had 17 in victory and Kevin McCullar, Jr. was deadly from the free throw line down the stretch to finish with a team high 21.
It was time to regroup with a 7-3 record.
