I can remember being in Ann Arbor back in 1976 during the undefeated season for an 80-74 road win. It was the first of three occasions where the two teams clashed that season, including the National Championship game. Crisler Center and its predecessors, have always been tough venues to play, with the Wolverines holding a 48-41 home advantage dating back to the 1917-18 series. The last time the Hoosiers won there was 2016. 

When it wasn’t Purdue’s Zack “Big Maple” Edey stealing Trayce Jackson-Davis’ thunder, it was Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson. However, the Hoosiers were not to be denied on this trip to Ann Arbor. Although they struggled early, Trayce Jackson-Davis had 28 points and 11 rebounds, compared to Dickinson’s sixteen and seven performance. Jalen Hood-Schifino scored 21 points, after failing to convert during the first seven minutes, and No. 18 Indiana held on at the buzzer. I.U. played with only seven, as Race Thompson sat out for precautionary reasons. Geronimo started but at one point found himself on the bench nursing his leg with an ice pack. There was also a scary moment when Hood-Schifino hit the floor hard and came up in pain holding his elbow. It’s been that kind of season! 

The Hoosiers couldn’t initially contain Jett Howard or Kobe Bufkin and ended the game with 13-turnovers. Late in the first half, Michigan led 32-21 on a Bufkin layup and Indiana looked to be roadkill. Hood-Schifino then went on a roll and scored eight straight points to bring Indiana within five at 34-29 at the half. A couple of errant layups could have evened the score. 

In the second half race to the “Rule of 60,” Indiana finally grabbed the lead at 40-39 on a Jackson-Davis bucket, but the Wolverines responded with a 10-2 run and soon led 56-54, on the verge of defying the magic. With 5:19 to go, Michigan crossed 60 on a Hunter Dickinson jumper to lead 61-58 but never scored again, as I.U. survived for its 18th victory of the season and ninth in conference play. The win was good for sole possession of 2nd with a 9-5 record, if Purdue bests Northwestern as expected. This means the Boilers would take a commanding 3.5-game conference lead over the Hoosiers with 6-games left in the regular season.

Only six of the seven Hoosiers who played put points on the board, since Tamar Bates was held scoreless during the 17-minutes he was on the court. To make matters worse, Reneau only had 2, Kopp 3, and Galloway 4. As a result, 79% of the offensive production came from Jackson-Davis and Hood-Schifino. The other oddity in this performance, was that we lost the race to sixty but won the game! 

Since losing to Penn State and giving up 85-points, the Hoosier defense has held nine opponents to an impressive 64-point average. It’s resulted in eight wins with the sole loss in that stretch to Maryland, whose stingy D held I.U. to only 55-points. By comparison, in the first three losses of 2023, the Indiana defensive average was a pitiful 86.67. This was after starting the BIG campaign at 1-1, managing only 48-points against Rutgers in a 63-48 loss before topping Nebraska 81-65. Defense is clearly the key to winning, especially when the offense then produces over 60-points.

While the men have been on a roll, the #2 ranked Hoosier women knocked off arch-rival Purdue 69-46 and then beat #5 Iowa 87-78, in front of record crowds, taking another big step to the conference championship.  The Hawkeye’s all-world player Caitlyn Clark had 35 points, but her teammates were shut down, while Grace Berger and Mackenzie Holmes combined for fifty-points.  The Lady Hoosiers are now 23-1 overall and 13-1 in the BIG league.