The last two Indiana University basketball games haven’t been very reassuring about our team. After averaging 99.6 points a game the first three games, IU could only manage 69 against Incarnate Word and 73 against Lindenwood. Who? The University of Incarnate Word (UIW) in San Antonio and Lindenwood in St. Charles, Missouri aren’t exactly college basketball powerhouses. In fact, I had heard of UIW because Purdue played them a few years ago, but Lindenwood was a total mystery. Yet, both teams played IU tough enough to make Hoosier fans a little nervous.
What went wrong, you ask? Well, this team, which in the 3 previous games had made 3’s from everywhere, suddenly “couldn’t hit the ocean!” Against UIW, Indiana made 5 of 24 three attempts (20.8%) and shot only 69% from the foul line. Against Lindenwood, IU shot 32% from three and 72% from the line, a little better, but that’s after shooting 50% from three against Milwaukee.
Indiana’s weaknesses during the coaching eras of Archie Miller (a profound hiring mistake) and Mike Woodson (hiring him tarnished his already-questionable coaching reputation) were three-point and free throw shooting accuracy. During the first three games, it appeared this team was above those issues. But along came the University of Incarnate Word and Lindenwood, and those weaknesses re-emerged; two cupcake opponents the Hoosiers failed to dismiss easily. Along with that came my concerns about how this team would fare against Michigan State, Illinois, Michigan, and Purdue.
Friends tell me I’m a “half empty guy.” They’re absolutely right because it bothers me when Lamar Wilkerson, touted as a scorer and sharpshooter, is 1 for 7 from behind the arc and scores only 10 points. Well, you say, “he had a bad game.” Those happen. Fortunately, Tucker DeVries came through with 5 of 10 3’s and 25 points and made IU look reasonable.
Coming up, though, are #6 Louisville and #12 Kentucky. Those games will tell if Indiana has anything to anticipate from the upcoming season, if we’re competitive, or if we should write this “rebuilding” season off as growing pains.
