Recurring problems sink Indiana in 72-59 Big Ten tournament loss to Oregon

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s locker room was filled with uncertainty Thursday afternoon. After a 72-59 loss to Oregon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, players and staff shuffled in and out of the locker room. Players packed their belongings into IU duffle bags while team personnel picked up the surrounding area.

As the locker room cleared, players and staff members left the building, uncertain about the program’s future.

Oregon beat Indiana for the second time in nine days in a game where the Hoosiers could have cemented themselves for next week’s NCAA tournament. Much of what unfolded against the Ducks on Thursday was a replay of the same issues that have followed Indiana all season.

It’s been an up-and-down year for the Hoosiers and Thursday afternoon felt like the season being recapped in a 40-minute game. It was another missed opportunity.

Early on, the Hoosiers led 17-9 amid a promising start and a lively crowd, but problems arose for the Hoosiers as the game went on. Indiana struggled with its perimeter shooting, endured lengthy scoring droughts and failed to stop Oregon’s runs.

Indiana tried to run the offense through Trey Galloway, but the fifth-year senior guard shot just 6-for-18 from the field and committed five turnovers. Oumar Ballo and Malik Reneau missed several looks at the rim and the Hoosiers managed just 36.2 percent shooting from the field. Luke Goode couldn’t connect from the perimeter and finished 0-for-4 on 3-point shots.

While the lack of offense was crushing for the Hoosiers, Oregon took advantage and took command of the game with a combination of smart defense, pace and shot-making. Brandon Angel and Jackson Shelstad led the charge for the Ducks, who closed the first half on a 10-0 run.

Oregon capitalized during important moments. Indiana did not.

“I think when we go on our little scoring droughts, it’s definitely just execution where you’ve got to go out there and execute the play at a high level,” Reneau said postgame. “We failed to do that in a couple of spots, and they got steals, blocks, et cetera, and they came down court and were able to execute on their side. So we’ve got to be able to execute and defend on our side too.”

It’s no secret that Indiana has struggled with its perimeter shooting in Mike Woodson’s fourth season. That glaring issue – a constant for most of Woodson’s tenure – was present on Thursday.

Indiana finished the game just 4-for-16 on 3s, which was good for just 25 percent.

“They’re a good defensive team, but I think just being able to finish around the rim, we had a lot of open, easy looks that we normally make, and we didn’t,” Galloway said. “Then 50 percent from the free-throw line, we didn’t shoot the free throw well, same thing from 3. It’s just being able to make shots and shoot them with confidence.”

Despite trailing for the entire second half, Indiana had a chance to make it a game in the final seven minutes. But after a Reneau layup got the Hoosiers within two at 56-54 with 7:33 to play, Oregon ripped off a 9-0 run to put Indiana away. The decisive run featured a scoreless drought of more than five minutes for the Hoosiers.

With its early exit from the Big Ten tournament, Indiana must now play the waiting game to learn its NCAA tournament fate. Will IU hear its name called on CBS Sunday night or was the final buzzer against the Ducks the last game of the Woodson era?

The Hoosiers entered Thursday playing some of their best basketball, having won five of their previous seven games. Indiana ended the regular season with positive momentum after going 2-8 in a 10-game stretch from January 11 through February 14.

Woodson stated postgame that he believes it’s done enough to keep playing in March, but Indiana’s fate is now out of its hands.

“When I look at how we’ve been competing the last two and a half, three weeks, I tip my hat to our guys because they could have thrown in the towel and they didn’t,” Woodson said. “It hasn’t been easy for them based on what we’ve gone through as a team, but I’m still pushing for the committee to see fit to put us in. If they do, we’ll prepare and get ready for that.”

Category: Media

Filed to: Oregon Ducks