Saturday success hinges on 3-point defense

There is no play more exciting or deflating in the game of basketball than the 3-point shot.

It is an offensive Holy Grail, the mere thought of which inspires fans to their feet, opposing coaches to their clipboards and the occasional Ahlfeld bow-and-arrow.

Unfortunately, the IU men’s basketball team has learned this the hard way in the last week, losing in ugly fashion to Illinois and Ohio State, two teams that combined to shoot 26-of-49 from range – the mathematics of defeat, as the saying goes.

The truth is as hot as some opponents have been; the Hoosiers’ sometimes atrocious perimeter defense was as much or more to blame.

Poor rotations be damned, there were times in the last two games when players looked almost like they were chasing the ball from passer to passer. Hands came up, to be sure, but they usually didn’t arrive until well after the shots had gone up.

Now enter Penn State, a team that doesn’t live by the 3, but comes awfully close. The Nittany Lions are third in the league in 3-point field goals made (they have played at least one more game than everyone else), and they are also fourth in the league in 3-point shooting, clocking in at a hair under 39 percent for the year. On the coin’s other side, it should come as no surprise IU is last in the league in 3-point defense.

Not so bad, you say?

Penn State also has five players shooting better than 35 percent from behind the arc, including 50 percent from Stanley Pringle and 41 percent from the inimitable Taylor Battle.

Doesn’t look so good on paper, does it?

Tom Crean has made his mark through the years with an up-tempo, guard-oriented offense – one that the Hoosiers seemed to have a handle on in the first two games of the conference schedule, though not as much since.

But Crean’s team has also been solid – and at times spectacular – in its pressure defense, harrying opponents into mistakes at all ends of the floor. Marquette was second in 3-point defense in the Big East in 2008, and third in 2006. Obviously those teams possessed more talent, but the overarching theme here is that Crean can coach perimeter defense.

This team has shown a hint of that ability in spurts, but for the most part, it still seems to be finding its way around its offensive and defensive sets.

But closing passing lanes, pressure ball handlers and rotating with ball movement are all fundamentals of basketball that are taught at every competitive level.

But of course, everything comes down to execution and focus, two things these Hoosiers lacked against Illinois and Ohio State. Illinois came out on fire, and IU never looked interested in fighting back once the lead hit 20. Ohio State was more competitive, but the story ended up the same: A flurry of 3s led to a deficit-widening run that seemed to take the wind out of IU’s collective sails.

Now the Hoosiers come home to their first friendly crowd in more than a week, a weapon Crean’s team has recently harnessed for motivation and momentum.

So again we circle back to execution and focus. IU has to keep the chains on Penn State from the outside. This team has a fragile psyche, and no amount of Assembly Hall magic can save it if its sees an early deficit start to gape by the hands of Penn State’s outside shooters.

Hands up, be active in the passing lanes and victory might just be within reach. The alternative has already been explained.

See you on the other side.

Osterman’s prediction: I want to pick the Hoosiers in this game, and to be honest, I had them winning this one as late as last Friday. But given their recent woes in defending the 3 combined with Penn State’s playmakers, I can’t pick them here.

Penn State 76 – IU 61