Efficiency key for IU against solid Northwestern team

This IU team sometimes has spells where its speed-up style becomes rushing and mistakes begin to pile up.

But the Hoosiers will have to stay focused on their trip to Northwestern. The Wildcat team IU will face at 2:30 Sunday in Evanston, Ill., shoots 36 percent from the 3-point line and only turns the ball over 11 times per game.

The Wildcats know who they are. They cut, they make the extra pass and they shoot the 3-pointer. Ball handling mistakes and mental mishaps are few and far between for Northwestern.

Senior Devan Dumes said IU will have to play just as efficiently if it wants to defeat Northwestern for its second road of the conference season.  

“They don’t turn it over a lot, they cut hard, and they make a lot of good decisions,” he said. “We are going to need to rebound well and not settle for jump shots and especially take jump shots that are contested.”

Averaging 15 turnovers per contest, IU has recently become more cautious with the ball. The Hoosiers only had 10 turnovers against Purdue Thursday, a team leading the conference in turnover margin and averaging five fewer turnovers than its opponents.
Determining the need for IU to handle the ball well is neither the speed nor quickness of Northwestern.

Although they have speedy point guard Michael Thompson, the Wildcats are methodical. The pass-first Wildcat offense can lull opponents to sleep just before they load on another 3-point basket.

“They have one of the toughest offenses I have ever played against,” sophomore guard Verdell Jones said. “They set a lot of screens, and they are always moving. Every player they put on the floor can shoot the basketball.”

The ability to shoot the 3-pointer will make Northwestern especially dangerous in late-game situations.

The Hoosiers have lost close matchups to Illinois and Purdue in their last two games.
Whether it was free-throw shooting or a clutch shot from the opponent, IU has not fared well in the closing moments of its contests as of late.

Jones said a good start is the best way to quell all late-game woes and prevent tight situations for his team to fight through.

“We know how close we are and we just have to come out with a good start every game and put pressure on our opponent,” he said.