IU's losing streak reaches 8 games

MINNEAPOLIS — Only a coach could look at IU’s 81-58 loss and find something positive to take into the next game.

After putting his big men on the bench, IU coach Tom Crean said he saw the ball movement he envisioned from what was planned to be a guard-heavy offensive attack.

“I think our guys continued to battle tonight, even though we got down when we got small,” Crean said. “We just weren’t getting it done up front, and we needed to put some speed into the game.”

IU received 10 points from its four primary post players and took to the outside in the second half. A willingness to pass the ball offset the lack of size and ineffective IU shooting.

The Hoosiers tallied eight assists in the second half on its 12 field goals, but the game had already been won.

IU played to 37-33 and came out just behind Minnesota’s production in the last period. The first half, though, saw a 44-25 Gopher advantage, and only defensive stops could help the Hoosiers.

Minnesota, though, made those tough to gather.

It had 23 assists on 31 field goals, which impressed Minnesota coach Tubby Smith.
Gopher center Ralph Sampson described the unselfish tactics his team used to gain an early lead.

“I believe that we shared the ball a little bit more,” Sampson said. “We waited a little more time in the shot clock to find the open man.”

Sampson scored 11 points and had 5 assists from his post position, as he threw the ball to the opposite side to find open 3-point shooters.

The Minnesota passing resulted in 45 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 50 percent overall.

In the Jan. 17 contest, IU failed to close in on Sampson and he scored 17 points, mostly from the free-throw line.

“Last game, I think they saw that they needed to double team in the post a little bit more, so this game I think they tried to do that,” Sampson said. “We had to make the adjustment to throw it inside and then, when they came to trap, throw it back outside to the open man.”

Crean said the decision to change the way IU approached the paint defensively was based on a necessity to shuffle its lineup.

“We had to do something to get back in the game.” he said. “Even though we never really threatened, I did learn a lot, see a lot. I told these guys all week, ‘I’m not going with positions. I’m going with energy.’ That’s the only way that we can really attack.”

Senior guard Devan Dumes benefited from IU’s passing ways and led the small charge for IU.

He had 20 points, 12 of which came in the second half, and 2 assists in the game.

“They ran at a couple of my shots,” Dumes said. “I threw a couple pump-fakes. They jumped on a lot of them, and they were open. We all trust in each other, so I made the kick.”

But many of Dumes’ passes didn’t lead to scores. The team’s two leaders in the category struggled all night.

Freshman forward Christian Watford finished with 3 points, and sophomore Verdell
Jones scored only 10. They combined to shoot 3-of-20.
Watford said Minnesota made it hard for him and his teammates to finish inside, forcing the smaller lineup to move the ball as it avoided post sets.

“In the paint, it’s a whole different thing,” Watford said. “They’re a real big team. You can’t just shoot certain shots that you can shoot on other normal teams. You just have to adjust to it.”