Column: Hoosiers get shot at revenge against Syracuse

How fitting it is to be awarded an opportunity to avenge a ghost, a haunting memory still shackled to the current subconscious.

Such an attitude and circumstance exists for IU as it travels to the Carrier Dome to battle No. 4 Syracuse as part of the annual ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

The timing of the Orange’s transition to the ACC from the old Big East couldn’t have come at a more fortuitous time than 2013, as it has allowed IU Coach Tom Crean and his Hoosiers a shot at redemption for last season’s forgettable loss to coach Jim Boeheim’s program in the Sweet 16.

That 61-50 decision in Washington, D.C., represented more than an early, unexpected exit from the NCAA Tournament.

Truthfully, the loss marked an abrupt halt to the Hoosiers’ quest for a sixth championship. The 2012-13 season was a true alignment of the stars, both literally and figuratively, as former Hoosiers Cody Zeller, Victor Oladipo, Christian Watford and Jordan Hulls headlined what was originally thought of as a team of destiny.

But as is common during postseason play for teams around the country, one unfavorable matchup during the NCAA Tournament often spells doom; Syracuse’s vaunted 2-3 zone defense proved fatal for IU that fateful March day.

While many were quick to fault Crean for his team’s inability to crack the code that is Syracuse’s maddening zone, he and his staff had just four days to prepare their team while also traveling from Dayton, Ohio, to the nation’s capital (fans often also forget that not a single team in the Big Ten consistently ran a good 2-3 zone).

Fair or not, the blame for IU’s struggles lies solely with Crean and his ability as an in-game tactician, particularly against systems such as Wisconsin’s half-court offense and Syracuse’s zone.

However, working in IU’s favor is the amount of time it has had to prepare for this evening’s tilt at Syracuse; the pairings were announced roughly two weeks after the conclusion of the last spring semester.

With the coaching staff having learned of the Hoosiers’ contest against the Orange at such an early point of the offseason, at least a portion of the following six months was devoted to preparing for a chance at revenge, though the staff wouldn’t publicly admit that, and for good reason.

There exists a tinge — maybe a hue — of concern regarding this matchup, though.
The experienced bunch consisting of Zeller, Oladipo, Watford and Hulls — a seasoned group brimming with experience — appeared wholly flummoxed and discombobulated offensively against Syracuse in March.

Will this season’s young, relatively inexperienced team experience a similar fate as that of last season’s team? Will it shock and surprise?

The answers to those questions will come down to outside shooting.

Crean’s 2012-13 squad boasted a plethora of capable shooters, while this season’s young team is desperate for perimeter shooting outside of sophomore point guard Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell.

But with the time Crean and Co. have had to prepare, the possibility exists for them to unhinge the shackles of the past.

­— ckillore@indiana.edu
Follow columnist Connor Killoren on Twitter @IDS_CGKilloren.