Compact schedule brings challenge

The Hoosiers won all six non-conference road games. They will be playing in their first road game since Dec. 29 when they face Wisconsin tonight.
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Tonight’s contest against the Badgers is the first road game of the season.

The Hoosiers were originally scheduled to play Purdue on Jan. 6, but the game was
rescheduled due to the threat of inclement weather.

When the game against Purdue was rescheduled for Friday, it created the most challenging stretch of the season for the IU women’s basketball team.

This grueling stretch of three games in five days begins tonight on the road against Wisconsin.  

They will play six games in the next 15 days with the rescheduled matchup.

In total, IU will play 14 true road games this season, which will be the most of any Big Ten team by the end of the regular season.

It has eight true road games to play in conference including Wisconsin.

The only other Big Ten team with a stretch as tight as IU in Big Ten play is in-state rival Purdue, which will also play three games in five days starting tonight because of the rescheduled game.

“You know, we’re a young team,” IU Coach Curt Miller said. “We never said it was going to be easy in the Big Ten.”

According to Miller, the compacted schedule presents difficulties because the Hoosiers rely heavily on scouting.

Having the men’s practice players back will help them with the process of scouting and simulating what their opponents do.

Because the Wisconsin game is so close to the Purdue game, the scouting for Purdue will be done in a two-hour time period on the road rather than a time period of three to four days between games mostly at home.

“We believe in really analyzing and preparing for opponents’ plays and opponents sets’ and Purdue has tons of quick hits,” Miller said.

The Badgers are playing their second game of three in seven days tonight.

Despite facing a short week of preparation, Miller said it’s easier for the coaches to get the Hoosiers’ attention after a defeat.

“I think they were disappointed with the way they played so we have their focus,” he said.

Miller said victories sometimes lead to points of improvement not being heard.

“Sometimes after wins, as much as you want to drive points home of things that you didn’t do well even though you won, fall on deaf ears,” he said. “You definitely have the players’ attention after a loss.”