The Hoosiers still need to improve. They recognize they aren’t perfect.
Even though IU managed to beat Notre Dame 80-73 in Indianapolis on Saturday as part of the Crossroads Classic, it still was outplayed for the majority of the game. Had it not been for a 40-17 run to close the game, the Hoosiers would have ended non-conference play without a signature win.
So as IU (9-3) prepares for its final non-conference game Tuesday night at Assembly Hall against Kennesaw State (3-10), it’s working on replicating the last eight minutes from Saturday, and discarding the first 32.
“It’s all about mindset really,” senior guard Yogi Ferrell said. “Most of that game we weren’t really there or focused defensively and giving up open three pointers and shots like that. We just want to carry the second half and that mindset into these next games.”
A big reason for the change Saturday was the defense. IU played the first portion of the Crossroads Classic leaving Notre Dame’s players wide open. From 15 feet and from five feet, the Irish often didn’t have a man challenging their shots.
That changed in the second half. The Hoosiers pressured the Irish down low and forced them to outside the three point arc, where they only made 1-of-8 of their shots in the final eight minutes.
What changed was the pressure. And how the pressure changed was through communication. It wasn’t as if IU wasn’t trying to pressure Notre Dame in the first 32 minutes, it’s just Notre Dame was always able to pass to an open man to escape the pressure.
As the game went on, the communication increased amongst the Hoosiers.
“I think communication is the biggest thing,” Ferrell said. “We can’t leave people on islands as I like to say. Somebody’s got to know where their help is going to be, somebody’s got to know what covers they’re going to run defensively.”
Communication is also the key in the other area the Hoosiers have been working to improve. Many times early on against Notre Dame, IU was too compact.
When the Hoosiers were trying to get out on the break and create easy offense, players were too close to one another, making it easier for defenders since they could defend more than one Hoosier at a time.
As the game went on, the communication and spacing changed and the shooting and fast break offense improved.
Kennesaw State won’t provide much of a challenge. IU Coach Tom Crean said its motion offense will provide just enough to keep the Hoosiers busy. But the most important thing that could happen Tuesday for the Hoosiers is improvement.
Improvement with its communication, which causes opponents shots to be contested and IU’s to be open. Just improving every way the Hoosiers can before conference play begins.
“It’s just a matter of us continuing to improve and getting better at what we want to get better at,” Crean said. “That’s what we’ve been focusing on.”
