Much like he did after defeating Maryland last season, IU Coach Tom Crean stopped in front of the student section, leaned back and waved. He turned to face each direction at least once or twice and soaked it in.
Crean’s Hoosiers earned the big win they’ve been craving.
IU came into Assembly Hall on Thursday within risk of disaster. It was attempting to bounce back from a frustrating and potentially disheartening loss at Penn State with upcoming hills to climb in No. 4 Iowa and No. 8 Michigan State.
The worst wasn’t far from happening.
But IU played explosively and resiliently and took down Iowa 85-78 to receive its first win over a top-tier opponent.
The Hoosiers didn’t just come back from a tough loss against Penn State. They also came back from a potential Iowa takeover.
The Hawkeyes opened the second half with a 9-0 run and regained the lead. IU looked gassed. It didn’t seem to possess the necessary energy to keep fighting with a team a great team like Iowa when it gets rolling.
Crean saw something different.
He said he got on the team Saturday at Penn State because he didn’t see the look he wanted. Thursday, he never doubted these guys wanted to win this game.
“One thing this team hasn’t done is give in in any big games,” Crean said.
Senior guard Yogi Ferrell said Iowa hit them in the mouth a bit, but he and junior forward Collin Hartman kept talking about staying connected as a team. They did just that.
IU started moving the ball better and taking advantage of opportunities. No one player stepped up. Everybody was chipping in and having their moments.
There never seemed to be some dominant run like against Michigan. IU just didn’t falter when the situation got difficult and it edged out the team I considered the best in the country.
The idea of staying connected as a team seemed to ring true Thursday.
Each teammate was cheering for walk-on freshman guard Harrison Niego after he fought for a ball on the ground. Freshman center Thomas Bryant, on the bench in foul trouble, was the most visible cheerleader for fellow freshman Juwan Morgan after a putback lay-in by the forward.
Junior forward Troy Williams, who can be as up-and-down as any player on the team, was stopping himself on a fast break and passing up a potential 3-pointer. He was making the best decisions for the team in the second half.
IU looked dominant last week against Michigan, then Penn State made the world question whether this team was any good.
Against Iowa, IU reassured us that IU is flat out good. It can beat the best and it can adjust to what isn’t going well.
Crean said the team is starting to play with true grit.
“These guys are learning what that’s all about.”
brodmill@indiana.edu
