COLLEGE PARK, Md. — In the Hoosiers' first chance at redemption since collapsing against the University of Arkansas, the opportunity for an upset practically fell in their lap.
When the No. 15 team in the country shoots 38.7% from the field, 25% from three and only scores 20 points in the first half all while at home, many people would expect their phones to be buzzing with a potential upset alert.
Instead, IU was blown out by Maryland 75-59 after the game quickly got out of hand in the second half. The Hoosiers seemingly gave up by the end.
“Thirty-eight% and 25%,” IU head coach Archie Miller said. “If you told me those percentages going into the game, Maryland would shoot at home those percentages, I would have thought ‘Eh, probably have a chance to hang in there a little bit today.’”
All season the Hoosiers have been thought of as a fringe top third team in the Big Ten. On paper, they have the talent and depth to compete with everyone in the conference, but in games they have looked average at best.
Against Maryland, average would be a compliment.
When IU took traveled to Madison, Wisconsin in the team’s first Big Ten game of the season, it was the defense that led to the Hoosiers being run off the court. In Maryland, it was the offense.
“The ball's not going in the basket,” Miller said. “Whether it’s a layup, whether it’s a free-throw or whether it’s a wide-open shot, at some point you have to be able to put it in the basket.”
IU shot 36.1% from the field and had only made 1 of 17 three-pointers before some late made shots in the waning minutes of the game.
The troubling trend showcased against Wisconsin and Arkansas of IU going long stretches without scoring is now a legitimate concern.
“When you really think about playing at home and 38% — 25 from three — you know how bad you have to be on offense? You have to not score for like 10 straight minutes,” Miller said.
The only Hoosier who had a respectable offensive game was senior guard Devonte Green. He was the lone player for IU in double digits with 18 points.
While most teams fight back after being punched in the face — like the one thrown at IU when a 3-point deficit exploded to 20 in just under seven minutes — the Hoosiers instead laid dead on the floor.
Miller kneeling next to the scorer's table with his head resting in his palm told the story of the second half. The often expressive third-year head coach didn’t move as Maryland out-hustled his team to two offensive rebounds before senior guard Anthony Cowan drilled a 3-pointer.
“Our rebounding caved in at points when we did get some stops,” Miller said. “At some point, you have to continue to compete, continue to play tough and play through it.”
The Hoosiers now have the toughest schedule in the country, according to the basketball power index, as they play nine ranked teams.
IU has aspirations of seeing its name listed in the top third of the Big Ten, but as it stands right now, the Hoosiers may be lucky to see it listed in the middle group.
IU wasn’t expected to beat Maryland, but in a game tailor-made for an upset, it’s fair to assume that the Hoosiers wouldn’t be blown out by 16.
“We just got really stuck at one stage of the game not being able to score,” Miller said. “A couple of 50-50 plays and a couple things that just went their way broke this game open.”
