The crowd inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall appeared to be waiting patiently to cheer, but for a majority of Indiana men’s basketball’s contest against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, there was nothing for them to be excited about.
However, junior forward Malik Reneau’s thunderous and-one dunk exploded the student-less crowd, causing an uproar –– one that lasted for a few fleeting moments.
After an offensive rebound from Reneau’s missed free throw, fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway missed a 3-pointer. On the ensuing offensive possession, sophomore guard Kanaan Carlyle shot a contested mid-range jumper that hit only the backboard, sparking groans amongst the once exuberant crowd.
A good play followed by a bad one –– a microcosm of Indiana’s 74-65 victory over Chattanooga on Saturday in Bloomington.
“When you go back to our practice game against Tennessee, we were very competitive, and I'm trying to get us there on a 40-minute basis every night they step out on the floor,” head coach Mike Woodson said postgame. “We’re not there yet with. Nowhere near it.”
Indiana imposed its height early, as Reneau and sixth-year senior center Oumar Ballo scored the first 7 points for the Hoosiers. Chattanooga’s starting lineup allowed for this approach, as the two tallest players both stood at 6-foot-7 compared to Reneau and Ballo’s 6-foot-9 and 7-foot frames, respectively.
Unlike its interior offense, Indiana’s 3-point shooting struggled in the first half, shooting 3 for 11 from the perimeter. Conversely, Chattanooga nailed six triples on 13 attempts, a stark difference to the Hoosiers that granted the Mocs a manageable 3-point deficit heading into the half.
A couple of quick 3-pointers to start the second half propelled Indiana to a more comfortable lead, one it needed to withstand its own offensive struggles and Chattanooga’s explosive scoring.
With just under 11 minutes left in the game, freshman forward Bryson Tucker nailed two free throws to make the score 64-53. For the next six minutes and 23 seconds, Indiana failed to record a point.
But much to the benefit of the Hoosiers, Chattanooga’s offense also stalled. Once Galloway broke the scoring drought with his free throw make with just under five minutes to go in the game, Indiana still held a 65-59 lead.
Against Chattanooga, a squad which entered Saturday ranked 217th in the NCAA NET rankings, these lifeless stretches didn’t hinder Indiana. But facing Big Ten opponents, it can change –– and has changed –– the trajectory of a game.
Take, for example, the loss to Nebraska a week ago. Indiana trailed by 1 with just under seven minutes to go in the game. But the Cornhuskers proceeded to rattle off a 17-1 run to close out the match, turning a once close contest into a blowout.
“We didn't play bad in Nebraska, just that last six-minute mark couldn't make shots,” Woodson said. “Tonight we started down that same road again, you know, looking, and not being sharp offensively. As a coach, I got to get us over that hump, get them comfortable knowing you're going to be in close games, and you got make plays coming down the home stretch.”
Ultimately, Indiana’s play down the stretch denied Chattanooga a possible upset, while simultaneously capping off a less-than-convincing Hoosier performance.
For Indiana to succeed in the Big Ten, it needs to continue the good while shaving off the bad. That starts with effort, one of the Hoosiers’ most inconsistent qualities.
The Hoosiers’ defensive intensity to begin the game seemed almost non-existent, but little glimpses throughout the game showed Indiana’s capabilities.
For instance, following a missed free throw from Reneau, Luke Goode fought for a rebound. As the ball bounced around and landed on the hardwood, so too did the senior forward, and with an outstretched arm, Goode tapped the ball to a teammate for an extra possession.
Indiana won’t win every game it has left, but effort like Goode’s will turn more losses into wins.
And with just one game left in the nonconference schedule before a formidable conference slate, Indiana needs to learn from the bad and reproduce the good if it has any chance of competing in the Big Ten.
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa) and columnist Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer (@mateo_frohwer) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
