With just over three minutes remaining in the second half of Indiana men’s basketball’s contest against Northwestern on Wednesday, the Big Ten Network broadcast resumed its coverage with a shot of the student section at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois.
One member of the Wildcat faithful held a sign that read, “EXTEND Mike Woodson. 0-5”
The fan’s taunt was targeted at Indiana’s fourth-year head coach, who walked off the floor of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall to “fire Woodson” chants eight days prior. The “0-5” was in reference to Woodson’s potential record against Northwestern during his tenure with the Hoosiers. Shortly after the sign was shown on national television — it became reality.
Indiana’s 79-70 defeat to Northwestern was its fifth consecutive defeat in the programs’ long-lasting series –– the Wildcats' longest win streak since 1915.
The good
Indiana entered Wednesday’s matchup as the second-worst 3-point shooting team in the Big Ten, converting at a 31.4% rate from beyond the arc. The script flipped against the Wildcats.
Senior forward Luke Goode and sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako combined to go 7 for 12 from deep, which contributed to the team’s 45% clip — Indiana’s fourth-best showing this season.
Mgbako, who finished with a team-high 20 points, snapped a streak of 18-straight misses from beyond the arc, a streak that encapsulates his recent struggles. The former five-star was at one point the Hoosiers’ leading scorer but averaged just 4 points per game over their last four matchups.
Against Northwestern, Mgbako once again displayed his ability to attack the rim off the dribble and space the floor with efficient perimeter shooting. Despite the loss, his reemergence as a dynamic scoring threat bodes well for an Indiana team whose struggles have echoed those of Mgbako.
Another positive for Indiana was its defensive play in the first half. The Hoosiers allowed only 25 points before halftime, tied for the fewest they’ve given up in any half throughout Big Ten play.
“We were connected the first half,” Woodson said postgame. “I thought we played a beautiful first half.”
Northwestern’s graduate student guard Ty Berry sank a 3-pointer to give his team a 23-13 lead with over nine minutes remaining until halftime. The Wildcats didn’t make another field goal until the second half.
After trailing by 10, Indiana held Northwestern to a 0-for-12 shooting drought that fueled an 18-2 scoring run to close out the half.
One of the few areas Woodson’s team struggled to defend in its stout first half was Berry’s perimeter shooting — a trend that continued to unfold after halftime and ultimately resulted in the Hoosiers’ demise.
The bad
Northwestern’s second-half air-raid began with Indiana leading 37-31 shortly after the intermission. Deep shots from Berry and junior forward Nick Martinelli quickly erased the Hoosiers’ advantage.
Just over three minutes later, Berry hit another. Less than a minute later, he connected once more. Less than three minutes later, Berry sank the ball yet again. Indiana continued to get exposed from the perimeter and had no answer.
The Wildcats continued their barrage from deep, making five 3-pointers during a 21-4 run that turned a 3-point Indiana lead into a 14-point deficit.
“We didn’t guard well the second half, and they made us pay for it, especially from the 3-point area,” Woodson said. “They made 3-point shots all over the floor, and we never responded.”
Northwestern finished with season-highs in both 3-pointers made and attempted, combining to shoot 13 for 27 from beyond the arc. Berry finished with a career-high seven triples.
In addition to their defensive shortcoming, the Hoosiers’ offensive success was stunted by the unceremonious return of junior forward Malik Reneau. After missing five games with a knee injury, Reneau saw the floor for the first time since Jan. 2.
He finished with 2 points and shot 0 for 6 from the field.
“He only played about 10 minutes tonight, and it showed,” Woodson said. “He's not there yet. Hadn't had a chance to really practice.”
Even if lack of practice was the reason for his poor performance, Indiana was measurably worse with him on the floor. In just 11 minutes of Reneau on the floor, the Hoosiers were outscored by an 11-point margin. They lost by nine points.
The ugly
Jumped passes, mental lapses and careless ball handling were among the Hoosiers’ mistakes that routinely gave away possessions. Indiana’s 17 turnovers against Northwestern could easily be defined as “ugly,” but the result is much more impactful long term.
The loss drops the Hoosiers to 2-6 this season against Quad 1 opponents. It’s also Indiana’s third defeat in its last four conference matchups.
With four of their next five games against Associated Press Top 25 opponents, the Hoosiers' latest shortcoming furthers a downward spiral that has potential to derail their season. Fortunately for Woodson’s team, tough competition can quickly improve an otherwise uninspiring resume.
Following the loss, Mgbako remarked that the Hoosiers needed to “stay focused for a full 40 minutes.”
If Indiana has any hopes of playing meaningful basketball in March, its ability to make “the good” outweigh “the bad” on a consistent basis will be paramount.
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.
