The Hoosiers took their fourth loss in a row against Michigan State on Tuesday evening with a close game that finished 64-58. Indiana is looking at a possible NIT berth if they are unable to turn things around quickly.
Notes:
- What stands out right away is that Archie Miller used 23 different combinations in IU’s six-point loss at MSU on Tuesday. This was likely caused by the Hoosiers’ significant foul trouble in the contest. IU normally plays 12-16 unique lineups per game.
- IU’s best lineup on a +/- basis was the interesting mix of Phinisee, Lander, Galloway, Hunter, and Thompson. They played a 2:55 stretch in the second half, flipping a 31-29 MSU lead to a 35-32 IU advantage. That group had only played 1:53 all season before Tuesday.
- We got an extended look at a Phinisee-Lander backcourt in East Lansing, with those two playing together for 15:47. IU went +9 in those minutes, which means the Hoosiers went -15 when just one or neither of them were on the floor.
- IU’s starting lineup had a tough time at MSU. Their -9 was the worst out of the 23 combinations used. They were -4 in 5:22 before Miller decided to use those five to close the game, and it backfired, as MSU outscored Indiana 8-3 from the 3:13 mark to the 0:13 mark. That pushed a 53-51 MSU lead to a 61-54 margin.
- For the second straight game, IU’s offense really struggled with Al Durham on the floor. In his 22:19, IU scored 24 points, or 1.07 points per minute (PPM). In the 17:41 he was on the bench, IU scored 34 points, or 1.92 PPM.
Featured Photo: Indiana University Athletics
