After one of the most memorable Big Ten/ACC Challenge games of all-time, Indiana now sees their record at 6-1, sitting at No. 31 in the KenPom ratings. The Hoosiers and Orange played 50 minutes’ worth of crazy basketball at the Carrier Dome. Now that the dust has settled, let’s take a look at which player combinations stood out for Indiana in the loss.
Notes:
- Indiana’s starting lineup of Xavier Johnson, Parker Stewart, Miller Kopp, Race Thompson, and Trayce Jackson-Davis had another good evening for Mike Woodson. While those five went -11 to start the game, they put up a +14 in the second half to finish +3. This was also the group that turned a 16-point halftime deficit into just a five-point gap with 13:15 to go.
- With Johnson plagued by foul trouble, Rob Phinisee had to step up after missing three games with a leg injury. Phinisee found himself in IU’s best lineup on the day, which included the other four starters and the guard from Lafayette. This group did not play in the first half. After halftime, they played 7:51 together and outscored Syracuse 24-19.
- Tamar Bates had his toughest game as a Hoosier on Tuesday night. The true freshman finished a team-low -14. Digging deeper, Bates went -7 in 4:12 after halftime. Meanwhile, IU went +21 in 25:48 without him after the break. Going with Anthony Leal instead of Bates may have been the wiser move after Stewart fouled out with 2:42 left in double overtime.
- Woodson played 13 permutations on Tuesday night; five of them finished with a positive plus-minus. Parker Stewart and Race Thompson were the only Hoosiers to appear in all five.
- Thompson led IU at +9, which came in 44:33 of playing time. In the 5:27 without Thompson, IU went -11. Thompson also overtook Johnson for the season-long lead, now at +112.
- Khristian Lander came into the game with four seconds left in regulation. Over the 10:04 he played, IU’s offense was at its most efficient, scoring 25 points, or 2.48 points per minute (PPM). In the 39:56 Lander sat, IU scored 85 points, or 2.13 PPM.
- IU’s defense needed Johnson in the game. In his 26:20, IU allowed 52 points, or 1.98 points per minute (PPM). In the 23:40 with him on the bench, IU allowed 60 points, or 2.53 PPM. Ugly.
Featured Photo: Syracuse.com
