Indiana lost at Maryland on Saturday afternoon by a final score of 75-59.
Below are the three keys to the game, final stats and highlights. The Hoosiers (11-3, 1-2) will host Northwestern on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. ET.
See also: Archie Miller post-game | Brunk and Durham discuss loss | Mark Turgeon post-game | Indiana’s offense struggling
THREE KEYS TO THE GAME
1. A nightmarish offensive effort. The final stats are a bit misleading due to some garbage time production, but this was ostensibly Indiana’s worst offensive game of the year by just about any measure. IU shot just 36.1 percent from the field overall and just 22.2 percent from three-point range. The Hoosiers had just 7 assists to 14 turnovers, and Maryland capitalized with 25 points off those turnovers.
2. Hoosiers not getting to the line. A staple of Indiana’s attack early in the season was its ability to draw fouls and get to the line. In fact the Hoosiers have led the nation in both attempts and makes this year. But for the third straight game IU was well under their season average with just 18 attempts, and worse yet, Indiana is not converting at the stripe when they get there. IU shot just 11-of-18 (61 percent) for the game.
3. Big lineup not getting it done. Indiana’s three forward lineup with Joey Brunk, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Justin Smith all on the floor is simply not effective enough against high major opponents. Despite all of that size, Indiana was outscored in the paint 34-22. Brunk and Jackson-Davis are struggling with guarding the perimeter and none of the three gives Indiana enough versatility on the offensive end. Offensively Smith’s natural spot is power forward, and he is out on the floor with two centers. If the Hoosiers are unable to dominate the paint with that group, and unable to draw fouls, their overall collective value seems minimal.
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