LEXINGTON, Ky. – Offensive hiccups in second half. Indianafrustrated attempt stockings' first game at Rupp Arena in 15 years on Saturday night, Kentucky win 72-60.
Here's what I liked and didn't like, and what the Hoosiers' loss means.
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What I liked about the IU basketball team's loss to Kentucky.
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I'm holding on. Again, IndianaThe stunning shooting fell short, going just 3-for-14 from beyond the arc in the first half and finishing 4-for-24, and foul trouble limited players like Sam Alexis, Reed Bailey and (especially the cutter) Lamar Wilkerson. Still, the Hoosiers (8-3) held firm. They defended with fouls, rotations and spot assists. And once those fouls evened out, they took advantage, making 18 free throws in the first half en route to a seven-point halftime lead over the Wildcats (7-4).
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Another solid effort from Wilkerson. On a night where Indiana struggled offensively, he once again looked like a player worth building around. He scored 15 points, but his production was slowed by fouls. Coach Darian DeVries and Indiana's bench rightfully complained about some of Wilkerson's whistles. They ultimately helped end the Hoosiers' hopes on a disappointing Saturday night, such was the importance of Wilkerson's influence on a disappointing offensive performance.
What I didn't like about Indiana's loss to Kentucky
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Violations. Indiana fans could rightfully complain about two or three calls in the first half. But the Hoosiers' 13 fouls before halftime were hardly a new phenomenon. This team struggles to stay ahead of athletic opponents and keep the ball out of the lane when dribbling. This leads to fouls and puts big players in difficult moments. No one was safe on Saturday night. IU finished the first half with five players with at least two fouls and two of those five with three.
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Attack from side to side. Once again, Indiana struggled to break down the overplayed defense with the dribble. Too often, offensive catches were made on the move, went unnoticed, or were too far from the basket to be seen cleanly. And when the ball did touch the paint, it was turned over whenever it led to something useful. DeVries must find a better solution to this problem. It doesn't go away.
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Revolutions. This resulted in 18 turnovers, which is too many for the way this team wants to play. At one point in the second half alone, the Hoosiers had turned the ball over eight times and made just nine field goals. It just won't work for a team that needs to win with offense.
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Attack. This eventually became the theme of the evening again. This team is built to win in very specific (perhaps too specific) ways. When he cannot achieve these fundamentals, he struggles to find second and third solutions to the same problems. The Hoosiers need to make more difficult threes. They have to solve the problem of over-gaming. They simply can't afford nights like this – and we've seen a few of them already – when the attack is so passive and so quiet. Because this Indiana wasn't built to win any other way.
Last exit: Lamar Wilkerson's record epitomizes IU 'holding the temperature' for much-needed win
What does Indiana's loss to Kentucky mean?
Indiana doesn't need to go through some kind of dark night of the soul because of what happened Saturday. The Hoosiers faced a Kentucky team again on friendly terms and were in dire need of a win.
But Saturday also tells us what we already knew: This IU team is limited in that it may not be able to win in a meaningful way this season. At least without taking a lot more shots than what the Hoosiers managed, away from home again. There is some work to be done before Big Ten play resumes.
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This article originally appeared on the Indianapolis Star: Indiana basketball score today vs U of K, game stats, Tucker DeVries
