Nov 28, 2024; Paradise Island, Bahamas, BHS; Indiana Hoosiers ahead Luke Goode (10) grabs the ball away from Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Michael Ajayi (1) through the second half at Imperial Area on the Atlantis resort. Obligatory Credit score: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Photos With No. 14 Indiana coming off two humbling losses within the Battle 4 Atlantis, the Hoosiers are relegated to the seventh-place recreation as they face Windfall on Friday morning in Paradise Island, Bahamas.
It has been a mortifying two video games for Indiana (4-2). Within the opening spherical, it trailed by as many as 38 factors in an 89-61 loss to Louisville. Thursday was extra of the identical as Indiana fell to No. 3 Gonzaga, 89-73.
The Hoosiers rallied to seize the lead halfway via the primary half towards Gonzaga, however their success was fleeting. By early within the second interval, they had been down by 23 factors. From there they by no means challenged.
The rebounding numbers informed the story as Gonzaga gained the battle on the boards 42-27, which paved the best way for its edge in second-chance factors, 23-4.
Indiana coach Mike Woodson referred to as the Hoosiers’ lack of success on the boards “the distinction within the recreation.”
“It is a main downside that we have had and lots of it’s we’re not placing our bodies on our bodies to dam out,” Woodson added. “That is gotta cease. We gotta get our guys competing.”
One of many few positives was the offensive work of 7-foot middle Oumar Ballo, who hit 11 of 13 photographs on his solution to scoring a season-high 25 factors.
The Indiana guards have been outplayed. Within the two video games, Myles Rice tallied 9 factors and two assists, making 3 of 17 photographs, whereas Kanaan Carlyle offered six factors and three assists, whereas making simply 2 of 10 photographs from the ground.
“These final two video games, our perimeter play has been uncovered. I gotta repair that,” Woodson mentioned.
Windfall (5-2) enters in the same mindset after trailing all the best way in a lackluster 69-58 loss to Davidson on Thursday.
The Friars, who shot simply 31 % from the ground, fell behind within the opening minutes 9-0 and trailed by double digits many of the means, by no means making a severe run on the lead.
“Disappointing night time, disappointing response from our program,” Windfall coach Kim English mentioned.
Jayden Pierre scored 14 factors and Wesley Cardet Jr. added 13 to guide the Friars. Freshman Oswin Erhunmwunse got here off the bench to ship 11 rebounds, together with 9 off the offensive board.
Of specific concern to English was the Friars’ incapacity to make photographs from near the ring. Windfall hit solely 10 of 37 makes an attempt from contained in the arc.
“I am trying ahead to going again and watching it and actually dissecting and seeing why we did not end higher,” English mentioned. “We really feel like that was the distinction within the recreation.”
The Friars are with out their prime menace, Bryce Hopkins, who’s recovering from surgical procedure to restore a torn ACL. There was hypothesis that Hopkins, who averaged 15.5 factors and eight.6 rebounds per recreation final season, would make his season debut within the match.
After a 7:30 tipoff on Thursday night time, Windfall faces an 11 a.m. begin on Friday.
“Robust spot to be in, proper right here, once you want work to enhance on issues, you want time to get higher, establish issues and rep it and rep it and demand it and demand it,” English mentioned. “We do not have that luxurious proper now.”
–Area Stage Media
