By Brian Hall
Thoughts on the Las Vegas Classic games verses South Carolina State, Northern Iowa, and Colorado:
After watching these past three games, I am worried about how the Hoosiers are going to perform during the Big Ten season. I am not going to personally talk about the games individually because all three of them had many things in common.
Turnovers!!!!!! It seemed that Indiana had solved some of their unforced turnover mistakes that plagued them during the first six games, but just like an unwanted in-law, Their Back. If Indiana continues to turn the ball over as much as they did in this stretch, I give our chances in the Big Ten somewhere between a snowball and an ice cube’s chance in you know where.
Free Throws!!!! What has happened to free throws being just that…free? I don’t remember a year that even our guards missing that many chances at the charity strip and that is what Indiana looked like the Classic, a charity case.
Weak Defense=Big Deficit!!!! In the Northern Iowa game and Colorado, Indiana played defense like they have never been taught how to guard anyone. Against Northern Iowa they played off of the three point shooters and that led to the first half deficit and against Colorado, Indiana played tighter but they drove the lane with ease causing the big deficit. In both games, Indiana fought back but it was not enough to get over the deficit.
Announcers!!!! This is not a section about IU’s play during the past two games but the announcing during the past two. Wow, I never thought I would think the Big Ten Network announcers were great, but compared to CBS College Sports they are! Between not knowing the players’ names (calling them “that guy” during a replay) and the mispronouncing of multiple names (my favorite is A-lot-a-poe) I had to mute the games.
Now, I am not trying to be a downer, but I have a feeling that I am typing what many alumni were thinking during the game. Let’s hope IU figures something out and fixes the problems before the PSU game. Let’s Go Hoosiers!
