I’d like to first apologize for the absence of my post-game articles over the course of the past few games. As you know, I am a freshman here at IU battling it out in my first bout against college finals, and therefore have been exceptionally busy over the past week or two. With that being said, I am back and ready to share my thoughts regarding Indiana’s trip to Kentucky earlier today. So prepare yourself, because it could get ugly. Here are my thoughts from the student section.
Kentucky 81 – Indiana 62. This is a final score I can live with, because I think it’s fair to say that not too many fans had high hopes for the Hoosiers in this one. I can’t say I was shocked to see the Crimson only down one at the half. Despite a few breakdowns, we came out great defensively right off the bat; causing some turnovers, bringing positive energy, and holding the Wildcats’ Brandon Knight to zero first-half field goals. I must admit though, I subconsciously expected a meltdown towards the beginning of the second half. The Hoosier in me was thinking we had a chance, while the pessimist in me was just waiting for that one, looming Wildcats run to put us under. But it just was not happening. Every indication of the game’s apocalypse kept being silenced somehow by the Hoosiers. My hopes rise. 9:43 remaining and we’re still in this game. Christian Watford sinks a deep three right in front of the Hoosier bench. The players lose it. I lose it. We have the lead with under ten to go. When is this Kentucky run going to come? Is it? Unfortunately, yes. Shortly after Watford’s three, my Hoosiers become a little too eager. Maurice Creek pulls up and cranks a missed three, and Kentucky’s DeAndre Liggins sinks one from behind the arc in response. Here we go. A couple of free throws from Knight and a basket from Liggins, and now Indiana is in trouble. The Hoosiers go almost the remainder of the game without scoring another field goal, until a Jeremiah Rivers layup with 38 seconds left on the clock. We ran with Wildcats for about thirty minutes, but big time foul trouble and Kentucky’s athleticism eventually proved just too much. Some intentional fouls down the stretch only increase the deficit, giving the impression of a less respectable outcome.
There is no shame in the outcome of this game, however. This team was able to challenge a ranked and talented Kentucky team in a very difficult setting. We looked confident out there and were able to put on a great display of improvement. Although there is a long way to go, I am seeing a team that has potential to win some games and give superior opponents a run for their money. Don’t be too surprised if this Hoosier team is able to pull off an impressive upset down the road this season.
With finals being next week, I should honestly be studying right now. However, venting about this loss is the first step in clearing more room in my overworked brain and getting back to the books. At the end of the day, I am proud of Indiana’s performance at Rupp Arena today. But I still HATE losing to Kentucky. I have always seen, and will always see, Purdue as Indiana’s obnoxious little brother. But Kentucky… Kentucky is that awful neighbor kid who we’ve always despised. He’s a jerk, and he always claims to be better than the other kids in the neighborhood. He’s terrible, but none of the parents in the neighborhood seem to notice. He’s the neighborhood menace and we just can’t stand him. And in two years, we are going to go back to his house and we are going to leave a nice, flaming bag of surprise on his doorstep. Told you it could get ugly…
