Post-game reaction: IU vs. Notre Dame

Rapid Reactions
This game started slowly for IU as they struggled for the first part of the first half against Notre Dame. I was half expecting a slow start coming after a week off following the win versus #1 Kentucky, but this was a little much. They could have also been a little excited about Purdue blowing yet another double digit lead in the second half against a team that IU previously beat by sixteen.

Whatever the reason #TGFC (Thank God for Cody) in the first half. At one point, Cody Zeller had 10 of the team’s 12 points. If it wasn’t for him, I am not sure that IU sticks close enough to be in it at half. At one point I was thinking that Coach Crean should put Daniel Moore in the game for a spark! I am still curious about what in the world Elston was doing at the end of the half with five seconds left on the clock and launching a half court shot, but thanks to Remy he was bailed out.

I never was nervous about this game in the second half. Notre Dame kept it close but they never scared the Hoosiers.  Even though Indiana had several key members in foul trouble, the bench filled in nicely and we expanded our lead to mid-teens and held on, unlike Purdue. I was proud of all the members of the Indiana basketball team and I cannot wait until the Big Ten season starts!

I grew up ten miles outside Notre Dame’s campus and currently live in Lafayette, so today was a good day for me being an IU fan!

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Immediate Post Game Reaction: IU vs NC State

Rapid Reactions:

• Jordan Hulls was aggressive taking threes and driving the ball. He was the first player on either team in double figures.
  
• Victor Oladipo was solid on defense stuffing his statsheet with steals, rebounds, and a couple of emphatic nice dunks.
  
• Christian Watford looked steady. He didn't throw the ball away as often and made some quality shots.
  
• Cody Zeller was the “savior” that we all thought he would be. Rebounding, hustling after loose balls, and break away dunks led to a very encouraging eleven point lead.
  

Then the wheels came off...
North Carolina State started rebounding everything in sight (or Indiana forgot how to box out). After the final ten minutes of the first half I felt lucky to only be down one point.

The second half started out with Indiana playing with great confidence. Unfortunately, after the first TV timeout, Indiana played like the team in the final 10 minutes of the first half. Verdell Jones III threw the ball away and took fade away shots in the lane, while Oladipo tried to foul out. This earned Victor a nice little session on the bench.

NC State went up seven and the Hoosiers were down and out....

...at least the teams of the last three years would have been done.

But this isn't your same old Hoosier squad! The Hoosiers of the first ten minutes of the game showed up and kicked ass!!! I have not been that excited since the Illinois victory last year. Hulls hit huge shots, Zeller kept up the pressure, and Oladipo was the Oladipo that jumped over the middle schoolers during Hoosier Hysteria.

There were some things to complain about as an alumnus, but this was an all-around amazing game. I am not going to say that we are back like some people are saying on Twitter, but we are back from the embarrassing level that we have been stuck at for the past three years. I predicted that we would finish fifth in the Big Ten before the year started and I think we are right on track for that. Amazing job HOOSIERS!!!!

Next up: vs Stetson on 12/4

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Hoo's Next - Evansville Edition

Who: University of Evansville Purple Aces

When: 8:00pm ET – Wednesday November 16, 2011

Where: Ford Center – Evansville, IN

TV: ESPN3

The Scoop: The Evansville Purple Aces look to defend their 1-0 record at home tonight against our Cream and Crimson who look to advance to 3-0. The Aces are coming off a shocking overtime victory in a game versus the defending national runners-up, the Butler Bulldogs. Though the Hoosiers have never lost to Evansville, it is a bit too early in the season to count anyone out. Coach of the Aces, Marty Simmons, looks to build off of his team’s early momentum tonight, but one can be sure that Coach Crean and the gang won’t make it easy.

What to Expect:

• Cody Zeller - There are plenty of stories to follow throughout tonight's game. As always, continue to look out for freshman Cody Zeller as he comes off of a B1G Ten Co-Freshman of the week award. Naturally, keep on eye his scoring threat and ability to rebound. But also, watch out for Zeller’s defensive presence, as he already has 9 steals through the first couple of games.
• Sheeladipo – Sheeladipo of course standing for the unstoppable sophomore duo of Will Sheehey and Victor Oladipo. The two players have combined for 56 points and 17 rebounds over the course of the first two games. Oladipo recently receiving an award of his own, the B1G Ten player of the week. This hybrid of dominance is one thing that Hoosiers fans hope to see more of throughout the year. Between Sheehey’s poise and Oladipo’s explosiveness, the Hoosiers should have a leg up on the Aces tonight.
• Moderate chance of rain – No, I’m not referring to the state of Indiana’s bizarre weather changes. You should expect a chance of rain, not off, but on the court tonight in Evansville. The Hoosiers stand at 10th in the nation in field goal percentage with a whopping 57.8% average. It is evident that the Hoosiers have spent some time in Cook Hall this off season. Expect players like Hulls, Sheehey, and Jones III to light it up tonight as they have so far this season, but also don’t count out players like Oladipo and Elston to have accurate shooting nights as well. 

However, it is not only the Hoosiers who will be dropping in shots tonight. Indiana has struggled to close out shooters behind the arc thusfar this season. The Hoosiers should look to apply more pressure on outside shooters to avoid giving up the deep threat.

Outcome: The Aces will have to ride their recent momentum to have a chance in this one. I expect the Hoosiers to run away with it after a while. 83-68 Hoosiers.

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