Indiana Working to Fix Mistakes From 'Awful' Loss Against Iowa

Indiana played what Mike Woodson called "probably the worst display of basketball since I've been here as a coach" in a blowout loss on Tuesday against Iowa. With tough practices this week, Indiana is hoping to respond in a crucial game on Sunday against Michigan.

Jack Ankony | Mar 3, 2023

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Indiana Hoosiers

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Mike Woodson felt embarrassed when he watched the film from Indiana's 90-68 loss to Iowa.

The Hoosiers dug themselves an early 8-0 hole, and they failed to make any significant comeback throughout Tuesday night's game at Assembly Hall. Iowa's Kris Murray and Tony Perkins each scored 20-plus points, followed by 16 points apiece from Filip Rebraca and Payton Sandfort.

With 91 and 90 points, Iowa holds the two highest-scoring games by an Indiana opponent this season. And for the Hoosiers, the offensive end wasn't much better. Trayce Jackson-Davis put up 26 points and 13 rebounds, but the rest of the starting lineup was held to single-digit scoring and shot 33.3 percent.

"It was probably the worst display of basketball since I've been here as a coach," Woodson said Friday. "It was awful. We didn't do anything that we set out to do going into that ballgame."

Indiana sixth-year senior forward Race Thompson thought the main issue against Iowa was communication, which led to missed defensive assignments. Thompson noticed on film that Indiana wasn't getting to its spots on the defensive end, and any slight slip up in this area can mess up rotations. Iowa jumped at these mistakes, connecting on 13-of-23 3-point attempts.

It was a major letdown following Indiana's 79-71 win over No. 5 Purdue at Mackey Arena on Saturday. Woodson didn't see Indiana's poor performance against Iowa coming because he felt Indiana prepared well for the game, but it can serve as a lesson moving into the final game of the regular season.

"That was a big game at Purdue," Woodson said. "And I know emotionally they were sky-high, but I don't look at it in that light as a coach, you know what I mean, it's just a game. We were fortunate enough to go in there and play well and win the game. But you've got to get mentally and physically ready for the next game, and we weren't there."

Woodson was upset as ever after the Iowa game, and he hasn't let his team forget about it leading up to Sunday's game against Michigan. He said Indiana had a tough practice on Thursday – Friday won't be any different – and he thought the Hoosiers looked sharp at practice in response to the Iowa loss. Thompson said they've been going at each other in practice, which he thinks will help prepare for Sunday's game and wipe away Tuesday's mistakes.

"I don't think that'll happen again this year based off the way we responded in practice the last days and the way we watched film," Thompson said. "I don't think it'll happen again."

Tipoff between the Hoosiers and Wolverines is scheduled for 4:30 pm. ET at Assembly Hall. Indiana has its longest break since mid-January this week, allowing time to rest and refocus. As of Friday afternoon, six teams are tied for second place in the Big Ten at 11-8, making Sunday's matchup crucial for Indiana's hopes of a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament.

After winning three games in a row, Michigan suffered a 91-87 double-overtime loss on Thursday night at Illinois. The Wolverines overcame a seven-point deficit in the final two and half minutes of regulation, but they blew a seven-point lead of their own in the final 1:49 of the first overtime period.

Illinois' Terrence Shannon Jr. sealed the win with free throws in the final seconds of double-overtime, giving him 21 points on the night. Hunter Dickinson led Michigan with 31 points and 16 rebounds in 46 minutes of action, followed by 23 points from Kobe Bufkin and 15 from Jett Howard.

In their first matchup on Feb. 11 in Ann Arbor, Indiana held Michigan scoreless in the final five minutes to secure a 62-61 road win. Jackson-Davis scored 28 points and Jalen Hood-Schifino added 21, but no other Hoosiers scored more than four points.

There's plenty at stake on Sunday at Assembly Hall, with senior night for six Hoosiers and NCAA Tournament desperation for Michigan. According to Bracket Matrix on Friday, Michigan is only in eight of 83 bracket projections, and Indiana is widely considered a No. 4 seed.

But regardless of what tournament play holds, Woodson is spending this week trying to fix what happened in the letdown loss against Iowa.

"We've got to work our way back to where I think we need to be," Woodson said.

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