Indiana Women's Basketball to Rest and Recover Before NCAA Tournament
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana women's basketball has almost two weeks between their last matchup versus Ohio State and the NCAA Tournament first round on March 17-18.
While it might seem strange to have that much time off, it will most likely serve the Hoosiers well as they have a 27-3 season record to be proud of but also a disappointing Big Ten Tournament semifinals loss to the Buckeyes to avenge.
"We are a little bit nicked up right now," Indiana head coach Teri Moren said. "I think all of them are."
"Mentally, I think they're tired. Physically I know they're tired. We do have some things health wise that this period will be really good for a lot of different reasons, so I think we're all looking forward to getting a little bit of a break before the other madness starts."
Moren didn't give a full list of who all was benefitting from the longer recovery period, but she did say senior forward Mackenzie Holmes was not completely herself in the tournament game versus the Buckeyes.
"Mack was not 100 percent," Moren said. "I think you could tell by the way she was getting up and down the floor that wasn't a healthy Mack."
However, Moren added it's not just Holmes, and the rest of that information will stay within the program.
Indiana only has three blemishes on its season record, which means it will almost surely get to host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
With the record crowd of more than 17,000 Hoosiers fans that was broken earlier this season, it's safe to assume the audience will be just as electric come March Madness. Until then, it's rest, recovery and hoping the team can hang another banner and the first for the women in the Hall.
"They all need a break," Moren said. "Coach Moren needs a break."
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- HOOSIERS DROP IN AP POLL In the Week 18 Associated Press Top 25 Poll, Indiana women's basketball dropped as Iowa moved up after winning the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament on Sunday. CLICK HERE
- CAITLIN CLARK POPS OFF IN BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP Iowa junior guard Caitlin Clark nearly outscored all of Ohio State in the first half of the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament championship as she cashed in 23 while the Buckeyes collectively scored 24 points. CLICK HERE
