Indiana got the feel-good win it so desperately needed on senior night with a 77-47 thumping of the same Minnesota team that had beaten the Hoosiers earlier this season.
If there were any questions as to whether this team had any gas left in the tank this season, Indiana responded emphatically tonight, getting on Minnesota early and responding to a run from an improved Gophers team that entered tonight’s contest just one game behind Indiana in the Big Ten Standings.
This was the effort on offense and
defense that the Hoosiers lacked in their devastating home loss to Northwestern last week. Darian DeVries got more than 10 points from four different players, Indiana won on the glass, and the defense looked locked in for about 35 of the 40 minutes tonight.
Here are 3 Takeaways from the game:
Sam Alexis
Sam Alexis, one of the seniors going through tonight’s ceremonies, led Indiana in points with 23, blocks with two, and tied Tucker DeVries for the lead with nine rebounds. His presence on offense and defense was what allowed Indiana to sustain a small scoring run from Minnesota, helping Indiana hold on to a lead that dwindled to three points in the first half.
Alexis had 17 of his 23 points in the first 20 minutes, providing coach DeVries with the consistent interior offense that this team has lacked at points this season. He was scoring off of screens, post ups, and rebounds, taking full advantage of a Minnesota defense that had no answer for his size and strength.
Not every matchup will favor Alexis like tonight’s did, but it was good to see Indiana be able to exploit an opponent’s vulnerability with consistency to keep control of a game. Rather than trying to run up the score from behind the arc, the Hoosiers kept going with what was working, something they’ve failed to do in losses this season.
Tucker DeVries
Though his 13 points don’t jump off the page, Tucker DeVries had one of his more impactful games as a Hoosier, leading the team with five assists and tying Alexis for the team lead in rebounds.
With Enright devoting his energy to slowing down Cade Tyson, DeVries was the team’s de facto point guard for most of the game, controlling the tempo and turning it over just once versus his five assists. He was also more selective with his 3-point shooting, going 3-5 from deep without too many early-possession heaves.
This is the version of DeVries Indiana needs every game going forward, and a role he looks more comfortable in than that of true secondary scorer. As some of his shots tonight showed, he’s still a threat as soon as he crosses mid-court, but he’s more valuable as the offensive glue guy, capable of attracting attention and getting looks for his teammates.
Good Vibes
Indiana’s four game losing streak felt like a death spiral, which, at the end of the day, it might have been. Winning by 30 against a team that had beaten you earlier in the year is the type of thing that can restore some confidence and momentum for a team, though.
Besides the final score, there are a number of things to like about Indiana’s win tonight. Alexis gave Indiana production in the paint and on the glass that it needed badly. The Hoosiers won the rebounding margin by a lot. The effort demonstrated that the team has clearly not quit.
The caveat would be that this came against a team that is not likely to be in the NCAA Tournament, but that didn’t stop Indiana from blowing a big lead at home against Northwestern last week. Finishing the game and maintaining control for so long is the best remedy for a loss like that.
Time will tell whether it’s enough to save Indiana’s postseason aspirations, but it was a step in the right direction for a group that had been struggling to find its footing of late.
