Indiana University Athletics
IU Looks For Simplicity Against Iowa
2/11/2016 8:47:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By: Sam Beishuizen, IUHoosiers.com | Twitter
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - In the wake of an unsettling loss to Penn State, Tom Crean didn't look to invent solutions.
There was no personnel change, playbook overhauls or deep analysis. It was more basic than that.
"Like I said to those guys, 'There's an eighth-grade aspect to this right now,'" Crean said. "What we've got to do is get back to making this game simple."
The Hoosiers (19-5, 9-2) will get their chance to return to form in tonight's 9 p.m. matchup with the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes (19-4, 10-1) at Assembly Hall. An Indiana win would pull the Hoosiers into a three-way tie with Iowa and Maryland atop the Big Ten standings.
Another loss would put two games separating third-place Indiana from Iowa.
"With human spirit, when you really want to be good at something, you want to win," Crean said. "You're going to feel bad when you don't. I don't think I can create a whole other level of feeling bad. We made sure we got our points across as to what we need to do a better job of, especially on the defensive end, but they understand. They're a smart group."
Indiana strung together an opening half of the Big Ten season that vaulted the Hoosiers atop the conference table with championship hopes in clear sight. IU's loss to Penn State after a road win against Michigan was certainly not detrimental to that cause, but it didn't help.
Perhaps more than anything, it was a reminder of what Indiana needs to do to maintain its title aspirations. Fifth-year senior Max Bielfeldt made a point of reminding his teammates that one win or loss—no matter who it comes against—doesn't define a season.
Bielfeldt would know. He and his former Michigan teammates lost to Penn State his redshirt freshman season on the road to finishing runner up in the National Championship.
"I think with the loss to Penn State, having Iowa coming in here the game after is kind of a blessing," Bielfeldt said. "We don't have to wait for a chance to play the people at the top (of the Big Ten) and hope they lose. We have a chance right away to come off that loss."
Ask Crean and he'd say avenging that loss with a win against Iowa will hinge on simplicity.
The Hoosiers reinforced that message with a hard, physical practice Sunday evening where teaching was the priority. The practice session at Assembly Hall reiterated the fundamentals whether it be awareness, picking the right shot or communication—all the things the coaching staff pointed out in film as being correctable.
One of Crean's simplest reminders has been for his players to have confidence in themselves. He doesn't want his team's spirit to be taken away if and when things go poorly for any stretch of game because that takes away from the freedom and natural instincts that have carried Indiana in the past.
"When we're moving and flowing, we're just playing out of concepts," Crean said. "When we're not moving and flowing like we need to, then we need to run more set offense. But the bottom line is that the ball needs to go through the paint."
If there was ever a team that would provide a fitting enough test of that, it's Iowa.
The Hawkeyes already own a pair of wins over Michigan State and Purdue. Their lone Big Ten loss to date came at the end of January to No. 2 Maryland on the road where the Terrapins have yet to drop a conference game since joining the conference.
Given the opponent, the primetime ESPN television slot and the spot atop the conference standings being up for grabs, Bielfeldt said he understands why fans would be excited.
He would be, too.
"I know if I was a student, I'd be getting jacked up for this one," he said. "I know there's a buzz here, there's a buzz all around. It's going to be a fun one."
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - In the wake of an unsettling loss to Penn State, Tom Crean didn't look to invent solutions.
There was no personnel change, playbook overhauls or deep analysis. It was more basic than that.
"Like I said to those guys, 'There's an eighth-grade aspect to this right now,'" Crean said. "What we've got to do is get back to making this game simple."
The Hoosiers (19-5, 9-2) will get their chance to return to form in tonight's 9 p.m. matchup with the No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes (19-4, 10-1) at Assembly Hall. An Indiana win would pull the Hoosiers into a three-way tie with Iowa and Maryland atop the Big Ten standings.
Another loss would put two games separating third-place Indiana from Iowa.
"With human spirit, when you really want to be good at something, you want to win," Crean said. "You're going to feel bad when you don't. I don't think I can create a whole other level of feeling bad. We made sure we got our points across as to what we need to do a better job of, especially on the defensive end, but they understand. They're a smart group."
Indiana strung together an opening half of the Big Ten season that vaulted the Hoosiers atop the conference table with championship hopes in clear sight. IU's loss to Penn State after a road win against Michigan was certainly not detrimental to that cause, but it didn't help.
Perhaps more than anything, it was a reminder of what Indiana needs to do to maintain its title aspirations. Fifth-year senior Max Bielfeldt made a point of reminding his teammates that one win or loss—no matter who it comes against—doesn't define a season.
Bielfeldt would know. He and his former Michigan teammates lost to Penn State his redshirt freshman season on the road to finishing runner up in the National Championship.
"I think with the loss to Penn State, having Iowa coming in here the game after is kind of a blessing," Bielfeldt said. "We don't have to wait for a chance to play the people at the top (of the Big Ten) and hope they lose. We have a chance right away to come off that loss."
Ask Crean and he'd say avenging that loss with a win against Iowa will hinge on simplicity.
The Hoosiers reinforced that message with a hard, physical practice Sunday evening where teaching was the priority. The practice session at Assembly Hall reiterated the fundamentals whether it be awareness, picking the right shot or communication—all the things the coaching staff pointed out in film as being correctable.
One of Crean's simplest reminders has been for his players to have confidence in themselves. He doesn't want his team's spirit to be taken away if and when things go poorly for any stretch of game because that takes away from the freedom and natural instincts that have carried Indiana in the past.
"When we're moving and flowing, we're just playing out of concepts," Crean said. "When we're not moving and flowing like we need to, then we need to run more set offense. But the bottom line is that the ball needs to go through the paint."
If there was ever a team that would provide a fitting enough test of that, it's Iowa.
The Hawkeyes already own a pair of wins over Michigan State and Purdue. Their lone Big Ten loss to date came at the end of January to No. 2 Maryland on the road where the Terrapins have yet to drop a conference game since joining the conference.
Given the opponent, the primetime ESPN television slot and the spot atop the conference standings being up for grabs, Bielfeldt said he understands why fans would be excited.
He would be, too.
"I know if I was a student, I'd be getting jacked up for this one," he said. "I know there's a buzz here, there's a buzz all around. It's going to be a fun one."
Players Mentioned
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