IU Showcases Impressive Mid-Game Defensive Adjustment Against North Alabama

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Through the first 20 minutes vs. North Alabama, IU head coach Archie Miller was not pleased with his team's defensive performance.

The Hoosiers allowed the Lions to knock down 7-of-10 shots from 3-point range, and North Alabama made 14-of-26 shots from the floor overall to trail by just seven points at halftime, 47-40. Indiana's defense would have to get better, and fast.

For a coach who prides himself on defense, Miller went into the locker room looking to light a fire.

Whatever he did worked wonders.

Indiana allowed just 25 second-half points in a 91-65 win at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall to move IU to 3-0 on the season. The Hoosiers also held North Alabama to a 5-of-18 shooting performance after the break, didn't allow the Lions to make a 3-pointer, and forced 12 second-half turnovers.

The five field goals allowed were the fewest IU has allowed in a half since November 2012 vs. Ball State.

"Coach Miller, he always makes a big emphasis on defense," said redshirt freshman Jerome Hunter, who posted two steals and a block to go with 12 points in 19 minutes. "When we came out in the second half, we just tried to focus on more of our defense and making sure they didn't get open shots like they did in the first half."

Miller was pleased with what he saw—especially on the perimeter—but he knows his squad has room for improvement.

"I think we were better at taking away the initial looks," Miller said. "In the first half, I thought they got pretty clean looks early. I think we did a better job there (in the second half). Made them put the ball on the floor a little more, which was good.

"There's just this feeling, I think, as a coaching staff that we're sitting there right now waiting for that moment or that series of possessions where you're like, 'Wow, five and six possessions in a row, guys were really, really on it.' We haven't had that yet. … We have a lot of guys in there right now who are learning to win together. That's important."

IU's defensive pressure changed what the Lions were able to do offensively, and North Alabama head coach Tony Pujol said the Lions' tale of two halves wasn't so much about what UNA was doing. It was all IU.

"Indiana changed," Pujol said. "That's the thing about Coach Miller's teams. They're going to make adjustments. I think our guys struggled a little bit with the physicality down low, and unfortunately, shots weren't going down."

The second half also saw the Hoosiers' roster learn some lessons on how to play when there isn't a consistent flow to the game. The teams combined to shoot 72 total free throws, and a total of 54 fouls were called. Three North Alabama players fouled out. No fewer than 46 of those free throws came in the second half alone, a situation that can challenge any player's focus.

"You have to stay with it," Miller said. "It was a hard game to be in. It was also, just from an officiating standpoint, there was a lot of contact out there, a lot of fouls. I thought (the officials) did a nice job. … But for us, we're attacking the basket. We're not that team from a year ago where you can just put five guys in the paint and say, 'Let them shoot.' We're not that team. For the most part, we took care of the ball in the second half."

Multiple Hoosiers showed flashes of what they're capable of defensively. Freshman Trayce Jackson-Davis blocked three shots. Redshirt freshman Race Thompson blocked three shots of his own and recorded a pair of steals. Even guard Al Durham got in on the fun, blocking two shots.

In total, the Hoosiers forced 22 turnovers. Hunter said that effort is the result of hard work.

"Coach Miller, he really wanted us to focus on our defense," Hunter said. "All week, we have just been practicing defense and getting better as a team, and it's starting to show on the court."

IU Showcases Impressive Mid-Game Defensive Adjustment Against North Alabama

Players Mentioned

Aljami Durham

Jerome Hunter

Trayce Jackson-Davis

Race Thompson

Indiana University Athletics