Saturday, January 11
Bloomington, Ind.
12:00 PM
Indiana University
13-3,3-2Big Ten
66
vs
54
Ohio State
11-5,1-4Big Ten
1
2
F
Ohio St.
34
20
54
Indiana
31
35
66
Hoosiers Upend No. 11/12 Ohio State, 66-54, on Saturday
1/11/2020 2:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Devonte Green sat, watched … and learned.
THIS is how you respond.
Indiana's senior guard didn't start Saturday against No 11 Ohio State, but he absolutely finished.
The Buckeyes paid the price.
Green scored (19 points capped by a game-ending dunk), rebounded (five) and led in the Hoosiers' 66-54 victory at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
He did, in short, everything he hadn't done three days earlier against Northwestern.
"The game never changes," Green said. "Some days are good, some bad. You have to bounce back from the bad ones. You try not to let the bad days be too bad. You always want to have a better day than the last. That was the mindset I had.
"I want to limit my bad days as I go forward."
Spectating stinks if you care, if performance matters, if pride motivates.
Sometimes lessons come from struggles, wisdom through pain. If you're a fierce competitor, if you have will and belief and confidence -- which Green has in abundance -- you bounce back.
So after not playing in the final 11 minutes of Wednesday's win over Northwestern, after listening to his coach's demands and practicing like it matters, Green returned to difference-making form, and if it didn't come with the three-point shooting brilliance of his Florida State performance (30 points, five three-pointers), no Hoosier cared.
"Nobody in that locker room doubts the necessity he is to our team," junior forward Justin Smith said. "He can do a lot of different things -- score, pass, defend. We need him in these big games and he showed up."
Did he ever.
In the closing minutes, with the Buckeyes threatening one last surge, Green buried them with an in-your-face three-pointer and a free throw.
"He got recommitted to doing things the right way every day," coach Archie Miller said. "It's not just game day. You can't practice soft and play hard.
"For a competitive guy, he took it a notch down on how competitive he practiced. We talked about that. He did a good job in practice (Thursday and Friday). Hopefully we'll see him do a good job tomorrow.
"When he plays well, we're a different team."
And when Green plays well coming off the bench, "That changes things for us," Miller added.
"As a coach, it doesn't matter who starts. I look for finishers. You get a different feel when your most dynamic player comes in like that."
Not starting Green meant starting injury plagued Rob Phinisee for the first time this season. He responded with 13 points (opening with three straight three-pointers), four steals and three rebounds.
"He's a warrior," Smith said. "He stuck with it through the hard times. He was due for one of these games. He set the tone. We're glad he's playing well again."
Added Miller: "Rob looking like he did was a big deal for us. He sets the (defensive) tone for us. He gave us a shot in the arm to start the game."
Phinisee appeared to get banged up down the stretch.
"He wasn't comfortable," Miller said. "Hopefully he's OK."
IU (13-3 overall, 3-2 in the Big Ten) has faced two top-20 teams at home this season -- Florida State and Ohio State -- and beaten both by double figures.
"We don't worry about the rankings," Green said. "This is a good league. Every team we play will be good. We have to get as many wins as we can."
Added Smith: "We play a lot of good teams. We might as well play hard, win and see what happens."
The victory showed why IU, despite some lethargic performances, just might be a Big Ten contender.
"Our guys got their heads out of the mud after Wednesday," Miller said. "They got their attitudes right. They were ready to go.
"We have a chance, if we're at our best, to be a really good team."
IU unleashed ferocious defense -- blocking shots, denying passing lanes and beating the Buckeyes to their spots -- to hold Ohio State (11-5, 1-4) to a season low in points. The Buckeyes, who have lost four straight, shot just 32.7 7percent from the field and had 16 turnovers against eight assists.
"That was as good a defensive game as we've played," Miller said.
Added Smith: "We let our defense create our offense. We got some stops down the stretch. We had a tough time at the free throw line. We were not hitting a ton of shots. We focused on defense. Coach has been on us about that."
That, too, paid off as IU overcame a 34-31 halftime deficit to end a four-game losing streak against the Buckeyes.
"It was a tough second half for us," Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said. "Give Indiana credit for making timely shots and really defending well."
Veteran Joey Brunk went one-on-one with Buckeye standout forward Kaleb Wesson and limited him to 11 points (on 3-for-11 shooting), 10 rebounds and four turnovers. De'Ron Davis and Race Thompson also helped.
"(Brunk) played hard," Miller said. "He battled. We were able to hold serve one on one. (Wesson) has mauled us for two years. He is such a physical presence, and he can shoot.
"It's hard for any big guy (to guard Wesson). You're on an island at times.
"This is the first time we played Ohio State where we had good post defense that were able to hang in there."
IU's collective excellence -- 10 Hoosiers played, 10 scored, nine rebounded -- was tempered by erratic free-throw shooting. It was just 20-for-36 from the line.
"The free throw line is so important to us," Miller said, "and we didn't take care of business."
Both teams came out firing from long range. IU hit four of its first five three-pointers. Ohio State made three of its first four.
Phinisee's nine fast points helped the Hoosiers take a 25-16 lead. Ohio State responded with a 15-1 run to go ahead 31-26 before settling for a 34-31 halftime lead.
IU scored the first eight points of the second half to go ahead 39-34, fell behind 45-42, then took over with a late 14-1 run.
IU has four days before heading to Rutgers, which is 12-4 after Saturday's 54-51 loss at Illinois.
"This league becomes such a slugfest," Miller said. "We got a jolt of energy (from the win). Now we have to find a way to win at Rutgers.
"We've got to keep raising our level of intensity. We have a great group. Keep progressing."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Devonte Green sat, watched … and learned.
THIS is how you respond.
Indiana's senior guard didn't start Saturday against No 11 Ohio State, but he absolutely finished.
The Buckeyes paid the price.
Green scored (19 points capped by a game-ending dunk), rebounded (five) and led in the Hoosiers' 66-54 victory at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
He did, in short, everything he hadn't done three days earlier against Northwestern.
"The game never changes," Green said. "Some days are good, some bad. You have to bounce back from the bad ones. You try not to let the bad days be too bad. You always want to have a better day than the last. That was the mindset I had.
"I want to limit my bad days as I go forward."
Spectating stinks if you care, if performance matters, if pride motivates.
Sometimes lessons come from struggles, wisdom through pain. If you're a fierce competitor, if you have will and belief and confidence -- which Green has in abundance -- you bounce back.
So after not playing in the final 11 minutes of Wednesday's win over Northwestern, after listening to his coach's demands and practicing like it matters, Green returned to difference-making form, and if it didn't come with the three-point shooting brilliance of his Florida State performance (30 points, five three-pointers), no Hoosier cared.
"Nobody in that locker room doubts the necessity he is to our team," junior forward Justin Smith said. "He can do a lot of different things -- score, pass, defend. We need him in these big games and he showed up."
Did he ever.
In the closing minutes, with the Buckeyes threatening one last surge, Green buried them with an in-your-face three-pointer and a free throw.
"He got recommitted to doing things the right way every day," coach Archie Miller said. "It's not just game day. You can't practice soft and play hard.
"For a competitive guy, he took it a notch down on how competitive he practiced. We talked about that. He did a good job in practice (Thursday and Friday). Hopefully we'll see him do a good job tomorrow.
"When he plays well, we're a different team."
And when Green plays well coming off the bench, "That changes things for us," Miller added.
"As a coach, it doesn't matter who starts. I look for finishers. You get a different feel when your most dynamic player comes in like that."
Not starting Green meant starting injury plagued Rob Phinisee for the first time this season. He responded with 13 points (opening with three straight three-pointers), four steals and three rebounds.
"He's a warrior," Smith said. "He stuck with it through the hard times. He was due for one of these games. He set the tone. We're glad he's playing well again."
Added Miller: "Rob looking like he did was a big deal for us. He sets the (defensive) tone for us. He gave us a shot in the arm to start the game."
Phinisee appeared to get banged up down the stretch.
"He wasn't comfortable," Miller said. "Hopefully he's OK."
IU (13-3 overall, 3-2 in the Big Ten) has faced two top-20 teams at home this season -- Florida State and Ohio State -- and beaten both by double figures.
"We don't worry about the rankings," Green said. "This is a good league. Every team we play will be good. We have to get as many wins as we can."
Added Smith: "We play a lot of good teams. We might as well play hard, win and see what happens."
The victory showed why IU, despite some lethargic performances, just might be a Big Ten contender.
"Our guys got their heads out of the mud after Wednesday," Miller said. "They got their attitudes right. They were ready to go.
"We have a chance, if we're at our best, to be a really good team."
IU unleashed ferocious defense -- blocking shots, denying passing lanes and beating the Buckeyes to their spots -- to hold Ohio State (11-5, 1-4) to a season low in points. The Buckeyes, who have lost four straight, shot just 32.7 7percent from the field and had 16 turnovers against eight assists.
"That was as good a defensive game as we've played," Miller said.
Added Smith: "We let our defense create our offense. We got some stops down the stretch. We had a tough time at the free throw line. We were not hitting a ton of shots. We focused on defense. Coach has been on us about that."
That, too, paid off as IU overcame a 34-31 halftime deficit to end a four-game losing streak against the Buckeyes.
"It was a tough second half for us," Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said. "Give Indiana credit for making timely shots and really defending well."
Veteran Joey Brunk went one-on-one with Buckeye standout forward Kaleb Wesson and limited him to 11 points (on 3-for-11 shooting), 10 rebounds and four turnovers. De'Ron Davis and Race Thompson also helped.
"(Brunk) played hard," Miller said. "He battled. We were able to hold serve one on one. (Wesson) has mauled us for two years. He is such a physical presence, and he can shoot.
"It's hard for any big guy (to guard Wesson). You're on an island at times.
"This is the first time we played Ohio State where we had good post defense that were able to hang in there."
IU's collective excellence -- 10 Hoosiers played, 10 scored, nine rebounded -- was tempered by erratic free-throw shooting. It was just 20-for-36 from the line.
"The free throw line is so important to us," Miller said, "and we didn't take care of business."
Both teams came out firing from long range. IU hit four of its first five three-pointers. Ohio State made three of its first four.
Phinisee's nine fast points helped the Hoosiers take a 25-16 lead. Ohio State responded with a 15-1 run to go ahead 31-26 before settling for a 34-31 halftime lead.
IU scored the first eight points of the second half to go ahead 39-34, fell behind 45-42, then took over with a late 14-1 run.
IU has four days before heading to Rutgers, which is 12-4 after Saturday's 54-51 loss at Illinois.
"This league becomes such a slugfest," Miller said. "We got a jolt of energy (from the win). Now we have to find a way to win at Rutgers.
"We've got to keep raising our level of intensity. We have a great group. Keep progressing."
Team Stats
OSU
IND
FG%
.327
.408
3FG%
.346
.500
FT%
.579
.556
RB
36
35
TO
16
11
STL
3
11
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
7
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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