Indiana Drops Home Finale to No. 24 Wisconsin, 60-56, on Senior Day

Saturday, March 7

Bloomington, Ind.

12:00 PM

Indiana University

19-12,9-11Big Ten

Wisconsin

21-10,14-6Big Ten

Wisconsin

Indiana

Indiana Drops Home Finale to No. 24 Wisconsin, 60-56, on Senior Day

3/7/2020 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Forget celebration amid disappointment and opportunity lost.

Here was Indiana coach Archie Miller, perhaps the most rugged Big Ten season in history finally in the rearview mirror, pushing perspective amid NCAA tourney bubble uncertainty:

"It's all about who did you play, who did you beat," he said.

Yes, Indiana lost 60-56 Saturday afternoon to Wisconsin. Simon Skjodt Assembly magic wasn't enough down the stretch, when a seven-point lead disappeared against the Badgers' title-clinching 16-5 closing run.

Yes, it was the Hoosiers' third loss in four games, which is not the way you want to end the regular season.

But this is about the postseason, March Madness and NCAA tourney opportunity. It's about the body of work, strength of schedule and earning your way to "One Shining Moment," something IU (19-12) hasn't experienced since 2016.

Miller pointed to a resume that included five wins over ranked teams and one of the nation's toughest schedules from early December on.

"It's strength of record, and that's undeniable it's a top-25 strength of record," he said. "If you don't put a top-25 strength of record team with the wins we have (into the field), somebody is going to have to answer some questions."

IU's ranked-team victories came against Florida State, Michigan State, Ohio State, Iowa and Penn State.

"There are very few teams that can say they have beaten the Florida States, the Michigan States, the Iowas, the Penn States that are clearly in the (NCAA tourney) field," Miller said.

"If you are beating six, seven teams in the field, you should be in the field."

IU's 8-10 Big Ten record shouldn't keep it out, Miller added.

"They already stated a .500 record in the league doesn't matter. It's your body of work.

"We scheduled to make the tournament. We got a lot of good wins. We played in an unprecedented season in the Big Ten in terms of depth. My hope is (the Selection Committee) doesn't take it for granted how hard it is to win the league."

On Saturday down the stretch, Indiana lost its offense and then the game. It had just one field goal in the final 10 minutes – an Aljami Durham three-pointer with 55 seconds left. One footers refused to fall against Wisconsin's imposing size of 6-10 Micah Potter and 6-11 Nate Reuvers. The Badgers grabbed difference-making rebounds.

"It was attention to detail," guard Devonte Green said. "Rebounding hurt us big-time down the stretch."

Added Durham: "We got shots at the rim. We've got to finish, convert them, get to the line. Those were shots we should have made, we can make. I'm not worried about it. We'll finish the next time."

What might have been resonated throughout the post-game Senior Day ceremony in which center De'Ron Davis and Green thanked teammates, managers, medical staff and coaches (Miller and his assistants, as well as former coach Tom Crean and his staff).

Green called his teammates "brothers in life" and said "I got your back." He said he appreciated the coaches "sticking with me and teaching me even when I didn't want to learn."

"It's been a blessing."

Blessing came with pain. Green had 16 first-half points against Wisconsin, but hurt his ankle along the way and didn't score again. Davis had four points, three rebounds and two steals. Forward Race Thompson added seven points and 11 rebounds.

Wisconsin (21-10), which overcame a the transfer of a key player and a tragic car accident that nearly cost assistant coach Howard Moore his life, won its eighth straight game to clinch at least a share of the Big Ten title with a 14-6 record.

"I don't know if I ever had a team have to endure more and fight through more," Badgers coach Greg Gard said. "I'm not talking about the last seven minutes. I'm talking about the last nine months."

For much of the game, the Hoosiers dictated.

During seven minutes spanning the end of the first half and the beginning of the second, IU kept Wisconsin out of the paint and perimeter futile.

Its defensive ferocity rocked Wisconsin into irrelevance.

Case in point -- -- IU's 6-11 Joey Brunk on 6-foot D'Mitrik Trice on the perimeter.

It seemed a mismatch.

It was -- for Trice. Brunk gave him nothing and the result was a Badger shot clock violation just before halftime.

And yet, it wasn't enough.

"It was a really hard-fought game that came down to a few plays you're going to look back on and wish you had back," Miller said. "In a game of inches, you have to make those winning (plays).

"Wisconsin did."

For the first time all season, Davis started ahead of Brunk.

The result -- Davis briefly morphed into basketball superman.

In the first five minutes, he had four points on 2-for-2 shooting, grabbed two rebounds and had two steals. Add Green sharpshooting his way to 13 quick points and the Hoosiers edged ahead 17-13.

Green came out for a brief rest. Jerome Hunter replaced him and quickly hit a three-pointer. The lead was seven.

IU led 28-25 with four and a half minutes left when both defenses went into shut-down mode. Neither team scored the rest of the half.

Indiana kept up the pressure in the second half, pushing ahead by as many as five points with rebounding, defense and all-court intensity that had Assembly Hall decibel levels soaring.

With forward Trayce Jackson-Davis asserting himself after a slow first half, IU built a 47-39 lead with nine minutes left. It led 51-44 with 6:33 left after a pair of Thompson free throws.

The Hoosiers seemed in control.

They were not.

The Badgers responded with a 12-0 run for a 56-51 lead. IU repeatedly got to the rim, but couldn't convert. With 1:15 left, Miller called a timeout.

Durham hit a huge 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down. Wisconsin countered with a rebound basket. IU trailed 58-54 with 19 seconds left.

Durham added a pair of free throws with 11.5 seconds left to cut the lead to two.

The problem -- the Hoosiers only had four fouls, so lost time trying to foul Wisconsin into the bonus situation. They finally put guard Brad Davison on the line with 7.1 seconds left. The 86.3-percent free throw shooter hit both to clinch it.

That left Indiana with a Wednesday night game in Indianapolis in the Big Ten tourney, and this closing Senior Day point from Miller:

"This group has a great chance to make a few runs in it. It starts in Indianapolis next week.

"We're playing the right way. We're playing hard. In Indianapolis, we'll be ready to go. When they call our name on Selection Sunday, we'll find a way to get it done."