Wednesday, December 22
Bloomington, Ind.
7:00 PM
Indiana University
10-2,1-1Big Ten
79
vs
61
Northern Kentucky
4-7,0-2Horizon
1
2
F
Northern Ky.
14
47
61
Indiana
38
41
79
Indiana Dominates Northern Kentucky Behind Strong Defensive Effort
12/22/2021 8:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosies.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Smile? You'd better believe Anthony Leal had one.
A first career college start in an arena you grew up dreaming about playing in can do that.
"It was very special," Indiana's sophomore guard said.
Buzz had started before Indiana hit Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall's Branch McCracken Court court in what would be Wednesday night's 79-61 Hoosier victory.
Coach Mike Woodson said on the pre-game radio show that Leal would start. That meant that Parker Stewart, the Big Ten's best three-point shooter who had started the previous 11 games, would not.
Leal, a former Indiana Mr. Basketball out of Bloomington High School South, found out on Monday.
"I didn't tell my parents. I wanted it to be a surprise."
Leal, whose minutes have increased in recent weeks, finished with five assists, four rebounds, two points and a steal in a season-high 22 minutes.
"It's a blessing," Leal said. "I was in shock when (Woodson) first told me. I wanted to make the most of it. Make sure we got off to a good start and that I stayed true to what I do."
He did.
"He played well as a starter," Woodson said. "He did a good job for us.
"I feel good about everybody who plays. Somebody has to start. Somebody has to finish."
Stewart played in for the second half and hit a three-pointer. Those were his only points in eight minutes.
Why didn't Stewart start?
Woodson wouldn't say.
"It's an in-house matter. I never address things that go on in our locker room."
IU (10-2) needed 19 seconds to take a lead it never lost. It held Northern Kentucky (4-7) to just 14 first-half points, matching the fewest it's allowed all season (Louisiana).
It showed the kind of focus Woodson wanted before the Christmas break.
"If you have your team in position, you're playing for something," he said. "Every game we play is important. You can't take any nights off. Any team in college basketball can beat you if you're not prepared."
The Hoosiers dominated the paint with a 48-12 scoring advantage thanks to the formidable combination of forwards Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson.
Jackson-Davis had 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. Thompson had 14 points and four rebounds, and matched Jackson-Davis' two blocks.
Guard Rob Phinisee came off the bench for 10 points and three rebounds.
"It was a good win," Woodson said. "They get two days off (for Christmas). I hope they have a great time with their families. On Sunday we go back to work."
Northern Kentucky opened 1-for-12 from beyond the arc against a Hoosier defense that had held Notre Dame to 18.2 percent three-point shooting the previous Saturday. It finished 10-for-33 led behind guard Trevon Faulkner, whose hot second half had him finish with four three-pointers and 22 points.
That forced Woodson, who was playing the second unit in the second half, to switch back to the starters.
"They were hitting shots," Jackson-Davis said. "You've got to be ready to play when you come in. The second group had a little slippage. Coach Woodson doesn't take chances and made sure we sealed the deal."
IU wasted no time exploiting its inside advantage. Jackson-Davis scored IU's first six points. Thompson scored the next two before missing a shot, ending his 11-straight-made-shot run. That was three shy of the program record of 14 set by Juwan Morgan in the 2016-17 season.
The Hoosiers inched ahead 8-5, then surged.
A Jackson-Davis blocked shot forced a Northern Kentucky shot-clock violation. Phinisee scored seven straight points. The Norse missed 14 straight shots. The lead swelled to 24-5.
Miller Kopp ended the half with a three-pointer off of Jackson-Davis' third assist for a 38-14 IU lead.
That led to this halftime drama – would Bloomington fifth grader Ryan Decker make a 94-foot putt on Branch McCracken Court worth $1,000?
He did.
Then followed the biggest second-half question – would the Hoosiers sustain their first-half intensity?
Not exactly.
Northern Kentucky won the final 20 minutes, 47-41.
Woodson was not happy.
"It wasn't pretty," he said about the second-half defense.
"Defensively we did everything right in the first half in terms of coverages and switches. It was totally the opposite in the second half.
"I made it known that can't happen. We won't win many games in the Big Ten doing that."
Added Jackson-Davis: "Our defensive intensity was good in the first half. We had a little slippage in the second half. They got comfortable and hit some shots."
Offensively, IU had 20 assists on 32 baskets. It committed 13 turnovers.
Woodson expects more.
"Our offense has so much more to give. We have to keep working.
"We're doing some good things offensively, but we're not there yet. We're still a work in progress."
IUHoosies.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Smile? You'd better believe Anthony Leal had one.
A first career college start in an arena you grew up dreaming about playing in can do that.
"It was very special," Indiana's sophomore guard said.
Buzz had started before Indiana hit Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall's Branch McCracken Court court in what would be Wednesday night's 79-61 Hoosier victory.
Coach Mike Woodson said on the pre-game radio show that Leal would start. That meant that Parker Stewart, the Big Ten's best three-point shooter who had started the previous 11 games, would not.
Leal, a former Indiana Mr. Basketball out of Bloomington High School South, found out on Monday.
"I didn't tell my parents. I wanted it to be a surprise."
Leal, whose minutes have increased in recent weeks, finished with five assists, four rebounds, two points and a steal in a season-high 22 minutes.
"It's a blessing," Leal said. "I was in shock when (Woodson) first told me. I wanted to make the most of it. Make sure we got off to a good start and that I stayed true to what I do."
He did.
"He played well as a starter," Woodson said. "He did a good job for us.
"I feel good about everybody who plays. Somebody has to start. Somebody has to finish."
Stewart played in for the second half and hit a three-pointer. Those were his only points in eight minutes.
Why didn't Stewart start?
Woodson wouldn't say.
"It's an in-house matter. I never address things that go on in our locker room."
IU (10-2) needed 19 seconds to take a lead it never lost. It held Northern Kentucky (4-7) to just 14 first-half points, matching the fewest it's allowed all season (Louisiana).
It showed the kind of focus Woodson wanted before the Christmas break.
"If you have your team in position, you're playing for something," he said. "Every game we play is important. You can't take any nights off. Any team in college basketball can beat you if you're not prepared."
The Hoosiers dominated the paint with a 48-12 scoring advantage thanks to the formidable combination of forwards Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson.
Jackson-Davis had 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. Thompson had 14 points and four rebounds, and matched Jackson-Davis' two blocks.
Guard Rob Phinisee came off the bench for 10 points and three rebounds.
"It was a good win," Woodson said. "They get two days off (for Christmas). I hope they have a great time with their families. On Sunday we go back to work."
Northern Kentucky opened 1-for-12 from beyond the arc against a Hoosier defense that had held Notre Dame to 18.2 percent three-point shooting the previous Saturday. It finished 10-for-33 led behind guard Trevon Faulkner, whose hot second half had him finish with four three-pointers and 22 points.
That forced Woodson, who was playing the second unit in the second half, to switch back to the starters.
"They were hitting shots," Jackson-Davis said. "You've got to be ready to play when you come in. The second group had a little slippage. Coach Woodson doesn't take chances and made sure we sealed the deal."
IU wasted no time exploiting its inside advantage. Jackson-Davis scored IU's first six points. Thompson scored the next two before missing a shot, ending his 11-straight-made-shot run. That was three shy of the program record of 14 set by Juwan Morgan in the 2016-17 season.
The Hoosiers inched ahead 8-5, then surged.
A Jackson-Davis blocked shot forced a Northern Kentucky shot-clock violation. Phinisee scored seven straight points. The Norse missed 14 straight shots. The lead swelled to 24-5.
Miller Kopp ended the half with a three-pointer off of Jackson-Davis' third assist for a 38-14 IU lead.
That led to this halftime drama – would Bloomington fifth grader Ryan Decker make a 94-foot putt on Branch McCracken Court worth $1,000?
He did.
Then followed the biggest second-half question – would the Hoosiers sustain their first-half intensity?
Not exactly.
Northern Kentucky won the final 20 minutes, 47-41.
Woodson was not happy.
"It wasn't pretty," he said about the second-half defense.
"Defensively we did everything right in the first half in terms of coverages and switches. It was totally the opposite in the second half.
"I made it known that can't happen. We won't win many games in the Big Ten doing that."
Added Jackson-Davis: "Our defensive intensity was good in the first half. We had a little slippage in the second half. They got comfortable and hit some shots."
Offensively, IU had 20 assists on 32 baskets. It committed 13 turnovers.
Woodson expects more.
"Our offense has so much more to give. We have to keep working.
"We're doing some good things offensively, but we're not there yet. We're still a work in progress."
Team Stats
NKU
IND
FG%
.356
.582
3FG%
.303
.333
FT%
.750
.667
RB
24
38
TO
10
13
STL
10
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
14
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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