Indiana University
7-1,1-0Big Ten
Nebraska
5-4,0-1Big Ten
Hoosiers Handle Huskers in Big Ten Opener
12/4/2021 2:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosies.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Bench to the rescue?
You'd better believe.
During Saturday afternoon's Big Ten opener against Nebraska, with Indiana's starters struggling and turnovers multiplying, coach Mike Woodson didn't hesitate.
He went to the second unit.
The result -- a 10-point early deficit morphed into a 68-55 victory at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers (7-1) bounced back from their double-overtime loss at Syracuse four days earlier.
"We came out very slow and not into the game," Woodson said. "We were flat. It's the first time I've seen that. I tried to let them play themselves out of it."
It soon became apparent that wouldn't work.
In came Anthony Leal, Rob Phinisee, Tamar Bates, Jordan Geronimo and Michael Durr. Their impact was immediate.
"I had to change it up," Woodson said. "Our bench was fantastic."
Added starting forward Race Thompson: "We believe in them and trust them to make plays. That's what makes a good team."
This was a huge turnaround considering the bench was basically a no-show at Syracuse.
"That's what it's all about," Bates said. "It's how we respond to adversity. We didn't play as well (at Syracuse). We talked about it. We wanted to make sure provided a spark."
IU had a 26-17 advantage in bench points. It's the result, Woodson said, of fiercely competitive practices.
"The second unit pushes the first unit," Woodson said. "In scrimmages, there have been times the second unit has won. They do not succumb to the first unit.
"It showed today. They did what they're supposed to do. I played Anthony and those guys like nine to 10 minutes straight."
Consider Leal, who had only played in three games, and not at all in the last two.
He finished with three points, two assists and a steal. His plus-minus impact of 9 was third on the team to Bates' 16 and Thompson's 12.
"Nothing was holding him back," Thompson said. "He is searching for a spot. We have a lot of good players at guard.
"You see him every day going 125%. He deserves this. None of us are surprised. Hopefully he can keep it going."
Added Woodson: "He's been very competitive in practice. I came in know I would play him. He responded. That was nice to see."
No Hoosier responded more effectively than Bates, whose 13 points included three three-pointers. He had 11 points in 11 first-half minutes, which helped propel IU from a 10-point deficit to a four-point halftime lead.
Misses, he said, don't bother him.
"I will keep shooting. I can miss 10 threes. I will shoot No. 11.
"It's staying confident and believing in myself and knowing my teammates believe in me. They keep swinging it to me."
Woodson wouldn't want it any other way.
"He's not scared of the moment. He'll take a big shot. Sometimes it's a bad shot. I like everything about him. That's why he's here."
Forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, after scoring 43 and 31 points in his previous two games, finished with 14 along with seven rebounds.
Thompson had 11 points and 11 rebounds for his sixth career double-double while exploiting his size advantage.
"He's played that way all season," Woodson said. "They were playing small ball. We tried posting him against a smaller guy. That's something we will explore if teams play our 4s with smaller people. You've got to exploit it."
IU's victory hopes started with cutting down the turnovers. Committing 25 against Syracuse lifted its season average to 16.7, five more than Woodson wanted.
Yet, despite the practice emphasis, the Hoosiers turned it over on the game's first possession. They had six in the first eight minutes, 11 at halftime. They settled down in the second half and finished with 15.
"All we could do is talk about it," Woodson said. "We show it on film. When you play offense, don't give it to the defense. You play offense to score and have fun while doing it.
"We got a little better in the second half. We were able to build a lead by not turning it over. It all goes hand in hand."
IU's three-point defense at home remains solid. It its last four home games, it's held opponents to 19.4 percent from beyond the arc.
After four minutes, IU was just 1-for-6 from the field with two turnovers. Nebraska (5-4) jumped to a 9-2 lead.
Turnovers mounted. The deficit grew along with missed shots. After eight minutes, IU trailed 14-4.
Then the bench started asserting itself. Bates hit a jumper, then hit a pair of three-pointers. Leal had a three-pointer. Dorr and Geronimo scored inside.
A Thompson steal and dunk tied it at 20-20. Bates' second three-pointer pushed the Hoosiers ahead 23-20.
IU ratcheted up its defense. Nebraska was just 3-for-13 in the last 10 minutes. An off-balance Bates three-pointer helped give the Hoosiers a 26-22 halftime lead.
The Hoosiers opened the second half with a Parker Stewart three-pointer and a steal and basket by Xavier Johnson for a 31-24 lead. They got it to eight. Phinisee three-point and two-point baskets, and a monster dunk from Thompson, made it 43-30.
Stewart ended a 6-0 Nebraska run with a three-pointer, then followed it a few minutes later with another three. IU led 51-36.
Nebraska surged back to within seven. Jackson-Davis had a pair of free throws and an inside basket. Xavier Johnson hit two throws. IU was up 59-46, and had control it never lost.
IU, which is 7-0 at home this season, will end the early Big Ten schedule run with a trip to No. 21/23 Wisconsin (6-1) on Wednesday.
"Our goal is not to lose at home," Woodson said. "We'll figure it out on the road."
