Wednesday, December 8
Madison, Wis.
7:00 PM
Indiana University
7-2,1-1Big Ten
59
at
64
Wisconsin
8-1,1-0Big Ten
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F
Indiana
42
17
59
Wisconsin
25
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64
Indiana Falls to No. 22/17 Wisconsin 64-59 in Big Ten Road Opener
12/8/2021 9:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
MADISON, Wisc. - It was there, all of it, a Wednesday night chance to end a generation of Madison misery and bury basketball demons that stretched into the previous century.
Indiana was poised for a landmark victory at Wisconsin that would have meant a once-a-century achievement for first-year coach Mike Woodson.
And then, in a basketball instant, it was gone, by a 64-59 score.
"I have to help them figure out ways to win games like this," Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during his post-game radio show.
A 22-point first-half lead vanished amid a second-half flurry of missed shots, missed free throws, turnovers and second-chance Wisconsin points.
"We played great in the first half," Woodson told Fischer, "but you have to put two halfs together to win.
"In the second half, we came out ready, but once they made the run, we just couldn't answer. We missed free throws."
IU missed seven of 13 free throws, including its last three of the game. Wisconsin was 15-for-18 from the line.
"I look at the stat sheet," Woodson told Fischer, "and we won in almost every category except for the score."
The Hoosiers (7-2) shot better, rebounded better and scored more points in the paint – except when it mattered most.
"We struggled to score in the second half," Woodson told Fischer. "We couldn't make shots and couldn't get stops.
"I've got to get them over the hump. This was a winnable game."
For 20 minutes, the Hoosiers were as good as any team in the country. For 37 minutes, they threatened to do what they hadn't done since Titanic ruled the movie box office, when Bob Knight was the coach, Andrae Patterson was the Cream 'n Crimson hero and beating Wisconsin was almost as common in Hoosier circles as candy stripes.
Then it all disappeared.
IU missed 13 of its last 14 shots, plus missed three straight free throws. It failed to score in the final three minutes to remain winless in Madison since 1998.
It also kept Woodson from becoming the first Hoosier coach to win his Big Ten road opener since George W. Levis in 1921.
"We missed some shots," Woodson told Fischer. "We missed shots around the bucket and didn't make free throws.
"We have to fix that. We have to make free throws on the road in tight games."
Wisconsin (8-1) came in with a top-25 national ranking and a series of impressive victories, most away from home, including over then No. 12 Houston.
IU began as if it didn't care.
This was a new coach, a new program and a new attitude, which meant tapping into its old win-anywhere-at-any-time roots.
But then, Wisconsin fought back for its biggest comeback in school history. It rallied behind a Johnny Davis three-pointer with two minutes left that gave him a game-high 23 points and pushed Wisconsin to a 60-59 lead it never lost.
"The biggest bucket was Davis' three to put them up," Woodson told Fischer. "We couldn't answer after that."
Forward Race Thompson led IU with 12 points and nine rebounds. Guard Xavier Johnson had 10 points, seven assists and seven rebounds, but was just 4-for-16 from the field, 2-for-6 on free throws.
Forward Trayce Jackson Davis took just 10 shots, made four and finished with nine points and six rebounds.
After the game, Woodson said he has to figure out ways to get Jackson-Davis and Thompson more shots on the road.
In the opening 10 minutes, IU rocked Wisconsin like no one had all season. It built leads as large as 22 points, the Badgers' biggest deficit of the season. It scored more points in the first 15 minutes than any team had scored in a half against Wisconsin all year.
Parker Stewart was 3-for-3 from three-point range. Miller Kopp and Tamar Bates each had a three-pointer.
By halftime, Indiana had a 42-25 lead on 54.8 percent shooting, including 5-for-8 on three-pointers. Seven Hoosiers had scored, five with at least six points. Stewart led the way with nine points.
Even more remarkable, it had just five turnovers against 11 assists. That was huge for a team averaging basically 17 a game.
The only concern – Wisconsin had scored the last five points of the half to find momentum. It was going to make a second-half run.
Could the Hoosiers handle it?
Ultimately, no.
IU played well enough, even with the second-unit getting extended minutes, to take a 56-44 lead.
Then the Hoosiers lost their offense, and then the game.
"Give Wisconsin credit," Woodson told Fischer. "They kept fighting until they got the lead."
IUHoosiers.com
MADISON, Wisc. - It was there, all of it, a Wednesday night chance to end a generation of Madison misery and bury basketball demons that stretched into the previous century.
Indiana was poised for a landmark victory at Wisconsin that would have meant a once-a-century achievement for first-year coach Mike Woodson.
And then, in a basketball instant, it was gone, by a 64-59 score.
"I have to help them figure out ways to win games like this," Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during his post-game radio show.
A 22-point first-half lead vanished amid a second-half flurry of missed shots, missed free throws, turnovers and second-chance Wisconsin points.
"We played great in the first half," Woodson told Fischer, "but you have to put two halfs together to win.
"In the second half, we came out ready, but once they made the run, we just couldn't answer. We missed free throws."
IU missed seven of 13 free throws, including its last three of the game. Wisconsin was 15-for-18 from the line.
"I look at the stat sheet," Woodson told Fischer, "and we won in almost every category except for the score."
The Hoosiers (7-2) shot better, rebounded better and scored more points in the paint – except when it mattered most.
"We struggled to score in the second half," Woodson told Fischer. "We couldn't make shots and couldn't get stops.
"I've got to get them over the hump. This was a winnable game."
For 20 minutes, the Hoosiers were as good as any team in the country. For 37 minutes, they threatened to do what they hadn't done since Titanic ruled the movie box office, when Bob Knight was the coach, Andrae Patterson was the Cream 'n Crimson hero and beating Wisconsin was almost as common in Hoosier circles as candy stripes.
Then it all disappeared.
IU missed 13 of its last 14 shots, plus missed three straight free throws. It failed to score in the final three minutes to remain winless in Madison since 1998.
It also kept Woodson from becoming the first Hoosier coach to win his Big Ten road opener since George W. Levis in 1921.
"We missed some shots," Woodson told Fischer. "We missed shots around the bucket and didn't make free throws.
"We have to fix that. We have to make free throws on the road in tight games."
Wisconsin (8-1) came in with a top-25 national ranking and a series of impressive victories, most away from home, including over then No. 12 Houston.
IU began as if it didn't care.
This was a new coach, a new program and a new attitude, which meant tapping into its old win-anywhere-at-any-time roots.
But then, Wisconsin fought back for its biggest comeback in school history. It rallied behind a Johnny Davis three-pointer with two minutes left that gave him a game-high 23 points and pushed Wisconsin to a 60-59 lead it never lost.
"The biggest bucket was Davis' three to put them up," Woodson told Fischer. "We couldn't answer after that."
Forward Race Thompson led IU with 12 points and nine rebounds. Guard Xavier Johnson had 10 points, seven assists and seven rebounds, but was just 4-for-16 from the field, 2-for-6 on free throws.
Forward Trayce Jackson Davis took just 10 shots, made four and finished with nine points and six rebounds.
After the game, Woodson said he has to figure out ways to get Jackson-Davis and Thompson more shots on the road.
In the opening 10 minutes, IU rocked Wisconsin like no one had all season. It built leads as large as 22 points, the Badgers' biggest deficit of the season. It scored more points in the first 15 minutes than any team had scored in a half against Wisconsin all year.
Parker Stewart was 3-for-3 from three-point range. Miller Kopp and Tamar Bates each had a three-pointer.
By halftime, Indiana had a 42-25 lead on 54.8 percent shooting, including 5-for-8 on three-pointers. Seven Hoosiers had scored, five with at least six points. Stewart led the way with nine points.
Even more remarkable, it had just five turnovers against 11 assists. That was huge for a team averaging basically 17 a game.
The only concern – Wisconsin had scored the last five points of the half to find momentum. It was going to make a second-half run.
Could the Hoosiers handle it?
Ultimately, no.
IU played well enough, even with the second-unit getting extended minutes, to take a 56-44 lead.
Then the Hoosiers lost their offense, and then the game.
"Give Wisconsin credit," Woodson told Fischer. "They kept fighting until they got the lead."
Team Stats
IND
Wisc
FG%
.387
.355
3FG%
.385
.217
FT%
.462
.833
RB
44
41
TO
9
4
STL
2
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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