Monday, November 7
Bloomington, Ind.
7:00 PM
Indiana University
1-0,0-0Big Ten
88
vs
53
Morehead State
0-1,0-0OVC
1
2
F
Morehead St.
29
24
53
Indiana
41
47
88
Indiana Cruises Past Morehead State 88-53 in Season Opener
11/7/2022 8:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Race Thompson had seen this since the summer, this imposing Indiana basketball depth, this ability to push until the opponent breaks.
On Monday night, Morehead State broke.
Given this 88-53 victory was the season opener, it won't be the last broken opponent.
"As a team, we have 10 staters, 11 starters, 12 starters," said Thompson, who finished with nine points, two rebounds and two assists. "When the second unit comes in, there's no drop off. They played great.
"It should be fun."
IU (1-0) crushed a Morehead State team picked to win the Ohio Valley Conference title. It thrived on aggressive defense (a 29-9 edge in points off turnovers), inside dominance (a 52-18 advantage in points in the paint), efficient offense (61 percent shooting) and full-throttle tenacity.
Yes, there were a few nerves. Season openers can do that.
"We calmed down and locked in on defense," Thompson said. "We're a defensive team. If we get that settled down, everything will take care of itself."
The Hoosiers attacked in waves, with the second unit as good as the first, better if you don't count Trayce Jackson-Davis.
You do count him, of course. In 23 minutes, the senior All-America had 15 points, seven rebounds and two steals. He only played eight second-half minutes.
As far as the second unit, freshman forward Malik Reneau had 15 points and five rebounds. Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino had seven points and four assists in a team-high 28 minutes. Junior forward Jordan Geronimo had 10 points. Sophomore guard Tamar Bates had nine points.
Overall, IU got 45 bench points.
"It's important for us to come in and have no drop off," Geronimo said. "We have to come with energy. If it's applied, it will show on the court."
It was applied and it did show. A 21-21 tie became a 17-point Hoosier lead in a decisive eight-minute blitz.
"We went on a run, got some points, got some easy points," Geronimo said. "That's what you need, that pop to keep you in."
In all, 14 Hoosiers played, 12 scored, and none lacked energy and focus.
"I've got a lot of pieces," coach Mike Woodson said. "I've got to figure it out (the rotation), based on how they're playing."
Beyond that, he said, "We are deeper. We're longer. More athletic. That helps.
"You're liable to see a lot of different lineups. All I tell our guys is, be ready to play. If I see you're not ready, I have to go somewhere else to get it."
For IU, familiarity breeds execution. It had 16 assists against 10 turnovers.
"We've played with each other since the summer," Geronimo said. "That allowed us to know each other's game. No matter the rotation, we know everyone's style of play. Whatever group is out there, it will be good."
Familiarity also breeds trust.
"If I pass the ball in the corner to a teammate for an open three," Geronimo said, "I have trust he will make it."
Guard Xavier Johnson scored the first basket of the season. Jackson-Davis followed with two more buckets. Hood-Schifino hit a jumper for his first college points. Thompson had a layup off a long fast-break pass from Johnson. IU led 10-3, and then 14-6. Morehead State was shooting 33 percent with three turnovers.
Then the Eagles surged behind Mark Freeman with an 11-2 run for a 17-16 lead with 12 minutes left in the half. Woodson had seen enough, called a timeout, and put in Bates, Reneau, Trey Galloway and Geronimo.
Bates responded with a dunk and a three-pointer. IU was back in front, 21-17. Morehead State tied it on a four-point play when Johnson was called for his second foul on a Freeman three-pointer.
That left Hood-Schifino as the point guard, and the Hoosiers to flex their youthful muscles. Thirteen straight points followed, and it would have been more if they hadn't missed four straight free throws.
IU pushed ahead by 17 before settling for a 41-29 halftime advantage. Jackson-Davis dominated with 13 points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes.
The big halftime emphasis was to ratchet up the defense, particularly on the perimeter.
"We talked about how we can improve," Thompson said. "We said, let's show them what we can do. We showed that."
When the Hoosiers weren't pushing with second-half defense, they were attacking on fast breaks. That led to a pair of Miller Kopp three-pointers off Hood-Schifino assists that boosted the lead to 59-39 with 11 minutes left.
IU cruised from there.
"In the second half," Woodson said, "we turned it on from a defensive standpoint and did what we had to do to secure the win."
Next up – a Thursday home game against Bethune-Cookman.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Race Thompson had seen this since the summer, this imposing Indiana basketball depth, this ability to push until the opponent breaks.
On Monday night, Morehead State broke.
Given this 88-53 victory was the season opener, it won't be the last broken opponent.
"As a team, we have 10 staters, 11 starters, 12 starters," said Thompson, who finished with nine points, two rebounds and two assists. "When the second unit comes in, there's no drop off. They played great.
"It should be fun."
IU (1-0) crushed a Morehead State team picked to win the Ohio Valley Conference title. It thrived on aggressive defense (a 29-9 edge in points off turnovers), inside dominance (a 52-18 advantage in points in the paint), efficient offense (61 percent shooting) and full-throttle tenacity.
Yes, there were a few nerves. Season openers can do that.
"We calmed down and locked in on defense," Thompson said. "We're a defensive team. If we get that settled down, everything will take care of itself."
The Hoosiers attacked in waves, with the second unit as good as the first, better if you don't count Trayce Jackson-Davis.
You do count him, of course. In 23 minutes, the senior All-America had 15 points, seven rebounds and two steals. He only played eight second-half minutes.
As far as the second unit, freshman forward Malik Reneau had 15 points and five rebounds. Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino had seven points and four assists in a team-high 28 minutes. Junior forward Jordan Geronimo had 10 points. Sophomore guard Tamar Bates had nine points.
Overall, IU got 45 bench points.
"It's important for us to come in and have no drop off," Geronimo said. "We have to come with energy. If it's applied, it will show on the court."
It was applied and it did show. A 21-21 tie became a 17-point Hoosier lead in a decisive eight-minute blitz.
"We went on a run, got some points, got some easy points," Geronimo said. "That's what you need, that pop to keep you in."
In all, 14 Hoosiers played, 12 scored, and none lacked energy and focus.
"I've got a lot of pieces," coach Mike Woodson said. "I've got to figure it out (the rotation), based on how they're playing."
Beyond that, he said, "We are deeper. We're longer. More athletic. That helps.
"You're liable to see a lot of different lineups. All I tell our guys is, be ready to play. If I see you're not ready, I have to go somewhere else to get it."
For IU, familiarity breeds execution. It had 16 assists against 10 turnovers.
"We've played with each other since the summer," Geronimo said. "That allowed us to know each other's game. No matter the rotation, we know everyone's style of play. Whatever group is out there, it will be good."
Familiarity also breeds trust.
"If I pass the ball in the corner to a teammate for an open three," Geronimo said, "I have trust he will make it."
Guard Xavier Johnson scored the first basket of the season. Jackson-Davis followed with two more buckets. Hood-Schifino hit a jumper for his first college points. Thompson had a layup off a long fast-break pass from Johnson. IU led 10-3, and then 14-6. Morehead State was shooting 33 percent with three turnovers.
Then the Eagles surged behind Mark Freeman with an 11-2 run for a 17-16 lead with 12 minutes left in the half. Woodson had seen enough, called a timeout, and put in Bates, Reneau, Trey Galloway and Geronimo.
Bates responded with a dunk and a three-pointer. IU was back in front, 21-17. Morehead State tied it on a four-point play when Johnson was called for his second foul on a Freeman three-pointer.
That left Hood-Schifino as the point guard, and the Hoosiers to flex their youthful muscles. Thirteen straight points followed, and it would have been more if they hadn't missed four straight free throws.
IU pushed ahead by 17 before settling for a 41-29 halftime advantage. Jackson-Davis dominated with 13 points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes.
The big halftime emphasis was to ratchet up the defense, particularly on the perimeter.
"We talked about how we can improve," Thompson said. "We said, let's show them what we can do. We showed that."
When the Hoosiers weren't pushing with second-half defense, they were attacking on fast breaks. That led to a pair of Miller Kopp three-pointers off Hood-Schifino assists that boosted the lead to 59-39 with 11 minutes left.
IU cruised from there.
"In the second half," Woodson said, "we turned it on from a defensive standpoint and did what we had to do to secure the win."
Next up – a Thursday home game against Bethune-Cookman.
Team Stats
More
IND
FG%
.370
.610
3FG%
.300
.364
FT%
.800
.571
RB
28
33
TO
21
10
STL
4
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
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