Sunday, November 19
New York, N.Y.
1:00 PM
Indiana University
3-1,0-0Big Ten
57
vs
77
Connecticut
4-0,0-0Big East
1
2
F
UConn
37
40
77
Indiana
30
27
57
Indiana Falls to No. 5/4 UConn in Empire Classic
11/19/2023 3:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
NEW YORK CITY - A major college basketball test was delivered like a gut punch.
Indiana (3-1) lost a game, but did it learn a lesson?
Head coach Mike Woodson pushes to make it so.
Sunday's 77-57 loss to No. 5 Connecticut in the Empire Classic opener at Madison Square Garden provided plenty of teaching points.
"This was a wake-up call," Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. "I've got a lot of work to do with this team."
That includes better offensive rebounding, better overall rebounding, and more efficient offense. The defending national champion Huskies (4-0) dominated the first two categories by 44-22 and 16-0 margins. The Hoosiers had just six assists against 12 turnovers while shooting 38 percent from the field.
"Rebounding has been a big concern since we started this journey with two exhibition games and then three regular season games," Woodson told Fischer. "Rebounding was the difference in the game.
"We only had six assists. That's one of the lowest since I've been here in terms of ball movement and making shots. I have to get us in better position to be better offensively."
The Hoosiers won't wait long for a second Empire Classic chance. It will play Monday against the Texas-Louisville loser.
"We have to get tougher," Woodson said in the postgame press conference. "It was glaring that we got out-toughed. I don't like that.
"They put us in our place. We've got to figure it out."
Pre-game motivation included former IU All-American and NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas talking to the team.
It wasn't enough.
"We competed the first half," Woodson told Fischer. "At the start of the second half, we dropped the ball. "Give them a lot of credit."
IU struggled in the first half with point guard Xavier Johnson playing just three minutes because of foul trouble.
Forward Malik Reneau came to the rescue with 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting, vital given the rest of the Hoosiers were just 4-for-20 in the first 20 minutes.
Second-half foul trouble disrupted that dominance. Reneau finished with 18 points, three rebounds, and three blocks before fouling out.
Forward Kel'el Ware had 11 points and eight rebounds. Guard Trey Galloway had 10 points. CJ Gunn displayed some elite one-on-one defense with timely offense (seven points).
IU was 3-for-13 from three-point range. Twenty-two of its points came from inside the paint.
"It was just paint, paint, paint for them," UConn head coach Dan Hurley said. "The three-point line is not something that, at this point, is a strength for them."
UConn, which has won every game by at least 20 points, was led by Tristen Newton's 23 points and 11 rebounds.
"That's a championship team," Woodson told Fischer. "We're trying to get where they've been."
Defense ruled early. After eight minutes, the teams had combined for 6-for-24 shooting, six turnovers, and five blocks, with the Huskies edging ahead 12-8. Ware had four of those points, including a three-pointer.
Ware's second three-pointer and three inside Reneau baskets kept IU within range at 22-15 with seven minutes left in the first half. The Huskies had a 7-0 edge in second-chance points.
UConn surged to a 35-21 lead. A Gunn jumper, two Reneau free throws, a Gunn steal, and two more free throws got the Hoosiers back in it at 35-27. Reneau powered in a three-point play for a 37-30 halftime score.
Johnson started the second half. That wasn't enough to stop the Huskies from scoring the first four points via poor IU defense, which prompted a quick Woodson timeout facing a 41-30 deficit.
After a Huskies three-pointer, a Galloway layup, a Reneau three-point play, a Johnson steal, and two free throws made it 44-37.
UConn's relentless rebounding restored the double-digit lead. Reneau picking up a fourth foul along with Johnson didn't help.
Four-straight Galloway points made it 58-48 with seven minutes left, but Reneau's fifth foul came seconds later. UConn pushed the lead to 16, then 18, then 22.
The Hoosiers couldn't rally.
"They were the more physical team," Woodson said. "They took us out of everything we wanted to do in terms of ball movement."
IUHoosiers.com
NEW YORK CITY - A major college basketball test was delivered like a gut punch.
Indiana (3-1) lost a game, but did it learn a lesson?
Head coach Mike Woodson pushes to make it so.
Sunday's 77-57 loss to No. 5 Connecticut in the Empire Classic opener at Madison Square Garden provided plenty of teaching points.
"This was a wake-up call," Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. "I've got a lot of work to do with this team."
That includes better offensive rebounding, better overall rebounding, and more efficient offense. The defending national champion Huskies (4-0) dominated the first two categories by 44-22 and 16-0 margins. The Hoosiers had just six assists against 12 turnovers while shooting 38 percent from the field.
"Rebounding has been a big concern since we started this journey with two exhibition games and then three regular season games," Woodson told Fischer. "Rebounding was the difference in the game.
"We only had six assists. That's one of the lowest since I've been here in terms of ball movement and making shots. I have to get us in better position to be better offensively."
The Hoosiers won't wait long for a second Empire Classic chance. It will play Monday against the Texas-Louisville loser.
"We have to get tougher," Woodson said in the postgame press conference. "It was glaring that we got out-toughed. I don't like that.
"They put us in our place. We've got to figure it out."
Pre-game motivation included former IU All-American and NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas talking to the team.
It wasn't enough.
"We competed the first half," Woodson told Fischer. "At the start of the second half, we dropped the ball. "Give them a lot of credit."
IU struggled in the first half with point guard Xavier Johnson playing just three minutes because of foul trouble.
Forward Malik Reneau came to the rescue with 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting, vital given the rest of the Hoosiers were just 4-for-20 in the first 20 minutes.
Second-half foul trouble disrupted that dominance. Reneau finished with 18 points, three rebounds, and three blocks before fouling out.
Forward Kel'el Ware had 11 points and eight rebounds. Guard Trey Galloway had 10 points. CJ Gunn displayed some elite one-on-one defense with timely offense (seven points).
IU was 3-for-13 from three-point range. Twenty-two of its points came from inside the paint.
"It was just paint, paint, paint for them," UConn head coach Dan Hurley said. "The three-point line is not something that, at this point, is a strength for them."
UConn, which has won every game by at least 20 points, was led by Tristen Newton's 23 points and 11 rebounds.
"That's a championship team," Woodson told Fischer. "We're trying to get where they've been."
Defense ruled early. After eight minutes, the teams had combined for 6-for-24 shooting, six turnovers, and five blocks, with the Huskies edging ahead 12-8. Ware had four of those points, including a three-pointer.
Ware's second three-pointer and three inside Reneau baskets kept IU within range at 22-15 with seven minutes left in the first half. The Huskies had a 7-0 edge in second-chance points.
UConn surged to a 35-21 lead. A Gunn jumper, two Reneau free throws, a Gunn steal, and two more free throws got the Hoosiers back in it at 35-27. Reneau powered in a three-point play for a 37-30 halftime score.
Johnson started the second half. That wasn't enough to stop the Huskies from scoring the first four points via poor IU defense, which prompted a quick Woodson timeout facing a 41-30 deficit.
After a Huskies three-pointer, a Galloway layup, a Reneau three-point play, a Johnson steal, and two free throws made it 44-37.
UConn's relentless rebounding restored the double-digit lead. Reneau picking up a fourth foul along with Johnson didn't help.
Four-straight Galloway points made it 58-48 with seven minutes left, but Reneau's fifth foul came seconds later. UConn pushed the lead to 16, then 18, then 22.
The Hoosiers couldn't rally.
"They were the more physical team," Woodson said. "They took us out of everything we wanted to do in terms of ball movement."
Team Stats
UConn
IND
FG%
.446
.378
3FG%
.318
.231
FT%
.800
.714
RB
44
22
TO
14
12
STL
8
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballCenter
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