Indiana’s Struggles Continue in Ann Arbor: A Closer Look at the Hoosiers’ 86-72 Loss to Michigan
Indiana’s trip to Ann Arbor was rough from the jump - and never really got better. The Hoosiers found themselves in a 9-0 hole before they could blink, trailed by as many as 25, and never seriously threatened in an 86-72 loss to Michigan. Now riding a four-game losing streak, Indiana is searching for answers with a tough road test at Rutgers looming on Friday.
Let’s break down what went wrong - and what it means - in our latest Indiana game analysis.
Offense: C-
Without starting point guard Tayton Conerway - who gave it a go for two minutes before shutting it down due to the ankle injury he suffered against Iowa - Indiana looked lost against Michigan’s physical, switching perimeter defense. That type of pressure has been a consistent problem for the Hoosiers all year, and without their best on-ball creator, those issues were only magnified.
The offense lacked rhythm and purpose early. Dribble drives stalled, cuts didn’t create separation, and screens weren’t freeing up shooters.
The result? A lot of standing around and late-clock heaves, leading to just 0.9 points per possession in the first half.
That’s not going to cut it against a top-tier opponent on the road.
Lamar Wilkerson and Tucker DeVries - two of Indiana’s best scoring threats - didn’t get nearly enough touches. Wilkerson took just 10 shots all game, and DeVries had only four attempts through the first 30 minutes. For Indiana to have any chance of finding offensive consistency, those two need to be focal points, not afterthoughts.
To their credit, the Hoosiers found a bit of a groove in the second half. Michigan’s defensive intensity dipped, and Indiana capitalized with paint touches, better ball movement, and some kick-out threes.
DeVries caught fire late, giving IU a cosmetic boost on the scoreboard. But let’s be clear - that second-half spurt didn’t change the outcome.
It did, however, offer a glimpse of what DeVries can bring if he gets going. That’s something to build on.
Defense: C-
Yes, Michigan boasts one of the best offenses in the country. Yes, Indiana was short-handed.
But that doesn’t excuse another defensive letdown. The Hoosiers allowed 1.23 points per possession - the fourth straight game they’ve surrendered at least that much.
They’ve lost all four. In five of their last six games, they’ve hit that same defensive low mark.
That’s a trend, not a blip.
Michigan shot a blistering 60.4% effective field goal percentage, including 60.7% from two-point range and 40% from beyond the arc. Indiana’s size disadvantage was glaring, and it led to one easy look after another inside.
The same issues that have haunted this team all season were on full display: poor rebounding, too many fouls, and second-chance points. Michigan grabbed 12 offensive boards, turning them into 16 points.
The Wolverines also got to the line 33 times - the second-highest free throw rate Indiana has allowed all season. If Michigan had converted more than 22 of those attempts, this could’ve been a 20-point blowout.
Even when Indiana competed - and there were stretches where the effort was there - they didn’t have the size, athleticism, or cohesion to consistently get stops. Conerway’s absence hurt on the perimeter, but even with him, this team has struggled to string together enough defensive possessions to stay in games.
Player Breakdown
Tucker DeVries (D)
Two early fouls limited him to 12 minutes in the first half, and he didn’t score before the break.
The second half was a different story - DeVries poured in 15 points and looked more like the player Indiana needs him to be. The problem?
It was too little, too late. If this is the start of a hot streak, that’s a silver lining.
But it didn’t move the needle in this one.
Lamar Wilkerson (D)
Wilkerson had a tough night.
He turned it over three times and didn’t bring his usual defensive energy. There were flashes - some smart shot fakes and better decisions in the second half - but overall, frustration seemed to creep in, and it showed in his effort.
Sam Alexis (C)
There were positives here.
Alexis was physical at the rim on offense and looked more comfortable handling the ball. But he needs to rebound better and stay out of foul trouble to be a consistent contributor, especially against teams with frontcourt depth like Michigan.
Conor Enright (C)
Enright was thrown into the fire with Conerway sidelined, and while it wasn’t pretty, he held his own. He knocked down open threes, took care of the ball, and battled defensively - even as foul trouble eventually caught up with him.
Reed Bailey (C-)
Bailey had a couple of strong finishes inside, showing some of the physicality Indiana’s staff has been pushing him to play with. But three turnovers and limited rebounding impact kept him from making a bigger difference.
Trent Sisley (D)
Tough assignment for a true freshman.
On the road. Against elite size and talent.
These are the games that test young players, and while Sisley didn’t make a major impact, the experience should pay off down the line.
Nick Dorn (C)
Dorn did what he’s asked to do - shoot when open and crash the glass.
He was more active on the boards and didn’t hesitate to let it fly from deep. Solid minutes in a tough environment.
Tayton Conerway, Jasai Miles, Aleksa Ristic
Limited action.
Conerway tried to play through the ankle injury but shut it down early. His absence was felt on both ends.
What’s Next
Indiana drops to 12-7 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten play. The road doesn’t get any easier with a trip to Rutgers on deck. The Hoosiers are still searching for consistency - on both ends of the floor - and they’ll need to find it fast if they want to stay afloat in a brutally competitive conference.