Michigan Overpowers Indiana: What Went Wrong for the Hoosiers in Ann Arbor
Indiana fans knew Tuesday night’s matchup at the Crisler Center was going to be a tall task. Facing the No. 3-ranked Michigan Wolverines on the road is never easy - especially when that team is firing on all cylinders like a national title contender. And from the opening tip, it was clear the Hoosiers were in for a long night.
Michigan didn’t just win - they controlled the game from start to finish, cruising to an 86-72 victory and handing Indiana its fourth straight loss. The Hoosiers, now 12-7 overall and 3-5 in Big Ten play, had a few flashes of life, but never truly threatened to take control. Let’s break down what stood out in this one - and what it tells us about where Indiana is right now.
A Defensive Slide That Won’t Cut It in the Big Ten
Indiana’s defense has been trending in the wrong direction, and Tuesday night was another data point in a concerning pattern. The Hoosiers have now allowed five of their last six opponents to score more than 1.23 points per possession - a number that simply doesn’t translate to winning basketball, especially in a league as rugged as the Big Ten.
Even in their recent win over Washington, Indiana gave up efficient scoring numbers. That’s not a sustainable formula.
Against top-50 opponents, Indiana ranks outside the top 120 in adjusted defensive efficiency, per BartTorvik.com. That’s a steep drop-off from where they need to be.
Against lesser teams, Indiana's defense has looked sharp - forcing tough twos and locking down the perimeter. But when the competition steps up, so do the problems.
The Hoosiers give up size, strength, and athleticism to most Big Ten rosters. Outside of a few teams like Penn State or Minnesota, Indiana is often outmatched physically.
That puts a premium on execution, communication, and urgency - and right now, those things just aren’t there consistently.
The margin for error is razor-thin, and Indiana’s defense hasn’t been able to walk that line.
Paint Touches: The Missing Ingredient
If there’s one offensive stat that jumps off the page, it’s this: Indiana scored 1.44 points per possession when they got the ball into the paint against Michigan. That’s an elite number - especially against a defense that’s among the best in the country.
The problem? They didn’t get there nearly enough.
The Hoosiers had just 34 paint touches in a 70-possession game - and that includes transition opportunities. That’s not going to cut it.
For this offense to flow, the ball needs to get into the lane, whether by drive, post-up, or cut. Paint touches collapse defenses, create kick-outs, and open up the floor.
Without them, Indiana’s offense becomes stagnant and predictable.
The first paint touch came more than four minutes into the game - and it wasn’t even from a starter. Reed Bailey drove the lane at the 15:33 mark of the first half, finally breaking through Michigan’s perimeter shell. To that point, Indiana hadn’t scored.
Tayton Conerway is one of the few Hoosiers who can consistently turn the corner on defenders, but he was limited to just two minutes before his ankle forced him to sit. Without him, Indiana struggled to generate dribble penetration - and the offense suffered.
Wilkerson and DeVries: Too Quiet for Too Long
Lamar Wilkerson and Tucker DeVries have been two of Indiana’s most reliable scoring threats this season. But against Michigan, they were taken almost completely out of the game plan - at least early on.
DeVries didn’t score until there were fewer than eight minutes remaining. He finished with 15 points, but by the time he got going, the game was already out of reach. Michigan and Iowa both made it a priority to take away his shot attempts - and it worked.
Wilkerson, meanwhile, has been one of Indiana’s most effective cutters this season. But Michigan neutralized that part of his game. The Wolverines didn’t overhelp, didn’t lose him off the ball, and Indiana didn’t do enough to free him up with off-ball actions.
When defenses key in on Wilkerson and DeVries, Indiana has to get creative. That means more screening, more movement, and more designed actions to get them open looks. Simply relying on them to create something out of nothing isn’t going to work against top-tier defenses.
Offensive Adjustments: Some Tools Still in the Toolbox
There are some wrinkles in Indiana’s offense that could help spark more consistent production - they just haven’t been used enough.
Reed Bailey, for example, was at his best at Davidson when operating from the elbow. He’s capable of driving, drawing help, and kicking out to shooters.
At Indiana, he’s mostly been used in handoffs and ball screens. But giving him more freedom to create from the mid-post could help generate the kind of inside-out action this offense desperately needs.
Tucker DeVries has been involved in some clever screen actions - including a back screen for Sam Alexis or Bailey, followed by a pop to the three-point line. That “Span” action puts pressure on the defense to communicate and rotate. It’s been effective, and Indiana could benefit from using it more often.
Then there’s Wilkerson. He hasn’t been used much as a screener, but that’s a role that could open up new opportunities.
When a shooter like Wilkerson sets a screen and pops, it forces defenders into tough decisions. Do they switch?
Hedge? Stay attached?
That kind of confusion can lead to open looks.
Sam Alexis: A Bright Spot with Room to Grow
In a game that didn’t offer many positives for Indiana, Sam Alexis continues to show why he’s such an important piece for this team.
The Florida transfer has been one of the most physical players on the roster - and the Hoosiers need that edge. He’s also their best finisher in traffic, which is no small thing in a conference loaded with rim protectors.
Foul trouble limited his impact against Michigan, but when he’s on the floor, Alexis brings a level of toughness and interior presence that Indiana simply doesn’t get from anyone else. If he can stay out of foul trouble and continue to develop, he could be a major factor down the stretch.
What’s Next for the Hoosiers
Despite the loss - and the four-game skid - Indiana still has a shot to right the ship. The Hoosiers head to New Jersey on Friday to take on Rutgers, a road game they badly need to win to stay in the NCAA Tournament mix.
The blueprint is there. Paint touches.
Defensive urgency. Better usage of their top scorers.
And a little more creativity in how they deploy their personnel. If Indiana can clean up those areas, they’ve still got time to make noise in the Big Ten.
But it starts with getting back to the basics - and bringing the kind of energy and execution that simply wasn’t there in Ann Arbor.