Indiana basketball is facing a tough stretch, winless since their impressive 92-74 victory over Oregon on February 9 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. While losses to top-ranked Illinois and Purdue were somewhat expected, the defeat against Northwestern has put their NCAA tournament dreams on shaky ground.
Second-Chance Points Woes
A glaring issue for Indiana has been their struggle with second-chance points. Despite not focusing heavily on offensive rebounds, the Hoosiers need to tighten up on the defensive boards.
Over the last three games, they've been outscored 42-6 in second-chance opportunities. Illinois, Purdue, and Northwestern have all capitalized, with scores of 17-5, 13-0, and 12-1, respectively.
With Michigan State, a powerhouse in offensive rebounding, up next, Indiana must address this weakness.
Transition Game Missing in Action
Indiana's transition game, once a strength, has vanished. In their recent losses, they've managed just two fast-break points, both against Purdue in a 93-64 defeat. The inability to create opportunities in transition has forced Indiana to rely heavily on half-court offense, where they've struggled without consistent scoring options beyond Lamar Wilkerson.
Defensive Struggles Resurface
Defensively, Indiana had found some stability after a rough patch in January, but recent games have seen old problems reemerge. In their last three outings, opponents have averaged at least 1.17 points per possession, with Purdue hitting a staggering 1.46. This inconsistency places Indiana at 14th in the conference for points per possession allowed, with just three regular-season games left to turn things around.
3-Point Shooting Slump
The Hoosiers rely heavily on their perimeter shooting, but they've hit a cold streak. Although they improved slightly with a 10-for-28 performance against Northwestern, their overall 3-point shooting in the last three games stands at just 31.9 percent. The contrast between their shooting in wins versus losses is striking-31.2 percent in losses compared to 38.7 percent in wins.
As Indiana gears up for the final stretch, addressing these key areas will be crucial to reviving their tournament hopes and finishing the season strong.