The Indiana Hoosiers faced a tough setback Tuesday night, falling to the Northwestern Wildcats 72-68 in a nail-biter in Bloomington. This loss adds pressure to their late-season NCAA Tournament hopes.
Amidst the tension, a missed foul call on forward Tucker DeVries in the closing seconds loomed large. Yet, the real story was the missed opportunities earlier in the game. The Hoosiers had built a commanding 13-point lead (38-25) late in the first half, but couldn't hold on.
Coach Darian DeVries, keeping his comments concise after the Hoosiers' third straight loss, acknowledged the pivotal moments. "Yeah, it's a tough play," he remarked.
"It happens fast. You know, that's just what it is."
With three regular-season games remaining, including two at home, DeVries is focused on the path ahead. The Hoosiers will face No. 13 Michigan State on Sunday, followed by Minnesota and a trip to Ohio State.
Reflecting on the loss, DeVries emphasized the significance of the upcoming home stand. "We have a big home stand here.
This was the first game of it. We're at that point in the year where games have become very meaningful and it was an opportunity," he noted.
Acknowledging the challenge posed by Michigan State, DeVries praised Tom Izzo's program as "very good." He urged his team to keep fighting, despite recent tough losses to Illinois and Purdue.
Indiana's rematch with Michigan State is set for 3:45 p.m. ET, and the Hoosiers will be eager to avenge their 81-60 defeat from January 13. The question remains: Can the Hoosiers (17-11, 8-9 Big Ten) stay in the NCAA conversation, or will the Spartans (22-5, 12-4 Big Ten) prove too formidable once more?
Stay tuned for more college basketball insights as the season heats up.