Indiana plays its final game at the Battle 4 Atlantis on Friday against Providence.

Game Day Essentials:

Providence (5-2) vs. Indiana (4-2)

• Tip Time: Friday, approximately 11 a.m. ET
• Location: Imperial Ballroom • Paradise Islands, The Bahamas
• Television: ESPN2 (Dave O’Brien, Jimmy Dykes)
• Radio: IU Radio Network
• Stream:  Watch ESPN
• Point Spread:  TBD
• KenPom Projected Score:  No. 61 Indiana 71, No. 87 Providence 68
• History: Indiana leads the series 2-0.
• Last Meeting: Indiana won 79-58 in Nov. 2020

Like Indiana, Providence has lost two games at the Battle 4 Atlantis, 79-77 to Oklahoma, and 69-58 to Davidson.  The loser of this game will be the only team to leave 0-3.

The Friars enter the game with a record of 5-2 under second-year head coach head coach Kim English. Senior Joseph Bensley (12.5 points per game) leads a balanced scoring attack. Junior guard Jayden Pierre (11.5), senior guard Wesley Cardet (10.3), and redshirt junior guard Corey Floyd Jr. (10.0) all produce double figure scoring averages.

Providence is expecting the return of star wing Bryce Hopkins any day.  He was averaging 15.5 per game last season before he tore his ACL in January.

Gonzaga Report Card

Because of the quick turnaround, below is an abbreviated version of the report card for yesterday’s game against Gonzaga:

COACHING (D) Mike Woodson said his focus during the 24 hours between the Louisville and Gonzaga games was getting his team to play harder.  At least in spurts, they did that.  But as has been the case most of the young season, Woodson cannot keep his players dialed in for 40 minutes.  Indiana’s players are often lost on defense and seem hesitant on offense.  Those are signs of suspect coaching, and a recipe for blowout losses.  And that’s what they’re getting.  Woodson can’t seem to find the right buttons.  Maybe he’s out of ideas?

OFFENSE (C-) Indiana’s guards only scored 16 of the team’s 73 points.  They aren’t scoring this week, and to this point they aren’t really a meaningful part of the scheme that continues to emphasize the low block.  The Hoosiers took better care of the ball in this one, and they got to the free throw line plenty.  But shot making was a major problem everywhere — from the stripe, beyond-the-arc, and from two.

DEFENSE (D-) Indiana’s defense sunk the ship with a horrendous first half that saw them allow 57 points, or 1.42 per possession before the break.  Although things improved in the second, the tone was set, and the margin was too wide.  IU never really threatened the Zags after halftime.  They fouled too much, resulting in 22 Gonzaga free throws, and the Hoosiers gave up 13 offensive rebounds, which led to 23 second chance points.  The Hoosiers were a step slow in transition and guarding the ball, and they got lost on switches and coverages.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:  Like the last game, there’s really nowhere to look beyond one player, in this case Oumar Ballo.  The center was highly efficient, making 11-of-13 shots.  He recorded the second-highest scoring game of his career with 25 points.  This was easily Ballo’s best game as a scorer for IU, but he had no supporting cast.  And you’d like to see him get more than four rebounds.

For complete coverage of IU basketball, GO HERE.    

The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

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