Fansided

Indiana Hoosiers rebounding struggles continue

By Andy Erk

Dec 12, 2015; Bloomington, IN, USA; McNeese State Cowboys guard Lance Potier (24) dribbles the ball and is guarded by Indiana Hoosiers forward Collin Hartman (30) and guard Yogi Ferrell (11) in the first half of the game at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2015; Bloomington, IN, USA; McNeese State Cowboys guard Lance Potier (24) dribbles the ball and is guarded by Indiana Hoosiers forward Collin Hartman (30) and guard Yogi Ferrell (11) in the first half of the game at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Indiana showed signs of slight improvement against McNeese State last Saturday, as Thomas Bryant forward for the Indiana Hoosiers, and James Blackmon had big nights in Indiana’s 105-60 win.

Rebounding continues to be a problem for the Hoosiers and Thomas Bryant. Bryant looked slow on defense, and even with 9 rebounds was struggling on the boards. Bryant scored five points in the fast half on 2-for-2 from the floor in 11 minutes. The 21 minutes were productive in the end, but was average in the first half. Of his minutes, a total of three rebounds were snagged by Bryant in the first half. Troy Williams forward for Indiana lead the way on the glass in the first half with 5 rebounds. Bryant not leading the rebounding category is a troublesome issue. Especially for a team that needs to establish their presence on the glass early with Big Ten play coming quickly.

Not a single Indiana player broke the double digit rebounding mark. Outside of Bryant who ended with 9 boards, Williams who ended with 7 and Max Bielfeldt ending with 6, no one cracked 5. A seven-point rebounding margin is nothing to be proud of against a team that averages 35.6 rebounds per game. McNeese State nearly equaled the rebounding total of the Hoosiers with 40, while the Hoosiers grabbed 47. The offensive glass was a struggle for the Hoosiers who gave up 17 offensive rebounds and 15 second chance points.

On top of rebounds, the Hoosiers perhaps played their most effective defensive game of the year. By no means was the defensive effort spectacular, but was serviceable against a subpar McNeese State team. The Hoosiers gave up 60 points to a Cowboys team that averages 68 per game. The Hoosiers looked decent on close outs, but struggled in rotation. Bryant continued to look slow on the pick and roll, but slight improvement is being noted. Overall the team showed some improvement, but work is still needed.

Even Tom Crean noted the continued need to keep working, “We got to get better at everything, not a single thing we hang our hat on.”

After the win against McNeese State, the Hoosiers get Notre Dame in the Crossroads classic.

Tonight was seen as way for the Hoosiers to prep for the upcoming matchup against Notre Dame as James Blackmon Jr. noted, “tonight was practice for Notre Dame and it sparked us a little bit.”

The impending Notre Dame game could be telling of where this Hoosier team stands after losses to UNLV, Wake Forest and Duke already on the schedule.

“Huge for me and the rest of the team,” says Blackmon when asked about how big Notre Dame is in measuring the team’s success in December.

The Hoosiers look to continue their improvement against Notre Dame on the 19th in a neutral court game in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.