The inconsistent play of IU basketball this season has revolved around its energy and toughness. There has been an inability to compete at a high level against top-level competition all year and the direct root of the problem is Indiana’s toughness — both mental and physical.
Prior to the last week of play, Indiana had found some success in a five-game winning streak. But after two embarrassing blowout losses in back-to-back games, the questions surrounding IU’s togetherness, motor and pride came back in a hurry. Then a gritty win over Ohio State ‘flipped the script’.
So that’s been the direct message from Mike Woodson and the IU basketball coaching staff this week heading into its midweek matchup with Northwestern. It’s even more of a priority and emphasis with each of the last nine matchups between the two programs being decided by less than 10 points. The last three matchups — all losses for Indiana — have been by a combined 11 points.
“They play hard,” Woodson said of Northwestern. “I mean coach Collins pushes those guys to play hard and we’ve had some close games with them and haven’t been able to get over the top. Like I’ll tell our guys before they get on the plane today, ‘you can’t go in there with a soft attitude and soft mind because they will force you to play hard and you have to meet that physicality’. Because if you don’t it can be a long night.”
This isn’t the first time Woodson’s message has been around the team’s toughness. In fact, it’s been the common theme this season.
It’s not something that is unclear from the player’s perspective, either. But, as Indiana sits at 14-5 overall and 5-3 in Big Ten play, it’s a theme that has fallen on deaf ears. Indiana, which currently sits at No. 61 in the NET rankings and no. 59 in KenPom, can’t afford any more letdowns and the type of toughness that’s been missing is exactly what will be the deciding factor heading into Wednesday.
“That’s where I think the game will be won tomorrow,” Woodson said. “I think we play hard at times, I just have to get us playing harder for 40 minutes consistently.”
Indiana has six straight Quad 1 games starting with Northwestern — so opportunities are there for the taking. Only two of the next six games are at home, however. So IU’s ability to bring its own energy and toughness is critical.
“When you go on the road, you have to do everything right,” Woodson added. “It’s hard winning on the road. You can’t turn it over, gotta rebound with them. You gotta make shots — that’s the key ingredient to win the 50/50 games. We’ll see where we are come tomorrow night.”
The message is clear. The entire program knows and understands it — players and coaches alike. Now it’s up to them to execute, with so much still within their control.
“Winning is obviously hard,” IU guard Anthony Leal said last week. ” … I think it’s just understanding how hard winning is and what it requires and you have to be able to sustain punches, remain composed, and take the runs because it’s a game of runs. We have to get better in that department and just remaining composed, staying true to our scout and our offensive concepts and the things we have had success with in the future. It can’t be done in spurts. It’s got to be able to be done when it gets tough.
“That’s really what it comes down to, and hopefully we’ll be able to put that together.”
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