The Hoosiers have struggled offensively in the last two games, and some of that could be from the absence of their leading scorer, Malik Reneau, who missed his fifth game this season due to the knee injury he suffered within the first 30 seconds of the Rutgers game. It would be a big boost if Indiana could get him back against Ohio State because, in his career, he averages over 21 points against the Buckeyes.
The biggest thing for Indiana is finding their shot outside the paint. The Hoosiers shot just 38% for the floor against Indiana and 22% from beyond the three-point line. This has been an ongoing issue for Indiana this season, as their shooting has been incredibly hot and cold.
It is no surprise that oddsmakers have Ohio State favored in this game, as the Hoosiers haven’t proven they should be favored with their last two performanc
es.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana’s men’s basketball team was already on its way to a seasonal nadir against No. 19 Illinois well before the second half. The Hoosiers gave up 60 points in the first half to the Fighting Illini and were never closer than 16 points after halftime in what was ultimately a 94-69 defeat.
The last thing Indiana needed was to add more on the pile of things that went wrong against Illinois and in the wake of two straight 25-point losses, but that’s exactly what the Hoosiers did.
With 2:24 left in the game and with Illinois up by 31 points, Indiana guard Luke Goode slid hard, hip to hip, into Illinois forward Tomislav Ivisic on a missed 3-point shot by Illinois’ Jake Davis.
Ballo was given a flagrant 2 foul for his shove and was ejected from the game. Technical fouls were assessed to Rice, Ivisic and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn of Illinois. Goode was assessed a common foul, his fifth, and was disqualified.
The confrontation left a bad taste in the mouth of everyone in the wake of what was already a nightmarish night for the Hoosiers.
Goode did not regret his hard block out, but did lament the reaction afterwards.
“I think it got blown way out of proportion. I went and talked to the Illinois staff after and said I had no bad intentions. It was simply a box out,” Goode said.
“I got called for one in the first half, which was awful as well. That’s what we’re taught to do. Go hit your man and turn and box out. That’s what I was taught to do and that’s wh
at I did,” Goode added.
