IU ready to begin rewrite of season
RALEIGH, N.C. – Indiana players referred to today’s NCAA first-round game with Arkansas as the start of a “new season.”
For the Hoosiers, it also represents a second chance; a second chance to redefine the most unusual of years; a second chance to erase the doubt that has crept in after suffering three losses in their last four games; a second chance to have this season be remembered for something on the court instead of all the drama off it.
Eighth-seeded IU (25-7) will meet No. 9 Arkansas (22-11) about 9:40 p.m. at the RBC Center.
“It’s a new beginning,” senior forward D.J. White said during a news conference Thursday. “We struggled a bit in the past, but there’s nothing we can do about it. We can’t dwell on what happened behind us. …
“We reviewed the things that we had not been doing so well on in the beginning and just try to get better. We’re excited to be in the NCAA tournament, so anything can happen.”
That’s sort of been the theme for this season.
“As everyone knows, we had a lot of transition this season,” White said. “We have a chance to end the year special. You know, it starts (today).”
Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said there’s a reason why IU won 25 games.
“We fully anticipate them playing their best game,” he said.
IU interim coach Dan Dakich described the last couple of days of practice as “good.”
“I’ve had no problem with their mind frame going into games,” Dakich said. “They’ve prepared. They’ve put themselves in positions to win every basketball game I’ve been the head coach of, other than Michigan State. Twenty-five seconds is the difference between 5-1 and 3-3. That’s the fine line of winning and losing. We haven’t shot the ball well. We have to shoot it better.”
The Hoosiers shot below 40 percent in back-to-back losses to Penn State (March 9) and Minnesota (March 14). The Hoosiers were 1 for 14 from three-point territory against the Golden Gophers.
“Hopefully, we can get some momentum going in the tournament. We got seeded at No. 8, but we feel like … that if we’re playing good, we can beat anybody in the country,” sophomore guard Armon Bassett said. “Hopefully, we can get it back rolling and get some jump shots falling in for us and get back on track.”
The challenge defensively will be trying to slow down an Arkansas squad that loves to run. The Razorbacks have scored at least 77 points in three of their last four games. Dakich said the Hoosiers have made strides defensively in the three games since losing 103-74 at Michigan State on March 2.
“Defensively, in the 40 minutes (of) all three they haven’t scored 60 against us,” he said. “That’s the result of their work and effort. I think they are excited to play in the NCAA tournament.”
IU has played just once in the past 11 days.
“My sense, from my experience as a player, assistant coach and head coach is that kids like to play games. If you ask a kid, do you want to play a game or practice? I’m thinking I’m going to be batting a thousand that they would rather play a game than practice, no matter what the practice situation was,” Dakich said.
“… They’ve certainly had the opportunity to recharge.”
Time will tell whether that’s mentally as well.
lpope@jg.net
Indiana’s biggest questions entering this season centered on its retooled defense.