Heading into IU’s matchup against North Carolina State, the obvious question mark was rebounding. For the first time this season, Cody Zeller would face a front line with a considerable size advantage in terms of weight and strength.
After one half on Wednesday night – behind tough inside play from Wolfpack forwards Richard Howell, Scoot Wood and center DeShawn Painter – it proved correct.
The Hoosiers were outrebounded 22-13 in the first 20 minutes. The key stat, though, was offensive boards, where N.C. State had the same number as IU’s total rebounds. These led to a multitude of second-chance points, including a tip-in by C.J. Leslie at the buzzer to give his team a one-point lead.
The second half, however, was a different story.
IU’s intensity down low rose. Zeller wasn’t getting pushed around as easy as before. Christian Watford did a good job helping down low and, as he said, it stemmed from a different attitude in the second half (which we’ll talk about in a moment).
“There was a sense of urgency at how we had to play at the rim, and I was proud of those guys,” IU coach Tom Crean said. “We gave up some size and we gave up some athleticism at the glass. There’s no doubt about that, but they came back and battled and fought.”
Zeller and Watford ended up with a combined 16 rebounds (seven offensive) and were effective at getting to the free throw line down the stretch. IU’s strong inside play late in the game proved to be the difference.
The NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp ran from Thursday through Saturday at the University of Virginia and four of Indiana’s class of 2012 commitments — Hanner Perea, Jeremy Hollowell, Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell and Ron Patterson — participated. Hamilton Southeastern’s Gary Harris and Brewster Academy’s Mitch McGary were also in attendance.
The NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp ran from Thursday through Saturday at the University of Virginia and four of Indiana’s class of 2012 commitments — Hanner Perea, Jeremy Hollowell, Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell and Ron Patterson — participated. Hamilton Southeastern’s Gary Harris and Brewster Academy’s Mitch McGary were also in attendance.
The NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp kicked off on Thursday at the University of Virginia and four of Indiana’s class of 2012 commitments — Hanner Perea, Jeremy Hollowell, Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell and Ron Patterson — are participating. Hamilton Southeastern’s Gary Harris and Brewster Academy’s Mitch McGary are also in attendance.
