Thoughts on an 89-70 win over the Terrapins:
Tom Crean trimmed the roster fat this summer. He studied Euroball. He knew his team lacked size and experience. But there was no question they’d be able to shoot. No question they’d have better ballhandlers and playmakers. He wanted his offense to space the floor and drive to the hole. Find those shooters and knock down shots if the defense collapsed. He wanted to keep the tempo up in transition, making plays and hitting 3-pointers. The parts could interchange and the results would still wind up the same.
His summer dreams became winter reality tonight inside Assembly Hall.
This was not just a win over No. 13 Maryland, a team entering the contest as the Big Ten’s best defense and tied for the conference lead. This was a blowout of epic offensive proportions. It was a game Indiana controlled for a full 40 minutes. Maryland had no answer for Indiana, as it essentially played a five-guard lineup for most of the contest. Oh, the Terrapins tried disrupting the flow. They went 1-3-1 in the second half. Indiana stayed patient, moved the ball, found Troy Williams in the short corner. He passed to Robert Johnson for a 3-pointer. Splash.
Maryland tried full-court pressure on Indiana’s next possession. The Hoosiers stayed patient, moved the ball, found James Blackmon Jr. for a 3-pointer. Splash. Indiana hit 15-of-22 (68.2%) from distance for the contest. Max Hoetzel (1-of-1), Johnson (1-of-3), Blackmon Jr. (3-of-5), Collin Hartman (3-of-3) and Yogi Ferrell (7-of-8) all got in the mix. It helped the Hoosiers shoot an effective field goal percentage of 75.0 percent. They also scored 1.39 points per possession against a Maryland squad coming in allowing just .90 in conference play.
Collin Hartman (15 points), Troy Williams (16 points and seven rebounds), James Blackmon Jr. (22 points and five rebounds) and Yogi Ferrell (24 points and five assists) met with the media following Indiana’s 89-70 win over No. 13 Maryland on Thursday night at Assembly Hall.
Watch the full press conference below:
Check out 27 photos by Jamie Owens from Indiana’s 89-70 win over No. 13 Maryland at Assembly Hall in the embedded photo gallery after the jump. See more images and purchase prints from J. Scott Sports.
Mark Turgeon met with the media following No. 13 Maryland’s 89-70 loss to Indiana on Thursday night at Assembly Hall.
Watch the full press conference below:
Before this season started, the atmosphere surrounding Maryland basketball was one of uncertainty.
The Terrapins had five scholarship players transfer from the program and another lost to graduation. Just over half their roster was returning for the 2014-2015 campaign.
But there was a sense of optimism surrounding Maryland, with four freshmen — including three top 100 prospects and the nation’s No. 31 recruit, Romelo Trimble — and North Carolina A & T graduate transfer Richaud Pack, who averaged 17.0 points and 4.6 rebounds last season, coming in.
Before the season started, Tom Crean was able to gather that Maryland coach Mark Turgeon was excited about his team. And through the first 19 games of the season, the Terps have proved Turgeon’s hopes to be accurate.
Heading into tonight’s game in Assembly Hall, Maryland is 17-2 and 5-1 in the Big Ten, and they have earned the nation’s No. 13 ranking in the latest Associated Press top 25 poll.
“They’ve earned their stripes,” Crean said on Wednesday. “They’ve earned their ranking, they’ve earned their notoriety because of the way they’ve played the entire year.”
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Tom Crean, Collin Hartman and Yogi Ferrell met with the media on Wednesday afternoon to preview Indiana’s matchup with No. 13 Maryland on Thursday at Assembly Hall.
Watch both press conferences below:
