FINAL SCORE: Minnesota 81, Indiana 58

Here’s an easy way to game plan against the Hoosiers: pound it inside all game long.

As the Spartans showed us Tuesday and the Gophers displayed this evening — it works. IU just doesn’t have the length, athleticism or the skill to guard the block, and guys like Ralph Sampson III took advantage.  Minnesota’s guards also beat IU off the dribble on several occasions, leading to some easy points right around the rim. The Gophers scored 38 of their 81 points in the paint this evening to IU’s 16.

And when they weren’t hitting down low, they were raining threes. Minnesota hit 7-of-11 in the first half and hit 9-of-20 for the game for 45 percent. IU only shot 32 percent from the floor. Ouch.

The Hoosiers simply aren’t defending as of late. This now marks the eighth straight game their opponent has shot better from the field, to coincide with their eighth straight loss. And during this eight-game losing streak, IU has also only managed to shoot better than 40 percent twice — against Wisconsin and Purdue.

When you fail to get points in the paint and your shot gets blocked at an alarming rate  — in total, the Hoosiers get 12.7 percent of their shots blocked, which ranks them 332 out of the 347 Division I teams in the country — it’s hard to shoot a high percentage or be efficient, especially when your jump shots aren’t falling. Add in all the turnovers and the scoring droughts — IU failed to hit a field goal for a stretch of 9:15 in the first half; they only made two shots the last 6:05 of the second half — and you can see why the Hoosiers’ offense has struggled so bad.

If nothing else, this team is still finding a way to get to the line: they shot 22 — though only made 14 — free throws on the night to the Gophers’ 14. Without that in recent games, it’d be more ugly than it is.

“Outgunned and outmanned,” is how Kendall Gill described this one for IU tonight. I have a feeling this won’t be the last time we’ll be able to describe such a loss for this team before season’s end.

Picks are due by 7:45 p.m. ET on Saturday. Updated standings will be available sometime on Sunday.

Also, a few housekeeping items regarding the site, after the jump:

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THE GOOD: IT’S A WIN.

There are plenty of things this young Hoosiers team has yet to master, yet to grasp, yet to learn. And so far this season — and especially as of late in losses to Illinois and Michigan — one of their Achilles Heels has been finishing out the close game and winning. But If IU can replicate the effort and performance we’ve now seen in three Big Ten home games the rest of the way, and take the next step as they did today by rallying back in the OT frame, maybe this afternoon’s game is one we can point to say this is where they figured it out.

I know there will be harder challenges at home for the Hoosier up ahead, as Wisconsin, Michigan State and Purdue loom in the coming weeks. But given the way IU has competed in their first three home conference games, IU fans should feel confident that the Hoosiers have a shot to win, that they’ll be in every single home game. This isn’t to say they’re going to run the table at Assembly Hall. Far from it. And it’s not to say they’re suddenly going to take what they’re doing on their home court and suddenly replicate it on the road. That would be foolish.  But it is to say that this group of players has discovered that aggressive play on both ends of the floor — a floor they now know well — with a raucous crowd behind them is a recipe for good things.

Let it be known, Big Ten: When you come into Assembly Hall this season, there are no free passes, no easy wins.

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Meet the 2009-2010 Minnesota Golden Gophers. 3-2 in the Big Ten. 12-5 overall. And really, really solid on defense. But that’s what we’ve come to expect from Tubby Smith coached teams: A rugged style of play that’s not particularly fun to watch, but produces wins. Winning, for those of you scoring at home, is normally the preferred outcome in athletic competition.

As you can see by glancing at Pomeroy’s numbers, there are few areas in which the Hoosiers compare favorably to Minnesota. The Golden Gophers are defending exceptionally well — they’re third nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, sixth in defensive turnover percentage and 28th in defensive effective field goal percentage.

The turnover percentage, in particular, should be of concern. While the Hoosiers do excel at forcing turnovers — 66th nationally in defensive turnover percentage — they’re giving quite of few possessions back with their 22.6 percent turnover percentage — 263rd nationally. Minnesota, on the other hand, does a solid job taking care of the ball — 62nd nationally in turnover percentage.

The team that effectively controls tempo will likely win this game. Indiana will look to score in transition and attempt to take better care of the ball. And Minnesota will look to continue carrying out its winning formula: slow it down, take care of the ball and take high percentage looks.

Pomeroy has it going down like this: Minnesota 77, Indiana 65. What say you?

Get in your picks before 4:15 pm ET on Sunday. Please state your selection first thing in your comment. Overriding PTC principles are here and updated standings are available here. Good luck.

Player Pick to Click Wins, Season to-date:

+ Maurice Creek: 5

+ Verdell Jones: 5

+ Christian Watford: 4

+ Jeremiah Rivers: 2

You may or may not know the name Royce White. If you follow recruiting around the Big Ten, you’d know him as the top incoming freshman in the conference.

If not, you’ll now know him as the kid who pleaded guilty to shoplifting at Mall of America, reportedly stole a laptop and in perhaps the most bizarre development of this young college basketball season, announced he was leaving Minnesota via YouTube:

I’m pretty sure this isn’t what Tubby Smith envisioned when he signed the No. 19 recruit in the country, but White clearly has problems beyond basketball that need to be addressed. So, what’s next for White? Most likely a program willing to give him a second chance (where have you gone, Jerry Tarkanian?) or if he tries to go pro, presumably the NBDL.