The Minute After: Washington

Thoughts on a 78-62 win against the Huskies:

Never a doubt.

Indiana marched into Alaska Airlines Arena this evening and dominated the Huskies, leading for the final 37 minutes of the contest mostly by double digits.

On offense, the Hoosiers often got whatever they wanted. Trey Galloway on the drive? Check. Oumar Ballo and Malik Reneau with position inside? Check. Luke Goode and Mackenzie Mgbako splashing home 3s? Check. Myles Rice adding to the mix? Check.

Reneau was particularly impressive. After going 7-of-7 against Purdue his last time out, the junior made his first six shots tonight, easily dropping in buckets against Washington’s frontcourt. He had his typical stuff going down low but also flashed an ability to drive to the hoop off the top of the key in this one, too. By the time the dust settled, Reneau scored a season-high 22 points on a hyper-efficient 10-of-13 performance from the field. He did it all in just 25 minutes of play, too, as he came off the bench this evening.

Goode wasn’t far behind. The Fort Wayne native went 5-of-9 from deep and tipped home another basket to finish 6-of-11 from the floor (18 points). Mgbako went 2-of-4 from distance and finished with 10 points. Rice had a nice first half back in the state of Washington (eight points, 2-of-3 from 3-point range) and finished the evening with 10 points.

After making 10 3-pointers against Penn State on Wednesday night, the Hoosiers shot it well again from distance, hitting 9-of-23 (39 percent). They scored 1.11 points per possession and turned the ball over on just 13 percent of their possessions.

Indiana’s defense also shut down Washington’s leading scorer, Great Osobor, who never really got into the flow of the contest. He didn’t make a field goal (0-of-5) and scored four points. The Huskies only mustered .88 points per possession. Save for a couple of runs here and there, they never seriously threatened and found themselves down 21 points with 6:34 to go.

To be sure, Washington isn’t good this season. The Huskies sit outside the top 100 in KenPom at N0. 103 and are now 4-14 in league play with tonight’s loss. They sit in last place and are unlikely to participate in the Big Ten tournament.

Still, no win, let alone on the road, is guaranteed in league play. And with several bubble teams (Nebraska, Oklahoma and Arkansas) losing today, Indiana’s NCAA tournament fortunes continue to trend in the right direction. The Hoosiers have now won three in a row and four of five.

Up next? The final week of the Big Ten season. It begins with continuing Indiana’s Pacific Northwest trip at Oregon on Tuesday before finishing things at home against Ohio State on Saturday.

A split of the remaining contests should have Indiana remain in solid contention for a trip to the Big Dance. Win them both and Indiana would finish over .500 in conference at 11-9.

It’s not where the Hoosiers were projected to be. But it’s a far better position than where things looked like they were heading just a few weeks ago.

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

Category: The Minute After

Filed to: Washington Huskies