‘As big as the ocean’: Lamar Wilkerson’s record-setting night powers IU basketball past Penn State
- Nick Rodecap
- 3h ago
Indiana guard Lamar Wilkerson entered Tuesday night’s game against Penn State shooting just 5-for-23 (22 percent) from 3-point range over his last three games.
Despite his struggles, which coincided with back-to-back losses for the Hoosiers, head coach Darian DeVries gave Wilkerson a brief message before Indiana’s first home Big Ten game of the season.
“Coach told me today would be the day I got hot,” Wilkerson said postgame.
To leave it at that would be somewhat insulting. Wilkerson set a new Assembly Hall scoring record, raining down 44 points on 10 made 3-point baskets, the most in Indiana history.
The Hoosiers dismantled Penn State, 113-72, atoning for back-to-back losses at Minnesota and versus Louisville in Indianapolis. DeVries has stressed throughout the early going that he encourages Wilkerson to take a high volume of 3-pointers even when they do not fall on certain nights and it paid off on Tuesday.
“He’s had a couple of nights where he’s struggled,” DeVries said. “I was never worried about that. He’s that level of a shooter.”
Wilkerson’s 44 points shattered his previous career high of 32, which he set during his final season at Sam Houston State.
He also eclipsed his previous career high of eight 3-pointers made in a game. The most eye-popping part of his stellar performance? He accomplished it all in just 24 minutes.
“The hoop looked as big as the ocean tonight,” Wilkerson said.
Amidst a shooting slump, DeVries stressed to Wilkerson the importance of playing loose and the veteran sharpshooter responded.
“We spent a little time talking to him. ‘Dude, just relax,’” DeVries said. “Have fun, let that thing fly.”
Indiana’s 113 points mark its most points scored against a Big Ten opponent since Feb. 17, 1990, when it defeated Iowa 118-71 at Assembly Hall. Although Wilkerson was the star of the show, the Hoosiers played much better as a unit than they did in their losses to Minnesota and Louisville, racking up 30 assists on 42 made baskets en route to their fourth 100-point game this season.
“We put a ton of time here last week on getting more actions,” DeVries said. “You can’t just throw the ball from side to side. At some points, you have to be able to make a play. I thought player and ball movement were really good tonight.”
Penn State was picked last in the Big Ten preseason poll and Indiana exploited multiple weaknesses within Mike Rhoades’ team, which is one of the youngest in the country. The Hoosiers were able to cut to the basket unabated on numerous occasions, either finishing at the rim or earning trips to the free throw line, which DeVries said Indiana had to improve on following its loss to Louisville.
Indiana’s alert off-ball movement allowed for five players to score in double figures. While Wilkerson led the way, Reed Bailey scored 18 points in his first game coming off the bench, Tayton Conerway added 17 points on efficient 7-of-9 shooting and Nick Dorn added 13 points as his playing time continues to increase. DeVries said his decision to start Sam Alexis over Bailey in the post allowed Indiana to begin the game with more physicality and then speed up with Bailey.
“I thought Reed responded great, like I knew he would,” DeVries said. “It freed him up a bit. Coming off the bench, a chance to process as the game’s going.”
Notwithstanding Penn State’s likely finish at the bottom of the conference standings, Indiana can take a wealth of positives down to Lexington on Saturday as it prepares for its first regular-season meeting with Kentucky since 2011, when Christian Watford hit a buzzer-beater to knock off the then-No. 1 Wildcats. At the top of the list: Wilkerson’s unwavering confidence and a head coach who is always willing to let him hoist from downtown.
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