Indiana’s recent success as a program has been on the national stage over the last few years but its win against Maryland proved that the Hoosiers are one of the top programs in the country. 68-61 was the final score in a back-and-forth battle but the Hoosiers were able to earn the win against one of the best teams in college basketball.
The future is here and Indiana’s program has been reaching new heights with full steam ahead.
The stage was set in Assembly Hall for one of the biggest games of the entire season. No. 9 Maryland was coming into Bloomington with a 13-4 record taking on the Hoosiers searching for revenge after last year's Big Ten tournament.
Indiana led for over 34 minutes and even when they seemed to fluster, the team responded right back closing any momentum that Maryland had. Fifty-one percent shooting from the field alongside the 40 percent from 3 also helped in the top-10 win.
Teri Moren said it best. The main thing that stuck out in the win was Indiana's resilience throughout all four quarters. The team showed fight. They went after every ball on defense and fought for every point that they earned. This team has grit on every side of the floor and the players did it by showing the entire country on Thursday night.
“I think that’s what you are most proud of,” Moren said. “The statistics are what they are and we can pick those apart but at the end of the day, you still have to have competitors no matter who’s on the floor… This is a group that stays together too. We talked about Maryland and the moxie that they travel with, but make no mistake, this team that is wearing the Hoosiers across their chest they have some moxie about them as well.”
Right now is an important next two weeks for the Hoosiers but they started off on the best foot. Indiana has three top-25 matchups in its next four games but IU started off that stretch in a perfect way with a statement win. It took a lot for the Hoosiers to win against Maryland but in an odd way that might be best. Wins like this show what type of team Indiana is capable of being in those late March moments so proving that now shows the character of this team.
“I think it says a lot about who they are and what we've seen from this early season,” Moren said. “ I know it's still early but we've had moments where we've had to scratch and claw and fight and be gritty… I’m just really proud and happy that we found a way.”
