Following a blowout loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in hostile territory, Indiana players could be seen exiting the court with a defeated look in their faces. Many things were not going the Hoosiers’ way. They had yet to capture that signature victory yet.
As the final buzzer sounded Saturday night, CJ Gunn threw the ball into the air in celebration. Indiana had finally won a game it wasn’t supposed to.
“It brings a smile to my face. That's all I can tell you,” Mike Woodson said in the postgame press conference. “I mean, that was miserable sitting through that in Nebraska, just giving them the basketball.”
Capturing their first quad two win of the season in a 71-65 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes could be the stepping stone to bigger things for Indiana moving forward. Now, there is plenty to nit-pick from a sensational victory; whether it be the inability to keep Ohio State off the glass, or closing out the game down the stretch, let’s take a moment and look at the good things for a change.
After missing seven games due to a lower body injury, Xavier Johnson went scoreless against Nebraska on Wednesday. Flashforward to Saturday and Johnson exploded for 18 points in 34 minutes. His impact on the floor stretched on both ends, coming up with big defensive stops while getting buckets offensively.
“I haven't been myself lately. I've been off for a month, so I was trying to find a rhythm in that game. I was doing a little bit too much on the offensive end,” Johnson said in the postgame press conference. “Tonight I let the game to myself. I trusted my coaching staff, my teammates to make the right play.”
Indiana has had four separate opportunities to get quad one victories this season, losing to UConn, Auburn, Kansas and Nebraska last time out.
What does that really mean for Indiana?
For starters, it shows that the Hoosiers have the ability to beat top-25 competition. The Buckeyes were receiving votes entering Saturday night’s contest. The victory also puts Indiana in a better position to not only make the tournament, but be selected as a higher seed.
Following Indiana’s win against Ohio State, the Hoosiers will play at least three more quad one teams in the month of January —- Purdue, Wisconsin, and Illinois in the span of three games will challenge Indiana.
Gunn provided a massive spark for Indiana off the bench, scoring 10 points on 57 percent shooting. The sophomore guard was given the game ball for his performance as Woodson was thrilled with his effort on both sides.
“His last few days of practice have been tremendous,” Woodson said regarding Gunn. “I'm telling all these guys, you know, it's how you practice, man, that carries over into a real basketball game.”
Despite getting outrebounded by the Buckeyes 49-27, giving up 24 second-chance points, and allowing 22 offensive rebounds, somehow the Hoosiers found a way.
This game means so much more than just another ‘w’ in the win column. It gives the Hoosiers potential momentum going forward in Big Ten play, but can they capitalize on it?
We’ve seen in recent years that Indiana breaks out a massive victory and then turns around with a hangover game. Indiana will look to break the spell and continue its winning ways against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Piscataway, New Jersey on Tuesday.
