Big Ten Basketball: Each team’s worst performance of the last decade

3 of 15

BLOOMINGTON, IN – NOVEMBER 10: Devin Thomas #35 of the Indiana State Sycamores tries to get to the basket against Justin Smith #3 of the Indiana Hoosiers in the first half of a game at Assembly Hall on November 10, 2017 in Bloomington, Indiana. Indiana State defeated Indiana 90-69. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Indiana

November 10, 2017 (Indiana State 90, at Indiana 69) (GS: 2)

Ever since the exodus of Bob Knight, the Hoosiers have been a less than consistent program. This past decade alone has the seen the team come alive under Tom Crean before giving him the hook after some less than successful season. Archie Miller’s in Bloomington now and even he isn’t safe from some already disappointing losses. There were a few rough games to be considered from early in the decade, but these were mostly rebuilding years, and we’re not going to focus too hard on a 58-43 loss at Iowa in 2010.

Instead, we turn our focus to a triad of unfortunate in-state losses taking place over the last two seasons. In addition to the aforementioned Indiana State game, we must also look at Indiana’s performance against Fort Wayne. On November 22, 2016, Indiana traveled to Fort Wayne and dropped a close 71-68 contest in overtime, a game they should have easily won. Unable to learn from their lesson, Indiana dropped the subsequent home contest in December 2017, a 92-72 game that they led at halftime.

But we’ll give the nod to Archie Miller’s first game as Indiana head coach, a 21-point home loss to an Indiana State team that wasn’t expected to be a contender in the Missouri Valley Conference. Give credit where it’s due, as the Sycamores of Indiana State shot extremely well, knocking down 17 of their 26 3-point attempts. Both teams turned the ball over at a high rate (19 for the Hoosiers!) and Indiana had fallen far out of this game by halftime, a 54-33 Indiana State lead. With six 3’s, Brenton Scott had 24 for the Sycamores while Jordan Barnes added 18 points. Meanwhile Indiana struggled to keep up, leaving them searching for answers.

As long as Indiana can get these in-state teams under control, they’ll find themselves in far fewer embarrassing games. I can’t say for certain when they’ll be a title contender again, but this is a great program and there’s no doubt that better days are ahead in Bloomington.

Home/Big Ten