Indiana Basketball Takes One Step Forward, 5 Steps Back in 78-66 Loss to Iowa

Indiana has taken big steps forward in wins against Purdue, Illinois, and Northwestern the last couple of weeks. They've won 20 games in a season for the first time since the 2007-2008 season, and have won more Big 10 games this year than the previous three years combined.

The Hoosiers had a chance to finish this season strong and gain a seeding in the NCAA Tourney in the 3-4 range. Tonight they showed why they're not quite there yet in the 78-66 dismal loss in Iowa City, Iowa.

Normally in a loss you can pinpoint a few ways to improve so it doesn't happen again. This game, it was clear from the get go that the Hoosiers had no passion to win.

Indiana committed too many turnovers early and gave Iowa nine steals for the game. I mean gave too, because Indiana just threw the ball to the other team. It was nothing Iowa did, but Indiana just didn't have its head in the game.

The win improves Iowa to over .500 at 14-13 for the year, but its just not a good basketball team. Sorry Hawkeyes fans, but you're not. Iowa's getting there, but there's isn't any talent there yet.

Before you send comments that they must be good because they beat Indiana, or senior Matt Gatens scored a career high 30 points, let me stop you by saying if you follow basketball and study the game, none of this would have happened if the Hoosiers showed heart.

They put up 103 points on Iowa a few weeks ago. The Hoosiers won four of five games starting with that home win. They didn't just miraculously get this bad, this quick, after the recent return to greatness.

I think this game falls on the shoulders of head coach Tom Crean, not getting this players motivated for the end of the season run. There was really no excuse to lose any of the games remaining on the schedule if they play Hoosiers basketball and come out motivated.

When you score 66 points and Jordan Hulls, Christian Watford and Verdell Jones III combine to score three of them, they're not motivated. I don't give credit to Iowa, what so ever. Those three could single handily beat the Hawkeyes, especially when walk-ons are playing, but they chose not to.

When you're 20-6 with a great NCAA Tournament seed is staring you in the face, how do you come out with that kind of performance?

The answer is motivation. There was none.

Iowa drove to the basket with ease and hit open shots all night long. It doesn't take talent to do that. Indiana reverted back to the matador defense instead of coming over and stopping Iowa's penetration.

There is no reason that Matt Gatens should score 30 points tonight. He shouldn't have 30 in four games combined, let alone in one night. Indiana just marched in thinking they had this in the bag and didn't care.

Shame on them.

Once again Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller led the Hoosiers. Both had 15 points apiece, and Zeller led the team with 13 rebounds.

Derek Elston added 13 points of his own, and he and Zeller combined to score Indiana's first 10 points, but only had one rebound. How does a starting power forward end up with only one rebound?

Matt Roth was the only other Hoosier in double figures, with 12 hard earned points off the bench. Roth hit some big threes in the second half. Unfortunately, none of his teammates were on board with him.

Indiana needs to put this game in the rear-view mirror, destroy the tapes and just move forward. Indiana has an easy game on Wednesday night against North Carolina Central before returning to Big 10 play for its final road game against Minnesota next Sunday.

Both are very winnable games. But the Hoosiers need a mean streak on the court to get revenge for the Golden Gophers coming to Bloomington and beating Indiana back in January.

Indiana can still salvage the season and needs to beat the teams they're supposed to beat. There's a reason the Iowa's, Minnesota's, Nebraska's, and Purdue's are below the Hoosiers in the conference standings. It's time to grow up and play big boy basketball, and beat the teams you're supposed to beat.

This isn't the last three years of Indiana basketball. This is a new era. If they want to get invested it's time to start now, or this season can end in dismay after such a great start and turnaround.