Hoosiers overcome turnovers to beat Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS - One stat stood out to IU coach Kelvin Sampson after his team’s 65-60 victory against Minnesota Thursday night.\nIt wasn’t 46.8 percent, 40.9 percent or 16 - representing for the shooting percentage from the field, beyond the arc and the rebounding margin on the evening for Sampson’s No. 9 Hoosiers. \nNo, to the head coach, the most prominent number of the game was 26 – the number of turnovers committed in one of the toughest gyms to play in the Big Ten, Williams Arena. \n“It was a weird game,” Sampson said. “Twenty-six turnovers and find a way to win on the road I don’t know if I’ve been in a game quite like that.”\nTubby Smith’s teams are usually known for their tough man-to-man defense, but Minnesota had shown zone looks and some trapping presses, Sampson said before the game.\nThe Gophers did indeed run some press defense off of made baskets. The Hoosiers struggled in the first half as the team had not faced the press all season.\n“Their press really hurt us,” Sampson said. “They were the first team that pressed us.”\nThe pressure resulted in an array of turnovers for the Hoosiers. Sampson said one of the only positives of the turnovers was that they were the result of arrant passes going out of bounds – allowing the Hoosiers to set up its defense.\nIn particular, freshmen guards Eric Gordon and Jordan Crawford struggled protecting the ball in a hostile road environment.\n“I kept telling Eric and Jordan in the timeout that we are wearing red,” Sampson said jokingly after the game. \nMany of Gordon’s seven turnovers were the result of trying to push the flow of play Sampson said. While the expectations each game are sky high for the talented Gordon, Sampson reminded the media that he is still a freshman.\n“Some of Eric’s turnovers were just unforced,” Sampson said. “Like all kids that have ability, they just try to do too much sometimes. Certainly he can play a lot better and I think he will.”\nThe Hoosiers made adjustments in the second half, forcing the Gophers to stop pressing midway through the final period and drop back to different half-court sets. Sampson said by getting the ball to the middle of the court the Hoosiers could use dribble penetration to help break the press.\n“Just getting the ball to the middle of the court,” Sampson said. “The press only works if you make mistakes I know that sounds simple, but all we did different is get ‘Tone (junior guard/forward Jamarcus Ellis) to the middle of the floor.”\nDespite the 26 turnovers, the Hoosiers escaped the Twin Cities with it’s third conference road win of the season and remained tied atop the Big Ten standings with Wisconsin at 4-0.\n“It’s frustrating, but it’s a learning process, and we all know that,” senior Lance Stemler said.