Happy Monday Hoosiers! Indiana’s men’s and women’s basketball combined to go 1-2 this week.
The No. 15 men’s team started its week in an emotional battle with Michigan State. The Spartans returned home to East Lansing for the first time since a shooting on campus killed three students and injured five more. Despite a fast start from Indiana, Michigan State rode the crowd in the Breslin Center to a commanding 80-65 victory.
The Hoosiers’ week continued on the road Saturday when they entered the territory of their rivals. Indiana took on No. 5 Purdue, looking to sweep the Boilermakers for the first time since 2013. Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino carried Indiana in the first half, putting up 23 of the Hoosiers’ 34 points. Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis was scoreless in the first half but finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and 7 assists, moving him into fourth place in program scoring. Hood-Schifino didn’t cool down after the break, helping Indiana upset Purdue in Mackey Arena, 79-71. Indiana overcame 26 points and 16 rebounds from Purdue junior center Zach Edey to earn head coach Mike Woodson his first victory in Mackey as a player or coach.
The No. 2 women’s team’s week started early with celebration. Before it even played, Indiana clinched the outright Big Ten regular season title on Tuesday as a result of then-No. 7 Maryland beating then-No. 6 Iowa 96-68. This marked the first outright title for Indiana in program history, besting the 1982-83 team’s share for the regular season crown – the only other conference title Indiana owns.
The Hoosiers wrapped up their regular season at Iowa in a Sunday matinee. The game was a great one, a back-and-forth battle all the way until the final buzzer, but heartbreak struck the Hoosiers. With Indiana leading by 2, Iowa star junior guard Caitlin Clark hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to claim victory, just the second loss of Indiana’s season. The Hoosiers had a balanced scoring attack, led by senior forward Mackenzie Holmes’ 21 points. Junior guards Chloe Moore-McNeil and Sydney Parrish scored 18 points each and graduate guard Grace Berger added 16. Clark finished with 34 points and nine rebounds and assists in a stellar performance. Next for Indiana is the Big Ten Tournament. As the 1-seed, Indiana will play the winner of Nebraska and Michigan State.
1 (big story with photo):
>> No. 17 Indiana men’s basketball completes season sweep over No. 5 Purdue
Trayce Jackson-Davis didn’t score for over 28 minutes.
>> Behind ‘brilliant’ play of Jalen Hood-Schifino, Indiana men’s basketball downs Purdue
>> COLUMN: Despite the lows, Indiana men’s basketball is making the highs count
2 (big story with photo):
>> Caitlin Clark’s buzzer beater sinks No. 2 Indiana in regular season finale
The NPOY candidate scored 34 points in the Hawkeyes' victory over the Hoosiers.
>> No. 2 Indiana women’s basketball can’t stop Caitlin Clark in loss to No. 6 Iowa
>> COLUMN: No, you shouldn’t be worried about Indiana women’s basketball’s loss to Iowa
3 (small story with photo):
>> No. 17 Indiana men’s basketball falls 80-65 as Michigan State rides emotional homecoming
Michigan State’s Tyson Walker scored 23 in its first game in East Lansing since Feb. 7.
>> No. 17 Indiana men’s basketball outworked, outplayed in 80-65 loss to Michigan State
>> COLUMN: Indiana men’s basketball, Michigan State and an irrelevant scoreboard
