As the buzzer sounded, ending the first half of Indiana men’s basketball’s matchup with Iowa, boos filled Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Yet the ‘boos’ were not directed towards the Hawkeyes. Rather, their chants were aimed at the home team’s product on the court.
With the Cream and Crimson coming off two disappointing second half-collapses to Nebraska and Michigan State, the Hoosier faithful were unsatisfied with the performance and response of their team.
Despite the growing displeasure inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall as the Hoosiers offense stalled and the reality of another loss sank in, sixth-year senior guard Tayton Conerway was a ray of light and a reason to cheer in the Hoosiers 74-57 loss to Iowa on Saturday.
In a game where Indiana struggled at times both offensively and defensively, Conerway was the solution. The Troy University transfer was able to get the restless crowd cheering with his deflections on defense and his ability to shake off the defenders and get to the basket on offense.
“I thought Tayton did a really good job there, while we were struggling, finding those opportunities and getting downhill and getting to the rim, and we need him to continue to do that.” head coach Darian DeVries said postgame.
Throughout the contest, Conerway tallied 16 points on 8-12 shooting from the field and notched two steals. Only one other Hoosier — senior forward Sam Alexis — scored in double figures with 13 points, seven of which came in the final six minutes of the contest.
As a team, the shots weren’t falling for the Hoosiers. Indiana started the game shooting 1-12 from the field and 0-6 from beyond the arc. The Hawkeye defense rattled the Cream and Crimson early, and the Hoosiers faced the pressure of the shot clock dwindling on multiple possessions.
Throughout the first half, Conerway’s ability to get to the rim was potent and opened up other areas of the floor. At the break, the sixth-year guard was the only double figure scorer as he led the team with 10 points.
As the second half came, Conerway continued to do what he did well all night — get to the rim.
“(Darian DeVries) said, they couldn't stay in front you. He said, get downhill, come off the screen,” Conerway said postgame. “If it's not there, make a play. I felt like that was something I was trying to do.”
However, outside of Conerway’s efforts, the offense became stale and stagnant. Fifth-year senior guard Lamar Wilkerson and redshirt senior forward Tucker DeVries combined for just five second half points.
“Then we got in a little bit of isolation middle of the first half because it was working, getting Tayton in some space and getting him downhill to the rim.” Darian DeVries said. “Then I think we kind of fell in love with that as the game went on and in the second half.”
Indiana is at its best when it shares and moves the ball. The offense needs movement to generate good shots and find the open 3-point shooter. However, against Iowa, the Hoosiers tallied just nine assists, marking just the second time this season they have accumulated single digit assist numbers.
And as a result, the product of the offense was displayed. The Hoosiers recorded their lowest scoring contest of the season and suffered their third consecutive loss.
Indiana now enters a critical point of the season. With three straight losses and the competition in the Big Ten to remain tough throughout, the Hoosiers must find a way to produce better results on the court.
Indiana will have an opportunity to put a stop to the losing streak and secure it’s first marquee win of the season as they travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. matchup with No. 4 Michigan.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Nathan Shriberg (@NShriberg and naashri@iu.edu) and columnist Kasey Watkins (@KaseyWatki8773 and kaslwatk@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
