So the design staff isn't my biggest fan. Apparently I write too much, though I contend they aren't giving me enough room - even Brett Finkelmeier got more space than me into today's paper.
Either way, when my columns get shortened I try to collect the information that was cut. So here it is -- the difference between IU and its opponents shooting-wise over the last five games (IU has been outscored by 19.8 points per game since the loss to Purdue on Feb. 4, by the way):
2/7 - IU: 18-51 FG / Northwestern: 25-48 FG
2/10 - IU: 20-54 / Ohio State: 27-56
2/13 - IU: 20-43 / Wisconsin: 32-63
2/16 - IU: 15-43 / Michigan State: 32-54
2/20 - IU: 19-59 / Minnesota: 31-56
TOTALS: IU 92-250 (36.8%), last five opponents 147-277 (53.1%)
IU has been abused defensively, while the Hoosiers have struggled to get the ball in the basket on the other side of the court. Most of IU's opponents during the eight-game losing streak have been significantly bigger, stronger, faster, etc. But there's no reason for allowing teams to hit more than half their shots and to have such a difference in shooting percentages.
IU is the No. 7 scoring offense in the Big Ten (based on points per game), but is dead last in scoring defense. The Hoosiers are the only Big Ten team allowing more than 70 points per game.
For the season, IU is averaging nearly 42 percent shooting, while allowing just more than 44 percent of its opponents shots. Sure Maurice Creek helped pre-Big Ten, but defensively there shouldn't be such a dropoff in conference play.
