I'm sure most who follow IU basketball would be willing to concede that its Feb. 13 trip to Madison saw one of the worst IU performances -- even in this spell of eight consecutive losses.
The easy rationale for 83-55 the loss comes to mind quickly, and it was written about by everyone after the last game.
IU didn't have the metaphorical "fire" that is talked about after every flat performance, the Hoosiers lost to a better team, or the cream and crimson didn't get any scoring.
All options would be correct in some sense, but could be easily disproved.
The first being "fire." When someone practices all week, prepping for one game, how is it possible not to be excited for the game?
The second is facing a better team. It is not a stretch in any way to say the Badgers' players trump IU's at nearly every position. But what about Michigan State? Or the Minnesota team that recently defeated Wisconsin.
The home-away argument could be made here, but basketball is basketball. I understand the comfort factor in all of this, but once you take the court there is no thought of whose gym you're in crossing your mind. You want to defeat the guys who stand between you and the basket, no matter what city in which that gym is located.
Another point aims squarely at the point that IU lacked scoring in Madison. But why? They shot a decent percentage (46 percent).
But then you reach the shots taken, total turnovers and 3-point field goals made.
Wisconsin took 20 more shots (IU: 20-of-43, Wisconsin: 32-of-63). This was predicated largely on the fact that IU turned the ball over 10 more times, allowing Wisconsin to score 29 points off turnovers.
And then there was the performance of Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon, who hit nine of the Badgers' 10 3-pointers. Ok, that isn't really an accurate way to paint those numbers. Bohannon hit seven of them.
My point in all this is that Wisconsin's win was essentially based on one stat: Turnovers.
IU mishaps gave Wisconsin more possessions, more shots, more points.
Pretty simple.
If IU plans to win Thursday, it'll have to curve those turnovers against a Wisconsin team that does not make mistakes or hurt itself very often.
