Indiana Downs Louisville to Close Out Empire Classic
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
NEW YORK CITY – Sometimes a coach has got to go zone.
Sometimes, if you’re Indiana’s Mike Woodson and you see Louisville slash your man defense apart so that a first-half double-digit lead becomes a seven-point, late-second-half deficit, you go against your nature, unleash a 2-3 zone, and reap the victory benefits.
That zone sparked a 21-6 game-closing run in a 74-66 Empire Classic consolation game victory at Madison Square Garden. It was a much needed bounce back performance after Sunday’s UConn defeat.
“It was the zone that got us back,” Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. “I’ve never been a big zone guy. (Assistant coaches) mentioned it in the huddle. I said, ‘Why not?’ and it changed the whole game.”
Did it ever.
The Hoosiers (4-1) forced turnovers, pushed the pace, and made shots. The Cardinals (2-3) couldn’t get in the paint, make shots, or rebound.
“We hadn’t practiced (the zone) a lot,” Woodson told Fischer. “Our guys were in the right spots. They got after the shooters and when the ball went up, we were able to rebound.
“On offense, we executed and got to the free throw line and made shots. It helps.”
Point guard Xavier Johnson was a game-deciding force, especially in the second half. He finished with 14 points (9-for-12 on free throws), five assists, four rebounds, and a steal.
“He got off to kind of a slow start,” Woodson told Fischer. “He came back and made the plays down the stretch. That’s what we expect. He’s a senior. He’s supposed to do that. I’ve got to get him to understand it’s OK to lead.”
Forwards Kel’el Ware and Malik Reneau overcame foul trouble to each score 12 points. Ware added seven rebounds and two blocks. Reneau had three rebounds and two assists.
Then there was a bench that totaled 30 points. Forward Anthony Walker had 11 points and seven rebounds. Forward Payton Sparks had nine points and three rebounds. Forward Kaleb Banks had four points, eight rebounds, three blocks, three assists, and three steals.
Strong bench contributions also came from CJ Gunn and Gabe Cupps.
“The bench was fantastic,” Woodson told Fischer. “Look at Payton, Walker, CJ, Banks, and Gabe. They were really productive. I’m going to need them the rest of the way.”
He definitely needed them in the first half. They helped build a double-digit lead.
“I left them in there,” Woodson told Fischer. “They were playing well. They built the lead.”
Ware’s four early points got IU within a point at 9-8 after five minutes. He passed to Banks for a dunk and a 10-10 tie. A Sparks free throw and a layup, and a Walker basket pushed the Hoosiers ahead 19-15 after 10 minutes.
The Hoosiers ratcheted up the defense. Louisville made just one of 12 shots. Five-straight Walker points helped IU build a 26-18 lead. Six-straight points from Johnson made it 32-22 before the Hoosiers finished with a 34-29 halftime lead.
Credit a 20-5 edge in bench points and a 22-12 advantage in points in the paint for the lead. Walker was a big reason for the bench production with nine points and four rebounds.
Freshman Mackenzie Mgbako, limited to just a couple of minutes because of foul trouble in the first half, opened the second half with a basket. The Cardinals, by attacking the basket and drawing fouls, forced Reneau and Ware to the bench and Walker, Mgbako and Sparks to the forefront. They pushed the Hoosiers to a 44-35 lead five minutes into the second half
Louisville’s 16-3 run gave it a 53-49 lead with 11 minutes left.
Ware ended that with a basket, but the Cardinals kept pushing the pace, forcing turnovers and making free throws to surge ahead 58-51.
A 2-3 zone and free throws by Reneau and Ware, and a Reneau inside basket closed the gap to 60-59 with five minutes left.
IU surged ahead 71-64 on Johnson and Reneau baskets, and a pair of Reneau and Johnson free throws.
Louisville was finished.
“It was a total team effort,” Woodson told Fischer.
Courtesy of Indiana University Used with permission IUHoosiers.com