5 takeaways from IU basketball's loss at Kentucky

Tucker DeVries drives the ball against Kentucky.

IU basketball led by as many as 9 factors, however collapsed down the stretch in a 72-60 loss to Kentucky at Rupp Area.

Listed here are 5 takeaways from the Wildcats:

Highway capturing woes proceed

After a poor 8-for-27 3-point capturing efficiency in a loss at Minnesota on Dec. 3, issues bought worse for the Hoosiers in Lexington.

Indiana torched the nets on Tuesday towards Penn State, ending 17-for-31 from distance.

However towards an opponent with size, athleticism and willpower to problem most photographs and Lamar Wilkerson on the bench for a lot of the sport with foul bother, the Hoosiers by no means bought going from the perimeter in Saturday’s loss.

IU linked on a season-low 4 3-pointers in its first double-digit lack of the season and shot 16.7 p.c, additionally a season-low.

The roster is constructed to take and make a excessive quantity of 3-pointers. When that doesn’t occur, the outcomes have been ugly.

IU’s turnovers helped gasoline Kentucky’s offense

Kentucky’s struggles getting into Saturday’s sport had been effectively documented. The Wildcats had been determined to get their offense going towards high-major competitors.

Indiana’s carelessness with the ball was simply the gasoline that was wanted.

The Hoosiers coughed the ball up a season-high 18, ending with a turnover share of 26.9. Coming into the sport, Kentucky’s opponents had been turning it over on simply 15.7 p.c of possessions, rating 269th nationally.

A lot of the errors had been a results of IU’s sloppiness slightly than Kentucky’s strain.

However to their credit score, the Wildcats capitalized, scoring 23 factors off of IU’s errors. Kentucky gained the factors off turnovers battle 23-6, a big consider a 12-point win.

Hoosiers proceed to wrestle to complete defensive possessions

Defensive rebounding was seen as a possible Achilles Heel getting into the season.

The Hoosiers started the season with Reed Bailey beginning on the 5 and have moved to Sam Alexis, a greater rebounder, over the past two video games.

However even with Alexis on the ground for half-hour in Saturday’s loss, Kentucky’s measurement and athleticism overwhelmed IU on the boards, notably within the second half.

Over the ultimate 20 minutes, the Wildcats grabbed 9 offensive rebounds and scored 11 second-chance factors.

For the sport, Kentucky outscored Indiana 18-6 in second-chance factors.

Indiana wants extra consistency from Tayton Conerway

It was a story of two halves for Tayton Conerway on Saturday evening.

The previous Solar Belt participant of the yr was strong within the opening 20 minutes as IU constructed a seven-point halftime lead.

The 6-foot-3 guard logged 13 first-half minutes and had seven factors and no turnovers whereas capturing 3-for-4 from the free-throw line.

However Conerway’s struggles within the second half had been a problem for the Hoosiers.

He dedicated 4 of Indiana’s 12 second-half turnovers in simply 11 minutes. Two of these errors occurred throughout a vital stretch when Kentucky took management of the sport. The Hoosiers had been up seven however turned it over on 5 straight possessions and the Wildcats took the lead for good.

IU should play by means of a few of the errors with Conerway, however he must make the easy play extra constantly when working the offense.

Lamar Wilkerson’s foul bother hampers Indiana’s offense

The one participant on IU’s roster who had an environment friendly capturing evening was Lamar Wilkerson.

The Sam Houston State switch was 5-for-11 from the sector, together with a 2-for-5 mark on 3-pointers and a 3-for-4 mark from the free-throw line.

He completed with 15 factors. However a key improvement for IU was Wilkerson’s incapacity to remain on the ground on account of fouls.

The Arkansas native performed simply 22 minutes due to fouls. He picked up three within the first half and his fourth early within the second half.

The fourth foul was a improvement IU couldn’t overcome. When he dedicated his fourth on the 17:58 mark, the Hoosiers led 42-35. By the point Wilkerson reentered the sport with 9:30 left, Kentucky had the lead and momentum. Over that stretch of eight and a half minutes, IU scored solely 9 factors.

(Photograph credit score: IU Athletics)

See Extra: 5 Takeaways, Kentucky Wildcats