Indiana Basketball: Top 10 games of the decade, #7

As the Indiana basketball team rolls into the new decade its time to take a look back over the past ten years. We rank the top ten games of the decade and today we look at number seven.

Game No. 10 | Game No. 9 | Game No. 8

The Hoosiers are looking to get back to how they were in 2011-12. They were a relatively unknown team that pulled off some early upsets and turned into a very good team that would vault them to great things in the next few years.

As we look at the top ten games of the decade this season will start to show up a bunch in the following days. The first of those games is an NCAA tournament game against a mid-major but it turned into a great game nonetheless.

Today we continue our countdown and look at game number seven on our list.

Indiana 63  VCU 61

NCAA Tournament Round of 32 – 2011-12

At first glance, a game against VCU is not one you would think of being a great game, but the Rams were fresh of an upset win over Wichita State in the first round. Even bigger was their run to the Final Four in 2011. VCU was extremely confident coming into the game and it showed with how they played.

Indiana entered the game as the number four seed and a 26-8 record. They had their sights set on a Sweet 16 berth to play a Kentucky team they upset earlier in the year (that game is yet to come on this list). Winning this game would put the Hoosiers in the Sweet 16 for the first time in a decade.

They were favored in the game but VCU came out ready to play. In a frantic first half, VCU looked like the better team and led by nine before Christian Watford scored the last eight points of the first half to cut the lead to one as they entered the break. The Rams looked like they were taking complete control before Watford stepped in and saved the first half for the Hoosiers.

The second half slowed way down as both teams combined to only score 41 points. A big difference from the 83 combined in the first half. The Hoosiers were able to hold the Rams to just seven second-half field goals and it allowed them to keep it close.

Even with the good defense the Hoosiers still trailed by nine with just over 12 minutes remaining in the game. Indiana, though, would hold VCU to just four points the rest of the game as they clawed their way back.

It was tied late when VCU missed a three-pointer and Victor Oladipo drove the length of the court only to have his shot blocked. The blocked shot went right to Will Sheehey and he nailed the game-winning shot with 12.7 seconds left

VCU would have one more shot to win the game but Rob Brandenberg’s three-point attempt bounced off of the rim as the buzzer sounded. It was a thrilling win for the Hoosier that finally got them back into the Sweet 16 and set up that rematch with Kentucky.

It started a very good three-year run for the Hoosiers and one Indiana is trying to get back to right now.