Hoosier State of Mind
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Indiana Basketball: What is behind the numerous scoring droughts?

By Trevor Gersmehl

BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 09: Head coach Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts in the first half of the game against the Montana State Bobcats at Assembly Hall on November 9, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. The Hoosiers won 80-35. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 09: Head coach Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts in the first half of the game against the Montana State Bobcats at Assembly Hall on November 9, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. The Hoosiers won 80-35. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, IN – JANUARY 11: Head coach Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers is seen during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Assembly Hall on January 11, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – JANUARY 11: Head coach Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers is seen during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Assembly Hall on January 11, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

It is no secret to any Indiana Basketball fan that this season has been incredibly frustrating on offense due to immense scoring droughts.

The Hoosiers can go so long without scoring that it almost becomes more impressive than frustrating.

Of course, scoring droughts are no mystery even to truly great teams. Basketball is a game of runs, and there will inevitably be stretches every game or even every season where it seems like no one can buy a basket. Missing becomes contagious.

Even an all-time great shooter like Klay Thompson can go through a massive slump. Thompson began the 2018 season shooting 14 percent from three in seven contests, only to come out and set the record for most threes made in a game in the eighth game of the year.

The problem for Indiana is that no one on the team comes close to the talent of Klay Thompson, and the “shooters shoot” mentality doesn’t seem to be a plausible fix. The stretches in which they are unable to score are so prolonged that it is costing them games, and if not corrected, potentially the season.

The Hoosiers went completely scoreless for 7:47 in the second half against Arkansas, went on a 7:25 and a 7:22 field goal drought in the first and second halves against Maryland, and went on a 9:57 field goal drought against Ohio State.

Against Rutgers on Wednesday, Indiana let the Scarlet Knights go on runs of 12-0 to start the game, 10-2 to end the half, and 7-0 to start the second half. In a nine-point loss, being outscored 29-2 on just three runs that lasted nearly nine minutes, is again inexcusable.

The ability to go nearly one-quarter or even one half of a game without making a single shot from the field is, quite frankly, rather remarkable. People will be quick to point fingers, but in order to find the real scapegoat, some digging is required.

Let’s dissect the first half against Ohio State to figure out what is the source of these scoring droughts and how best to fix them.

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