Indiana basketball needs to end losing skid against Elon on Tuesday

No. 18 Indiana basketball is hoping to end their two-game losing skid after back-to-back losses to top-10 teams against Elon on Tuesday night.

It’s the first losing streak of the season for the 2022-23 Hoosiers team that has come into the season with high expectations, including preseason favorites to win the Big Ten.

This team right now is hardly even close to competing for the Big Ten title this season, and honestly, barely even a top 25 team based on recent games. Indiana is playing with a lack of passion and energy that seems unexpected based on Coach Woodson’s coaching style.

Here are my keys for Indiana basketball to come home after an embarrassing effort in Lawrence and take down Elon:

Keys to an Indiana basketball victory over Elon

Dominate the paint, for real this time

Over the last two games, Trayce Jackson-Davis and the Hoosiers have been dominated in the paint, 92-46, allowing Kansas, a smaller frontcourt team, to score 50 points.

Playing through Jackson-Davis, Race Thompson, and Malik Reneau will create openings for shooters on the outside but need to get 40+ paint points.

Defense needs to show up

Prior to December 10, the Hoosiers had not allowed any teams to reach 80+ points in a game this season. Indiana has allowed 80+ points in two straight losses and four straight 40-point halves.

Mike Woodson’s defense has a chance to completely shut down this lackluster Elon team and hold them nearly under 50 points in this game.

The Hoosiers bench needs to carry the load

Of course, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Trayce Jackson-Davis need to have solid enough games for the Hoosiers to be able to pull ahead, but if the bench yet again doesn’t reach 25+ points, it will be a much closer matchup than what we likely expected.

It seems as though Malik Reneau and Jordan Geronimo will get more run, coming from Mike Woodson’s radio show, but it needs to be an entire team effort for the Hoosiers to dominate from the tip on Tuesday night in Bloomington.

Projected Starters for No. 18 Indiana basketball vs. Elon

Indiana

G – Jalen Hood-Schifino
G – Tamar Bates
F – Miller Kopp
F – Race Thompson
F – Trayce Jackson-Davis

Elon

G – Sean Halloran
G – LA Pratt
G/F – Max Mackinnon
F – John Bowen III
C – Sam Sherry

Stat line predictions for No. 18 Indiana basketball vs. Elon

Trayce Jackson-Davis: 22 MIN | 16 PTS | 11 REB | 6/10 FG | 2/5 FT | 2 BLK

Sean Halloran: 33 MIN | 13 PTS | 4 REB | 7 AST | 5/13 FG | 2/7 3PT | 1/1 FT

Jalen Hood-Schifino: 28 MIN | 15 PTS | 6 REB | 6 AST | 6/13 FG | 3/6 3PT | 2 TOV

Max Mackinnon: 35 MIN | 12 PTS | 6 REB | 1 AST | 6/15 FG | 5 TOV | 2 STL

Tamar Bates: 30 MIN | 24 PTS | 3 AST | 8/15 FG | 5/9 3PT | 3/4 FT | 1 STL | 2 TOV

Zac Ervin: 30 MIN | 16 PTS | 4 REB | 3 AST | 7/14 FG | 2/8 3PT | 3 TOV