Three Takeaways from Indiana Basketball's 61-59 thriller against Penn State.
By Dante Pryor
Defense! Defense! Defense!
Tonight was as physical a game as you are going to find. Both teams were outstanding defensively. Indiana had one job: slow star guard Ace Baldwin. The combination of freshman Gabe Cupps and veteran guard Xavier Johnson held the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year to nine points on 4-15 shooting, forcing three turnovers.
Indiana's team defense was outstanding, holding Penn State to 27.6% shooting, including 25.9% three-point shooting on the night. Penn State likes to get the basketball in the low post to Qudus Wahab, so he can pass to shooters like Puff Johnson, Nick Kern, Jr., and Zach Hicks. Kel'el Ware's ability to guard Wahab one-on-one, denied the skip pass and forced contested shots.
Cupps, Johnson, and Leal did an outstanding job of rotating and fighting over the top of screens to deny Ace Baldwin dribble penetration. Baldwin did not get to the paint on a dribble drive until midway in the second half.