So instead of getting bogged down in the debate, the Hoosiers tuned it out, turned inward and found a solution in time to turn things around by winning the Big Ten regular season title and earning their first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2013.
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Philadelphia 76ers GM Sam Hinkie didn’t have to travel far to get to his seat on press row at the Wells Fargo Center and got to do some scouting on Friday night.
In addition to the Hoosiers’ National Championships in Philadelphia back in the Bob Knight era, The Dance has been played here 28 times.
“You’ve got to enjoy this, but at the same time, one way to enjoy it is to take care of business and play your best basketball”, Marcus Paige said. “And it took us a while to grow through that”. Wisconsin will meet him at the rim, but Notre Dame will look to spread the floor. While the Badgers have one of the most efficient defenses in the country, Notre Dame counters with a proficient offense featuring five double-digit scorers.
Last weekend, against Kentucky, Indiana forced 16 turnovers and limited the Wildcats to 28.6 percent shooting on 3-pointers, which came as no surprise to a team that stopped giving up open lanes to the basket months ago.
“If anybody’s having a bad day, I’m going to change that”, Pinson said. He’s just an inspiration to all of us, even to the coaches as well.
The North Carolina Tar Heels are one of the top rebounding teams in the nation with an average of 41.0 per game (ranked 12th). While Paige has had an off shooting year, averaging just 12 points per game on 39% shooting, he is still the undoubted leader of the Tar Heels. Whichever team can control the tempo and allow their guys to settle into a preferred pace, will have the upper hand.
Wonderful it wasn’t blown out given UNC made 7-of-8 three pointers and made 16 of 29 first half shots (62 percent). In that game, the Hoosiers were a No. 3 seed, while the Tar Heels were a No. 2 seed. That’s what the ‘Heels do-they wear you down with their pace and talent, and wait for the knockout blow. Everyone on both teams gets out and runs, and the ball doesn’t spend much time bouncing.
North Carolina will have to defend the 3-point arc to advance.
For No. 5 seeded IN (27-7), the Hoosiers average more than 82 points a game, averaging of 58 shots. The biggest area of concern for IN on Friday night will be keeping North Carolina off the offensive glass, limiting multiple-shot possessions.
IN had reached its third Sweet 16 in five years under head coach Tom Crean. But the Hoosiers needed Ferrell to try to keep them within contention.
Troy Williams, who finished with 21 points, added to the praise for Ferrell.
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Vasturia, a 6-5 guard, is back near where he played before heading to Notre Dame. “But yeah, he’s a good player and me and him have been going at it, trying to be the best point guard in our class, for a long time”.
