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Freshmen forwards Devin Davis and Noah Vonleh run off the court as confetti celebrating Michigan’s Big Ten Championship falls Saturday at the Crisler Center. Indiana lost 84-80 in the final conference game of the regular season. The Hoosiers led 42-36 at halftime, but lost the lead four minutes and seven seconds into the second half.
Losing late IU falls to No. 12 Wolverines in last regular season conference game BY JOHN BAUERNFEIND jogbauer@indiana.edu @JohnBauernfeind
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Hoosiers left the court at Crisler Arena Saturday showered by blue and yellow confetti. They lost, 84-80, and the Michigan Wolverines were Big Ten champs. It was a stark contrast to last season, when IU won a Big Ten title on the same court. These teams had less to play for Saturday. Michigan had already won the Big Ten after beating Illinois earlier in the week. IU, after knocking off two consecutive ranked opponents and pushing for a late run toward the NCAA Tournament, had just lost to Nebraska on senior night. On Saturday, the game’s outcome wasn’t decided until a Glenn Robinson III corner 3-pointer gave the Wolverines a 3-point lead with about one minute to play. On Michigan’s senior night, IU was sharp to start. Freshman forward Devin Davis started in place of freshman forward Noah Vonleh, who saw limited action Saturday after missing two consecutive games. Davis won the tip and, after IU set up its offense, freshman guard Stanford Robinson found senior forward Will Sheehey for an open 3-pointer. Sheehey connected on the shot, the first of nine straight made field goals for IU. It would take seven minutes and 51 seconds of game time before the Hoosiers missed their first shot, and by then they found themselves leading 22-14. Heading into halftime, IU led
84-80
Hoops with Hoop Turn to page 11 for columnist Evan Hoopfer’s views on how the Hoosiers played against their Big Ten opponents this year.
BY ALDEN WOODS aldwoods@indiana.edu @acw9293
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A regular season that began with promise ended on a sour note for the IU men’s basketball team, but freshman guard Troy Williams said an opportunity remains to salvage success. “It’s very disappointing, I mean, nobody’s happy about it, but the most you can do is just go to the next game,” Williams said. “You can’t just dwell on the past, you’ve got to look forward into the future. And next in the future is the Big Ten Tournament, so we’re just ready for that.” IU ended the regular season with consecutive losses to Nebraska and No. 12 Michigan to finish at 17-14, but it’s the team’s 7-11 Big Ten record that will determine the Hoosiers’ next opponent. The final conference standings will show IU at No. 8 or No. 9, depending on how Sunday games play out. Either seeding would lead to IU opening the conference tournament with a game at noon Thursday in Indianapolis’ Bankers Life Fieldhouse. IU Coach Tom Crean said despite the losses, he has seen progress from his young team. “We feel like we’re playing our best basketball, at least I do,” he said. A core contingency of freshmen have improved their standard of play in recent weeks and will be relied upon heavily in the postseason. Guards Williams and Stanford
42-36. The Hoosiers went 16-for-27, 59.3 percent, from the field, assisting on 10 of their made field goals. IU’s first half lead was quickly washed away by the Wolverines, who began the second on a 14-6 scoring run. Michigan reclaimed the lead just four minutes and seven seconds into the half. The Hoosiers hardly helped themselves either. After committing just three turnovers in the first half, IU turned the ball over 12 times in the second. After the game, Sheehey beat himself up because of the turnovers committed. “Me personally, was just trash from that point,” Sheehey said. “I think I had four turnovers, Yogi had four. I mean that’s just unacceptable from two guys that have played this game awhile.” It was déjà vu for IU. On the road and leading at halftime, the Hoosiers have wilted in the second half in conference play this season. On the road against Michigan State, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and now Michigan, IU entered halftime with a lead, but lost each game. With four minutes and 55 seconds to play, IU trailed 73-62. It had happened again to the Hoosiers. IU hadn’t scored in more than four SEE MICHIGAN, PAGE 15
Hoosier season ends, but Big Tens remain
Forward Will Sheehey drives to the basket on Saturday at Crisler Center. Sheehey had 17 points against Michigan in Saturday’s game.
SEE BIG TEN, PAGE 11