An Indiana team losing to Wisconsin continues the state’s ongoing ups and downs.
The men’s basketball season at Indiana has been characterized by ups and downs.
And nowhere has that been more evident than the 91-79 defeat to No. 11 Wisconsin on Friday.
The dominant Badgers (14-4, 6-1) of the Big Ten took advantage of numerous errors made by Indiana – another recurrent theme. It was Indiana (12-7, 4-4)’s third loss in the previous four games and its fourth loss in the previous six meetings. Additionally, IU’s losing run at Kohl Center was extended to 20 games.
Throughout the evening, Indiana showed a wide spectrum of emotions on the court, in the sidelines, and at the press conference following the game. And those expressions talked volumes.
Embarrassment was everywhere. Near the conclusion of the first half, Xavier Johnson committed a needless foul with seven seconds left, and Indiana’s bench wasn’t thrilled with the sixth-year. Assistant coach Brian Walsh covered his face while director of player development Calbert Cheaney displayed obvious frustration. It came immediately after Gabe Cupps made a 3-pointer to trim Indiana’s deficit to 11 points, giving Wisconsin two extra points at the foul line.
It was the most recent in a lengthy series of careless errors Indiana has made this year. The Hoosiers, on so many instances, just haven’t been able to keep out of their own way.
The most unfortunate incident on Friday, though, occurred in the second half when CJ Gunn elbowed Max Klesmit and was given a flagrant 2 charge. It led to Don Fischer, IU’s longstanding play-by-play voice, publicly expressing his embarrassment over the airwaves—a drastic move.
Mike Woodson, the head coach, felt the ejection was too severe.
“Anything can happen during a heated conflict. “I am not pleased with it,” Woodson declared following the match. “The child (Klesmit) rested his head on Gunn’s chest after examining it. He threw a semi-elbow, I don’t think it was something hard that justified getting booted out of the game. That is beyond my power; he was expelled.
However, IU’s consistent disregard for discipline does not outweigh that part of the ruling. In the last four games, the Hoosiers have been flagrantly fouled four times; however, one of those penalties was a hook-and-hold, which is clearly not the same as the unsportsmanlike behavior committed by Johnson and Gunn.
