IU Fails to Close Out The Upset

Blue Oyster Cult may implore everyone not to fear the reaper, but everyone should fear Killer--Marco Killingsworth.
Killer made the reigning Defensive Player of the Year look like a flag pole. "Abused" does not begin to describe the hurtin' Killer put on Sheldon Williams. It was beautiful to behold. The boy has some mad skillz.

But it was not enough. Duke 75. IU 67.

I have to say, the Hoosiers had me believing they could win once they took the lead midway through the second half.

But there were problems:

1. The Hoosiers just couldn't handle the swarming defense of Duke.
2. The Hoosiers lost their defensive intensity in the end just when Duke found one last gear to put the game away.
3. I know Killer was awesome, but the rest of the team was not. The only other Hoosier to score in double figures was Strickland. Duke had four people in double figures.
4. The Hoosiers often fell into the pattern they did last year, which was to stand around while one person created his own shot. Fortunately, Killer was unstoppable.
5. The Hoosiers lack the killer instinct. This may be their first big game of the season, but they lacked intensity at the beginning when they fell behind 16-2 and in the end when they couldn't close the game.
6. Finally, Killer's free throw shooting makes Shaq look like Reggie Miller.

I saw a lot of good things in this game, one in particular being the speed and athleticism of the Hoosiers. This team can flat out fly across the court. They are quick as thoroghbreds...and as raw as mustangs. Davis is taking advantage of their speed, athleticism, and the depth of the bench. The future looks bright for Indiana once D.J. White returns and can take the pressure off of Killer because you can bet teams will swarm Killer, unlike Duke.

The Hoosiers will be a team to be rekoned with. With this performance against Duke, they put the entire Big Ten on notice.

However, I'm not surprised the Hoosiers lost. I am disappointed. If Killer had some help, IU would have pulled off the upset. But because Duke was the better team they got the win.

So, can Mike Davis coach? I was blinded by the speed of the Hoosiers to know for sure. One thing was for certain: when the going got tough, the Hoosiers folded.

Duke Excels in the Clutch. That was the graphic beneath Jay Bilas during his post-game analysis. And unless the Hoosiers can do something to change that, talent will only take them so far.