Indiana plays its final game in the Battle 4 Atlantis on Friday against Providence.

Game day essentials:

Providence (5-2) vs. Indiana (4-2)

• Tip time: Friday, approximately 11 a.m. ET
• Location: Imperial Ballroom • Paradise Islands, Bahamas
• TV: ESPN2 (Dave O’Brien, Jimmy Dykes)
• Radio: IU Radio Network
• Electricity: Watch ESPN
• Distribution of points: Indiana is the favorite by 4.5 points
• KenPom Predicted Score: #61 Indiana 71, #87 Providence 68
• Story: Indiana leads the series 2-0.
• Last meeting: Indiana won 79-58 in November 2020

Like Indiana, Providence lost two games in the Battle 4 Atlantis, 79-77 to Oklahoma and 69-58 to Davidson. The loser of this game will be the only team to go down 3-0.

The Friars enter the game with a record of 5-2 under second-year head coach Kim English. Senior Joseph Bensley (12.5 points per game) leads a balanced offensive attack. Junior guard Jayden Pierre (11.5), senior guard Wesley Cardet (10.3) and redshirt junior guard Corey Floyd Jr. (10.0) all average double figures.

Providence awaits the return of star winger Bryce Hopkins any day. He averaged 15.5 per game last season before tearing his ACL in January.

Gonzaga report card

Due to the quick turnaround, below is an abbreviated version of the report for yesterday’s game against Gonzaga:

COACHING (D) Mike Woodson said he focused on getting his team to play harder in the 24 hours between games at Louisville and Gonzaga. At least in spurts they did. But like most of the young season, Woodson can’t keep his players under control for 40 minutes. Indiana’s players are often lost on defense and appear hesitant on offense. These are signs of suspicious coaching and a recipe for massive losses. And that’s exactly what they get. Woodson can’t seem to find the right buttons. Maybe he’s out of ideas?

Criminal offense (C-) Indiana’s guards scored just 16 of the team’s 73 points. They’re not scoring this week, and so far they’re not a really meaningful part of the scheme that continues to emphasize the low block. The Hoosiers took better care of the ball in this game and got to the free throw line frequently. But shooting was a big problem everywhere – from the stripe, beyond the arc and from two.

DEFENSE (D-) Indiana’s defense sank the ship with a terrible first half, allowing 57 points or 1.42 per possession before halftime. Although things improved in the second half, the tone was set and the margin was too much. IU never really threatened the Zags after halftime. They fouled too much, leading to 22 Gonzaga free throws, and the Hoosiers allowed 13 offensive rebounds, leading to 23 second-chance points. The Hoosiers were a step slow in transition and guarding the ball and lost in transition and coverage.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Like the last game, there’s really no place to look beyond one player, in this case Oumar Ballo. The center was extremely efficient, making 11 of 13 shots. He recorded the second-highest scoring game of his career with 25 points. This was easily Ballo’s best game as a scorer for IU, but he had no supporting cast. And you want him to get more than four rebounds.

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The Daily Hoosier – “Where Indiana fans gather when they’re not at the meeting.”

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