BLOOMINGTON - Losers of three of their last four games, things are clearly not right with Indiana basketball. Head coach Mike Woodson describes the problem succinctly.
"We're soul-searching as a team," he says.
When the Hoosiers do find their footing in one area, they wind up getting lost in another. For example, in their most recent game at Wisconsin, IU put on an efficient and productive offensive performance, shooting 54 percent from the floor overall and 43 percent beyond the three-point line, scoring 79 points against a Badger defense ranked top-four in the Big Ten that typically allows around 66 points per game.
Then the other shoe drops.
"But our defense stunk," Woodson points out (Indiana allowed 91 points to Wisconsin, which shot 60 percent from the floor and 48 percent from distance). "It's tough enough to win on the road, but you go on the road with just an offensive mentality, you stand to lose.
"That's on me. I gotta get us playing defense."
Missing Kel'el Ware and his average of nine rebounds per game certainly did not help the Hoosiers on the defensive end in Madison. Ware still might not be good to go in their next game either though, so the Cream and Crimson have to be ready to play - and play better - without him.
"We've had some tough days of practice, which we should," Woodson explains. "That's the only way you're gonna work your way out of this. Only time will tell."
Indiana does have a time - a lot of it - with 12 Big Ten games remaining on their schedule. They have yet to beat a team with a winning record in the conference though, and that can change Saturday, as the Hoosiers travel to face No. 11 Illinois (14-5, 5-3 Big Ten) in Champaign.