Despite leading throughout, Indiana struggled to put away Winthrop in their final non-conference game, showing many of the same concerning trends that have plagued them recently.

Playing without Oumar Ballo (lower leg injury?), the Hoosiers allowed an 8-0 Winthrop run late that cut the lead to one before ultimately securing a nine-point win that felt much closer than the final margin suggests.

The team's ongoing identity crisis was highlighted by abysmal three-point shooting (1-for-20) and continued defensive issues, particularly containing dribble penetration, as Winthrop scored 36 points in the paint against an Indiana defense that often looked disconnected and fundamentally unsound.

Key discussion points from the show included:

The stark contrast between Indiana's individual talent and their collective struggles to play cohesive basketball
Questions about whether the roster construction matches the defensive scheme being employed
Encouraging performances from Myles Rice (18 points) and unexpected spark from Langdon Hatton (7 points, 11 rebounds)
Growing concerns about the team's readiness for Big Ten play after another underwhelming performance
The continued absence of consistent effort and connectivity that has defined the season thus far


Plus, as always, the Banner Moment, Meaningful Moments You Might Have Missed, Inside the Numbers, and our Game Balls, Hustle Award, and Lingering Questions. That's all in this edition of The Assembly Call.

On the mics: Coach Brian Tonsoni and Bob Moats

With Big Ten play resuming against Rutgers in just a few days, the performance raised serious questions about whether Indiana can find the consistent effort and cohesive play needed to compete at a higher level in conference play.

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