5 Adjustments Indiana Hoosiers Must Make Before 2015 NCAA Tournament

By Jerry Landry

5 Adjustments Indiana Hoosiers Must Make Before 2015 NCAA Tournament

Tom Crean Indiana Hoosiers NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament head coach — The NCAA tournament is just around the corner, and the Indiana Hoosiers are oscillating on the bubble. Here are five adjustments they must make immediately or prepare to accept the request to join the NIT.

5. End Losing Streak Immediately

Indiana Hoosiers vs Purdue Boilermakers rivalry men's basketball

5. End Losing Streak Immediately

Indiana Hoosiers vs Purdue Boilermakers rivalry men's basketball — The Indiana Hoosiers take on the Michigan State Spartans at Assembly Hall on Saturday, and the Hoosiers find themselves tumbling on a two-game skid. More than that, Indiana has lost seven of their last 11 games. The skidding must halt, and Tom Crean needs to get through to his players.

4. Win In Hostile Environments

Indiana Hoosiers Troy Williams NCAA men's basketball tournament

4. Win In Hostile Environments

Indiana Hoosiers Troy Williams NCAA men's basketball tournament — In the familiar confines of Assembly Hall, the Hoosiers are 15-3. Away from home, Indiana his a cringe-worthy 3-6. There is no environment more adverse than the alien hardwood of the NCAA tournament, and Indiana will have to learn quickly to thrive.

3. Rebounding

Indiana Hoosiers vs Northwestern Wildcats Big Ten men's basketball NCAA Tournament rebounding

3. Rebounding

Indiana Hoosiers vs Northwestern Wildcats Big Ten men's basketball NCAA Tournament rebounding — Yes, the Indiana Hoosiers are fresh out of Cody Zeller and family, but being 101st in the nation in rebounding when you hail from a Power-5 conference is inexcusable. It’s time to be mentally tough and physically brutal. If Indiana can’t keep their opponents off the glass, the Hoosiers can’t remain in the tournament.

2. Free Throws

Indiana Hoosiers Assembly Hall free throw men's basketball NCAA tournament

2. Free Throws

Indiana Hoosiers Assembly Hall free throw men's basketball NCAA tournament — Indiana is 93rd in Division I free-throw percentage, and this needs to improve now. The line is just laying there, undefended, so the points need to be accrued. Remember the 2008 Memphis Tigers? They were a talented team that couldn’t sink shots from the charity stripe and eventually lost a national championship because of it.

1. Scoring Defense

Indiana Hoosiers guard James Blackmon defense Iowa Hawkeyes mens basketball

1. Scoring Defense

Indiana Hoosiers guard James Blackmon defense Iowa Hawkeyes mens basketball — Indiana scores nearly 80 points per game, which is great, but the Hoosier defense yields a near-astronomical 71.7 PPG. As tournament defenses get more stringent, this will end up hurting the Hoosiers the most if they fail to make proper adjustments.

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