Free throws you say? Just so everybody knows:Can IU win on the road in the B1G? Is Rob Phinisee healthy enough? Will IU's defense travel and be consistent? Can IU win on rebounds, free throws made and assists? Will Green and Smith make smart decisions? Which Al Durham will appear? Will TJD get lots of touches?
Will Rutgers guards carry the day? Can Brunk push around Rutgers' center? Can Rutgers overcome their starter Baker who is out with a broken thumb? Can the really good Rutgers' defense win the game? Will Ron Harper Jr. get 12 - 12 FTs in this game? Will Caleb McConnell play really well or be inconsistent?
Which team can get over 33% of their 3 point shots in this game? Who will foul out? Who gets outcoached?
To date both teams have played deliberate half-court games. IU is taller but will coach Miller go small to get some fast break action? Rutgers wins on defense, rebounding and sharing the ball. IU has to put it all together to win on the road.
Rutgers is fired up. Their noisy arena is sold out. (That means that both of the Rutgers fans will probably be there in the less than 9000 seat gym.) IU has something to prove. Rutgers could care less about IU's problems...except to use them to advantage.
This will not be a pretty game. Defenses will rule. If IU gets their center in foul trouble early, that could help decide the game. If Phin is not playing well, then that could help swing it the other way.
Just win, Indiana!
Indiana 65; Rutgers 63
1975-76 Undefeated IU FT pct. = .698
2019-20 13-3 IU FT pct. = .682
We're not that terrible.
Durham and Anderson have the best percentages by far. So, those who would rip 'em and bench 'em need to tell us who else will shoot our foul shots at the end of a close game (they could just keep quiet but fat chance of that).