On Friday, January 31, 2025, the Indiana Hoosiers suffered a late-game collapse against their arch-rivals, the Purdue Boilermakers, resulting in an 81-76 loss. This defeat marked their fifth in six games, highlighting persistent issues that have plagued the team throughout the season.
1. Turnovers and Defensive Lapses
A critical factor in Indiana’s downfall was their inability to protect the basketball. The Hoosiers committed 20 turnovers, a statistic that significantly undermined their offensive efficiency. Purdue capitalized on these mistakes, converting them into 13 steals, with Braden Smith accounting for six of them. This defensive pressure disrupted Indiana’s offensive flow and led to easy scoring opportunities for the Boilermakers.
2. Free Throw Disparity
Free throw shooting also played a pivotal role in the game’s outcome. Purdue demonstrated superior proficiency from the charity stripe, making 14 of 20 attempts (70%), compared to Indiana’s 14 of 20 (70%). This slight edge in free throw percentage, combined with the Hoosiers’ turnovers, contributed to their late-game struggles.
3. Inability to Close Out Games
The Hoosiers’ late-game performance has been a recurring theme this season. Despite leading 41-37 at halftime, they were outscored 44-35 in the second half, underscoring their challenges in maintaining leads and executing under pressure. This pattern of late-game collapses raises concerns about the team’s mental toughness and ability to perform in critical moments.
In summary, Indiana’s loss to Purdue was characterized by turnovers, free throw disparities, and an inability to close out games. These issues have been consistent throughout the season and will need to be addressed for the Hoosiers to improve their performance in future matchups.
