Indiana Gets First Big Ten Win: Box Score of the Day

Box Score of the Day:

Today's pick is.. Indiana's 68-60 Win over Iowa.

Last week, we had a little fun at Indiana's expense, making fun of the Hoosiers for their horrid (but expected under the circumstances) start. Today, as predicted though, the Hoosiers finally got off the Big Ten shnide by knocking off fellow conference cellar-dweller Iowa. If the Hoosiers (6-15, 1-8) were ever going to win a conference game, a home game against Iowa was the one.

What stands out for the Hoosiers is the play of Juco newcomer Devan Dumes. Dumes, the Hoosiers leading scorer and best player, came up clutch with his best ever game: 27 points on an amazingly efficient 8-9 shooting from the floor. He hit 5-5 from three, and 6-8 free throws. This led to a ridiculous average of 3 points per shot attempt. Such efficiency is unheard of. 

It is no surprise that Indiana won due to the scoring prowess of Dumes. Their closest Big Ten defeat (2 points to Northwestern) came when Dumes set his previous high of 25 points. And their worst defeat (31 points) came when Dumes only played a couple minutes against Illinois. Indiana struggles in large part because they're one of the worst offensive teams in the country. 245th according to Ken Pomeroy's adjusted offensive rankings. No other Big Ten team is below 90th in the country. Dumes no doubt has a couple 20+ outbursts left in him, which could perhaps lead to a few more league wins.

For Iowa, they didn't get destroyed in most statistical categories, but you have to wonder how they allowed a poor offensive team to shoot 49% from the floor and 53% from three. Their offensive star was Matt Gatens, a freshman who tied a career high with 22 points. Gatens came into college with the reputation of being a three-point gunner, which has proved to be true. But in recent weeks, he's shown an improved ability to contribute within the arc. He's certainly a player with a bright future down the line.