Sometimes, rest is the perfect remedy. We’ll see if that’s the case for the Indiana Pacers. They limped into the All-Star break after a long losing streak was snapped in their final game, and are back in action on Friday after more than a week off. Victor Oladipo’s minutes restriction has been lifted, and he’s ready for a full work-load as a starter.
“Those six games we lost, we want to try and get those back,” said coach Nate McMillan. “Somewhere in this 27-game season, we want to try and win six in a row and get them back. The goal is to try and get home court advantage. We’re 3 1/2 games behind that 4th spot. That urgency starts for us on Friday.”
This could still be a very dangerous team come playoff time. They were on a 58-win pace for much of the season and then struggled with the return of Victor Oladipo. If things click with Oladipo getting full minutes, it’s not a group that other teams will want to see in the first round. Will it be another one-and-done trip in the playoffs? That’s very possible. But let’s see where this team is in a few weeks. Don’t write this season off just yet.
Hoosiers keep tournament hopes alive
With their win at Minnesota on Wednesday night, the Hoosiers racked up just their second conference road win of the season. They finally decided to let their best player get the most touches, and Trayce Jackson-Davis delivered in a huge way. He had career-highs with 27 points and 16 rebounds. Indiana’s motto for the rest of the season should be to “Feed the beast” in the post, and let him lead the way.
There’s a lot of uncertainty and debate about Indiana’s tournament chances at this point. The Big Ten is deep, and the NCAA bubble is weaker overall this season. That should help IU’s chances. Most computer rankings have Indiana in the 40 range which screams bubble-team. But if the Hoosiers can reach 20 wins on the season (they currently have 17), they have a good chance to go dancing.
Here’s what’s left for Indiana — Home games with Penn State, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Road games with Purdue and Illinois. Both road games will be awfully tough, as will be beating Penn State in Bloomington. Winning just one of those three games, however, would put them in a good position to reach 20 wins for the season.
The Hoosiers have been historically awful in the conference tournament, so they hope to play well in these final five games.
At this point, nothing would surprise me with this team. Just when you think you have them figured out, they go in the opposite direction. I could see this team losing several games down the stretch and missing the tournament for a fourth straight year. I could also see this team making the tournament and being an intriguing “upset” candidate depending on their matchup. Welcome to the college basketball scene in 2020.
No matter what happens the rest of the way for the Pacers and Hoosiers, both teams at least have a chance- and that’s worth something.
Tyler Smith covers the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Hoosier basketball for Indy Sports Legends. Smith is also the youth pastor at New Hope Christian Church, and the varsity girls’ basketball coach at Crawfordsville High School.
