Looks as if Indiana's offense is just fine.
Freshman Cody Zeller scored a season-high 26 points to help the No. 16 Hoosiers defeat Iowa 103-89 on Sunday night.
Indiana was held to a season-low 50 points in a loss at Wisconsin on Thursday night, but had that many by halftime against Iowa. The Hoosiers finished with 20 assists after having four against Wisconsin. Indiana scored more than 100 points in a conference game for the first time since defeating Iowa 110-79 on March 12, 1995.
''The bottom line was that the ball moved, and when the ball moves on offense and when you're active on defense, and we kept understanding the pace of the game, it worked out well for us,'' Indiana coach Tom Crean said.
Zeller made 11 of 12 shots and had four assists and three steals for Indiana.
''I want to go back and look at the dunk highlight show that he had,'' Crean said.
Christian Watford scored 15 points, Verdell Jones III had 14 points and nine assists and Victor Oladipo had 12 points and six rebounds for the Hoosiers (17-5, 5-5 Big Ten), who had lost four of five.
Zeller consistently found openings against Iowa's zone defense.
''I had a pretty easy job, just catching it and dunking it,'' he said. ''Our guards did a really nice job of finding me in the alley a couple times. Verdell did a very nice job of passing tonight. I thought it was a good team effort.''
Jones, a senior, matched a career high for assists.
''I think he continues to improve,'' Crean said. ''I think he's a senior who wants to make a mark. I think he has improved in all areas. Verdell's playing very well.''
Josh Oglesby scored a season-high 24 points and Matt Gatens added 20 for Iowa (11-11, 3-6). The Hawkeyes shot 63 percent from the field, but committed 17 turnovers.
''The number one focus for us from the very beginning with Iowa was their transition offense, and it was even better than we'd seen on film,'' Crean said. ''They really did a great job of getting out and running and getting some easy baskets, but our guys continued to respond.''
Since defeating Michigan, the Hawkeyes have lost at Purdue, at home to Nebraska and at Indiana. Iowa and Indiana will meet again in Iowa City on Feb. 19, and some things might be different by then.
''I don't know if radical changes are going to do anything,'' guard Stephen McCarty said. ''We've got to be tougher, more physical, a little more work away from the ball.''
On the rare occasion in which Indiana missed a shot against the Hawkeyes, the Hoosiers often got the rebound. Indiana scored 23 second-chance points on 20 offensive boards.
''It's always one of our keys, to get on the offensive glass, get second-chance points, hustle plays, offensive rebounds or defensive deflections,'' Zeller said. ''We just had to win the hustle game.''
Indiana's Derek Elston hit three straight shots, including two 3-pointers, in a run that gave the Hoosiers a 26-18 lead with 11:37 left in the first half. Iowa cut the lead to one point on a basket by Aaron White, but the Hoosiers quickly regrouped. Tom Pritchard scored baskets 16 seconds apart in a run that gave Indiana a 44-36 lead.
The Hoosiers led 54-37 at halftime, their second-highest point total in a half this season. Indiana shot 54 percent and grabbed 11 offensive rebounds. Iowa shot 50 percent but committed 10 turnovers in the first half and was outrebounded 24-11.
A powerful one-handed dunk by Zeller gave the Hoosiers a 65-48 lead.
Iowa rallied and cut the deficit to 67-55 on a dunk by Nelsahn Basabe. Zeller took a break with Indiana leading 72-57. A two-handed putback dunk by Pritchard helped the Hoosiers maintain their lead, and Indiana led 81-64 when Zeller returned. His breakaway dunk increased the lead to 85-64.
The Hoosiers scored their 100th point on a free throw by Oladipo with 2:30 remaining.
Iowa shot 79 percent in the second half and outscored Indiana 52-49.
''It was embarrassing,'' Iowa guard Bryce Cartwright said. ''To shoot 80 percent and lose like that - it's disheartening.''
Crean wasn't concerned about the defense, at least in the minutes following the game.
''I'll worry about that later,'' he said. ''I'm glad we got the win.''
