IU coach Wilson: 'You've got to keep matching baskets' with Buckeyes

Published Oct. 1, 2015 4:28 p.m. ET

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Indiana will play host to Ohio State on Saturday with an offense that has been as good as people have come to expect it to be under head coach Kevin Wilson. But he said this week the Hoosiers' attack could still be better.

"We had a chance to finish some games or get some games more in the balance that we've just floundered around a little bit," Wilson said. "There's a physicalness in the run game. We probably aren't as good (at) chunk plays as we need to get. We haven't had a lot of long runs and passes, quite honestly. So we're using that tight end group and that O-line group and those backs OK, but when you get into Big Ten play, you're going to get matched up against defenses that overpower people."

The Hoosiers finished their nonconference schedule in the top 30 nationally in total offense, scoring offense, passing offense, rushing offense and pass efficiency.

They are No. 1 in the Big Ten in scoring (38.2 points per game) and total offense (522.2 yards per game), but Wilson said the unit is still not in sync.

"We still keep sputtering," Wilson said. "We could be so much better. It's disappointing yet encouraging because there's a lot of good things going on. We just got to keep working. I think it's offensive football. It's just hard to stay in rhythm all the time and just keep your run game in balance and play action and making big plays and third down conversions."

Naturally, there could be a certain sense of urgency with the No. 1-ranked team in the country coming to town. Though the Buckeyes have also had some offensive issues this season, they are coming off of their best performance since their season opener.

"I think our defense is doing better, but it's got a long way to go," Wilson said. "There's just certain games you're going to be in, no matter who you are -- I'm looking at TCU and some of these teams that play great defense. Sometimes college ball is getting where you can't break serve.

"It's like a basketball game. You've got to keep matching baskets and get a stop once in a while. I don't know if a lot of games are going to be 17-9 anymore. So it comes down to just points. I just think we keep leaving points."