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Hoosier Heroes Everywhere in Win Over No. 18 Notre Dame

By Pete DiPrimio, IUHoosiers.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Hoosier heroes were everywhere you looked in Saturday's Crossroads Classic thriller against No. 18 Notre Dame.

There was swingman Zach McRoberts, a little used afterthought in the season's first few games, hitting the glass like no one expected. His nine rebounds were just three fewer than he'd totaled in his seven games.

Here was guard Robert Johnson, mired in what could have been a confidence-wrecking shooting slump, working his way back to clutch status. He had 20 points, which was 20 more than he'd had in his previous game at Louisville. He was 5-for-10 from three-point range, added six rebounds, four assists and one block in 43 defensive-minded minutes.

Finally, there was forward Juwan Morgan, the team's best player looking more and more like a Big Ten MVP candidate, totaling a career-high 34 points along with 11 rebounds in 40 minutes. He scored eight overtime points, including the two that put IU ahead for good in overtime.

For all of this, and more, in Saturday's 80-77 victory at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the Hoosiers (6-5) can give thanks.

Maybe, just maybe, they have grown their way into Big Ten factor status.

Consider IU has been steeled by tough-minded losses to Duke and Louisville. It continues to evolve into the relentless team coach Archie Miller seeks.

The Hoosiers aren't perfect (they had 16 turnovers against Notre Dame), but they are resilient. They overcame deficits of 14 points in the first half and 13 in the second.

"We've been in the pressure cooker for about four weeks," Miller said. "You're going against Duke. You're right there, and you're disappointed because you didn't get it done.

"We struggled on the road against Michigan. We battled back and had a good win against Iowa. At Louisville, guys competed and played hard. We just weren't sharp enough to finish it off. In this game, we were sharp enough to finish, and we did it at both ends."

Notre Dame (8-3) brings out the three-point shooting best in Johnson. Last year against the Irish, Johnson had 17 points (on 3-for-5 perimeter shooting).

On Saturday, he played with confidence and aggression born from a ton of extra shooting time last week at Cook Hall.

"Rob is a prideful kid," Miller said. "He's worked extremely hard in the off-season. He'd led great. He's playing tremendous defense. He's giving everything he has.

"Every player goes through it where you want the shots to go in so badly, they just won't. He was almost going three-a-days with finals and practice and shooting.

"He delivered. He made some big shots. He plays 43 minutes and he guards (Notre Dame standout) Matt Farrell."

Added Johnson: "I tried to go back to the drawing board and see where I was making mistakes. I wanted to stay aggressive. Get good shots and eventually you'll knock them down."

McRoberts didn't knock any in, and it didn't matter. He played 31 minutes – impressive considering he'd entered the game with 55 minutes for the season – and grabbed seven offensive rebounds, plus had three assists and a blocked shot.

"He's a winner," Miller said. "Tremendous effort. He's playing really hard. He's an important piece to what we're doing. You don't have to score a lot of points to be a terrific teammate and impact the game.

"Early in the season, he wasn't playing much, but he was the same guy. It's a credit to his work ethic. He's really stepped up for us."

No one has stepped up bigger for the Hoosiers this season than the 6-7 Morgan. In his last five games he's averaged 20.1 points and 8.8 rebounds.

"He has great toughness around the basket," Miller said. "He's playing through the other guys.

"He's playing exactly like he practices. He should have confidence with his approach."

Added Morgan: "I'm trying every day in practice to bring it as hard as I can. Showing everybody else this is how we have to play to win."

And the Hoosiers did win despite trailing by eight points with 2:01 left in regulation.

Morgan was the catalyst.

"I thought late in the game us being able to ride him was a great sign," Miller said.

For Notre Dame, it was a missed opportunity.

"This is extremely disappointing," coach Mike Brey said. "Give Indiana credit. They made plays. We didn't make some very smart plays down the stretch in overtime. It cost us. They got some offensive rebounds, they didn't crush us there, but they got a couple of big ones, and one (McRoberts') that really hurt us."

Forward Bonzie Colson was a force with 29 points and 11 rebounds. He rimmed out a halfcourt shot at the overtime buzzer that would have forced a second extra session.

Now the Hoosiers can focus on Monday night's home game against Fort Wayne, which upset the Hoosiers last season.

"Last year wasn't a good feeling," Johnson said. "You never really forget what that feels like. We'll definitely be prepared."

http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2017/12/16/mens-basketball-morgan-drops-34-in-comeback-overtime-win-vs-no-18-notre-dame.aspx