MADISON, Wisc. — CJ Gunn drew the assignment of the hot hand in Wisconsin guard Max Klesmit with just under 13 minutes to play.
Until then, Klesmit had scored 18 points in the second half while only missing one shot since the break. It wouldn’t be easy by any means, but with Indiana’s starting backcourt in foul trouble, Mike Woodson needed Gunn to step up if the Hoosiers had any chance to come from behind on the road.
Gunn didn’t give Indiana that chance; he got ejected on the first defensive possession after walking onto the floor. Klesmit rubbed his face against Gunn’s shoulder, trying to get under the sophomore’s skin, and Gunn took the bait. The Indianapolis native checked him with his right elbow.
The flagrant foul was one of the Hoosiers three in their last four games. Two of which resulted in ejections.
Gunn’s ejection wasn’t why Indiana lost to the No. 11 Badgers 91-79, but rather a microcosm of the season IU is having — small mistakes that lead to a collapse.
The elbow displayed frustration, a mental lapse and a lack of composure. Indiana’s struggled to find a leader on and off the floor all season. Sixth-year and captain point guard Xavier Johnson got ejected for hitting below the belt at Rutgers, which is not a very “captain” thing to do.
“In the heat of the battle, anything is to happen,” Woodson said postgame. “I’m not happy about it. After looking at it (Gunn’s elbow) the kid put his head on his chest, and he threw a semi-elbow… I can’t control that. He was kicked out.”
Moments like these are destructive and a gut punch. Coming on the road to one of the best teams in the nation and winning will be a tall task for this year’s Indiana team, but ejections, flagrant fouls and silly mental errors make it impossible.
Indiana has a small margin of error but doesn’t play like it. The Hoosiers continuously shoot themselves in the foot with sloppy and careless mistakes. Gabe Cupps, who was being hounded by Wisconsin point guard Chucky Hepburn, was called for a backcourt violation after he lost his dribble as he crossed the timeline. Things like that shouldn’t be happening two and a half months into the season.
There’s also a clear shift in the body language and confidence on the floor when things go awry. Trey Galloway had a rough stretch where Klesmit, who finished with 26 points, hit back-to-back 3-pointers in his face, forcing a timeout. Between the two, Galloway…