Indiana basketball needed a win on Saturday.

Following their heartbreaking double overtime loss to Syracuse, the Hoosiers were looking to bounce back with a home conference game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Despite having nearly five days off beforehand, Indiana started off slow with 3/12 shooting and finding themselves down 16-6 at the ten minute mark.

“We came in slow and not really into the game” Woodson said. 

“We were flat, man, and it’s the first time I’ve seen that, and I tried to let them play their way out. You know, we missed some good shots. We had good looks early. But they built I think a 10-point lead at one time, and so I had to change it up, went to the bench and our bench was fantastic tonight coming in”

One of those bench players: Tamar Bates.

The freshman guard from IMG Academy checked in at the 11:26 mark and immediately provided 11-first half points on 4 of 6 shooting.

Bates has been a surprise this season off the bench for the Hoosiers as the true freshman has averaged 6.3 points on 46% shooting so far for the Hoosiers this season.

The St. Louis native picked Indiana over schools like Oklahoma, Illinois and other top tier programs. He was ranked top-60 in his class mainly for his shooting ability, a skill that according to him requires a specific mindset.

“It’s just staying confident” explained Tamar.

“The fact that my teammates have that believe in me that they going to keep swinging it to me because I’m knocking it down, that makes me just want to make the shot because they believe in me the same way I believe in myself.”

Coach Mike Woodson admitted that while he doesn’t love every shot Tamar takes, he is glad to have him here.

 “He’ll take a big shot, and sometimes it’s a bad shot” expressed Woodson. “I like everything about Tamar. That’s why he’s here wearing an Indiana uniform.”

Bates wasn’t the only one who got it going for Indiana off the bench on Saturday.

Backup guards Rob Phinisee and Anthony Lead combined for 8-points while Michael Durr and Jordan Geranimo each had two as the bench as a whole provided a 26 point boost.

“I think our bench can start on most of the Big Ten teams in the country” explained Senior forward Race Thompson. “We have starters coming off the bench. Knowing we have scoop coming off the bench, Anthony, Jordan, anybody coming off the bench that we can believe in them and trust them to make shots, make plays and be in the right spots. I think that’s just what makes a good team.

Indiana will begin preparing tomorrow for another Big Ten matchup next Wednesday against the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison.

Indiana has not won on the road in Wisconsin since January 1998.