The Indiana men’s basketball team is at a crucial point in its season. The Hoosiers are fighting for any sort of postseason berth, and head coach Tom Crean’s job could be on the line.
The team needed a win on Wednesday. What Indiana didn’t need? Players potentially injuring themselves by falling off the raised floor at Minnesota’s Williams Arena.
Well, that did happen Wednesday. While going in for a layup, Hoosier guard Josh Newkirk tripped over a baseline photographer and fell off the Gophers’ raised floor in the first half of Wednesday’s game.
Baseline photographer + elevated floor = ouch pic.twitter.com/gE8bhQG7jF
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) February 16, 2017
Yikes. As someone who spent their entire childhood rooting for the Gophers, I really can’t defend the raised floor. It’s one of these things where it’s kept around because it’s always been there. It also is kind of a psychological advantage. Teams tend to obsess over the raised floor.
This includes rival Wisconsin. Bo Ryan had the players run through a drill every time his teams came to the Barn.
So, yes, the raised floor is dumb and can cause injuries. But it is a homecourt advantage for Minnesota. And as a team in the mix for a tournament bid, the Gophers will take any advantage they can get.
To make matters worse, Indiana ended up losing 75-74 to Minnesota on a last-second tip-in.
[CJ Fogler on Twitter]
