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Indiana’s Teri Moren: Big Ten loss ‘will help us in NCAA Tournament’

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(Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Teri Moren isn’t worried about her team’s postseason after their loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament. 

The Hoosiers, despite leading by 24 points, lost 79-75 in the tournament semifinals.

Moren said following the loss that she was “disappointed with the outcome,” but took some of the blame and said she’s “looking forward to what’s next.” She also called out Ohio State, praising them for “how terrific they were today.”

“I think this group, as Grace said, it’s going to sting for a couple days, but I think it will help us in the NCAA Tournament,” she said. “I think we’re looking forward to playing somebody else, a different team that we don’t get to see three times a year.

She also reiterated that she’s confident in her team as they enter the NCAA tournament, likely as a 1-seed.

“I don’t think the stakes changed just because of this tournament. I think we’re pretty secure in where we’re at and where we stand,” she said. “There’s a reason why this is the best conference in the country this particular year. Not every year, but this particular year. Again, with the schedule that we have, we beat up on each other every single night.

“But, no, this team’s never felt like — you know, they’ve always sort of embraced who they are and the pressure that comes with being the hunted, right? Being the Number 1 seed. We’ve had to play like that throughout the whole season. Everybody is going to give us their best. We’ve realized that, and we’ve stepped up to that challenge more so than we haven’t.”