Underdog Wiseman Shines for Hoosiers in Big Ten Tournament Upset

INDIANAPOLIS — Faith Wiseman, a forward for the No. 9 Hoosiers, stepped into the spotlight during Indiana’s unexpected victory against Oregon in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday afternoon. With several frontcourt players in foul trouble, Wiseman was called upon to play, despite having seen limited action as a true freshman.

Wiseman’s journey to this moment began at Indian Creek High School, where she was a standout player. This season, she appeared in only 28 minutes across the regular season, typically in games already decided by large margins. However, with Yarden Garzon, Karoline Striplin, and Lilly Meister each facing foul difficulties early in the match, associate head coach Rhet Wierzba turned to Wiseman for help.

“At that point, I just took a deep breath and knew that my number was about to be called. Just tried to do the best I could,” Wiseman said after her performance. “I just tried to do the best I could.”

When Wiseman entered the game for the first time, she displayed visible nerves, missing an initial scoring opportunity under the basket. Her layup attempt went awry, and the pressure seemed palpable. “It was kind of surreal,” she reflected on her entry into the Big Ten Tournament.

Encouraged by her teammates during halftime, Wiseman found her footing, delivering a crucial charge against Oregon’s Ehis Etute late in the third quarter. “I think she was a little scared at first, but she boxed out, rebounded, had two charges,” said teammate Sydney Parrish. “She was a crucial part in our win today, especially because Oregon’s interior game is so tall. I was super proud of her.”

Her performance included a significant rebound after Garzon faced a double-team and attempted a shot. Wiseman grabbed the missed floater and passed it back to Garzon, who made a three-pointer, halting Oregon’s momentum.

“I think she ended up finally settling in a little bit and realizing that I can play in this game,” Indiana coach Teri Moren noted. “You have to trust that. You’ve got to trust that.”

Wiseman also made a mark on the defensive end against Oregon’s 6-foot-8 forward, Phillipina Kyei, who was one of the tallest players on the court. Wiseman’s strategy involved staying low and using her body effectively against Kyei. “She’s an amazing player,” Wiseman said, highlighting the match’s intensity.

Playing a season-high 10 minutes, Wiseman contributed to a significant Quad 1 victory for the Hoosiers, further solidifying their NCAA Tournament aspirations. “I think we all were surrounding her in the right moments, and I think she started to come down coming into the second half,” said Parrish. “She did an amazing job for us, and I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Initially, Wiseman accepted her freshman year would be a developmental season, following a plan laid out by the coaching staff. “To build my strength, just to build everything,” she said, focusing on preparation and improvement.

Wiseman’s dedication did not go unnoticed. Teammates described her commitment to practice and preparation as exemplary. “She’s taken the responsibility of, hey, maybe I won’t get in a lot of these games, but I’m still going to be prepared,” Parrish remarked.

Coach Moren praised Wiseman’s resilience in continuing to work hard despite limited playing time. “Sometimes when kids don’t get the time, it’s easy for them to choose not to come in that gym every day… and Faith has not been that kid,” she said.

Over the course of the season, Wiseman played just 11 total minutes in Big Ten games and was the last player on the team to score her first field goal. Her teammates rallied to help her break through in an earlier game against Rutgers, which ended in a victory.

“She’s a kid that’s building for her future here at Indiana,” Moren concluded, hinting at the bright prospects Wiseman holds for the coming seasons.