Here We Go Again

Usually when I sit down to do an article following a game it is to recap that game. And while this one will include a lot about yesterday’s disappointing loss on Senior Day to the Wisconsin Badgers, it will also cover some of the idiocy of what I read on Twitter, and what I heard this morning at the local restaurant where I enjoy my morning coffee every day.

Listen, I don’t know everything, nor do I claim to. And there very well may be someone out there that can prove my opinion to be wrong on this matter, but yesterday’s loss wasn’t on Indiana University head coach, Archie Miller. Yes I know that ultimately everything falls on the head coach, but I didn’t see Archie Miller miss one single shot during the Hoosiers two scoring droughts, or one single block out during the final 5 or 6 minutes when Wisconsin made their final push to take the lead and then ultimately win the game.

I’m a novice when it comes to covering IU games compared to most of the other media members, and although I feel as though I know the game pretty well, I’m also completely aware that there are a lot of people that know a whole more than I do. But even the “experts” will have a hard time making me believe that there was a coaching flaw yesterday that cost IU this game.

Indiana’s two seniors, De’Ron Davis and Devonte Green, both got the start for their final regular season game in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and right from the opening tip they were energized and productive in helping IU to an early lead. As we all know, Devonte Green can get hot in a hurry and carry a team for stretches and that’s just what he did against the Badgers. Of course we also know he can go cold just as fast, and once again, that’s just what he did on Saturday. Green finished the first half with 16 points on 6-10 shooting from the field, including 3-5 from 3pt. range in 16 minutes of action. In the second half he was held scoreless on 0-7 shooting from the field, including 0-3 from 3pt. range in 11 minutes of action. As a team IU shot 10-26 (38.5%) from the field, 5-9 (55.6%) from 3pt. range, and 3-4 (75.0%) from the free throw line in the first half and led by 3 points (28-25) at the break.

Indiana had five players score in the first half: Green 16pts. - Davis 4pts. - Smith 3pts. - Hunter 3pts. - Thompson 2pts. They also had five players score in the second half: Durham 9pts. - Jackson-Davis 6pts. - Thompson 5pts. - Smith 4pts. - Phinisee 4pts. As a team they shot 10-32 (31.3%) from the field, 1-6 (16.7%) from 3pt. range, and 7-11 (63.7%) from the free throw line in the second half. Which put their game totals at 20-58 (34.5%) from the field, 6-15 (40.0%) from 3pt. range, and 10-15 (66.7%) from the free throw line. The Hoosiers won the rebounding battle (38-34) and they finished the game with only 7 turnovers. They battled and they played very solid defense the entire game against a very good Wisconsin team.

In the second half it was obvious that Indiana was making a concentrated effort to get the ball in the paint, whether by passing it or driving it, and they were able to do that repeatedly. They just simply could not get the ball to fall. Trayce Jackson-Davis was 2-8 (25%) from the floor. None of which were out of the lane, and all of which were shots that he normally makes. Race Thompson battled his ass off inside and yet finished 1-5 (20%), all in the paint as well.

Sure, there have been some things this season that have have caused some questions or concerns to creep into one’s mind on occasion, but when people start pointing at the one’s that got away, such as the Maryland game, the Illinois game, and this game yesterday, and start bashing the coach, the questions and concerns that creep into my head are about some of the people that call themselves fans. We have always prided ourselves as being a knowledgeable fanbase, and I think as a whole we are, but damn, some of the things that are said make you realize how out of touch some people are.

So, here we go again. If your offense is getting the shots it’s designed to get and they don’t fall, then there is not much a coach can do to correct that…well, other than recruit better shooters/scorers. Which is EXACTLY what Archie Miller has done, and continues to do. The game is a lot easier when the ball goes in the basket, period. The mere fact that Indiana was in this game with a chance to win it after the two long scoring droughts it endured should tell you everything you need to know about this team. They are defending, they are battling, they are giving themselves a chance to win, and they are not beating themselves with stupid turnovers. That’s growth.

I refuse to pass judgement on Archie Miller until we see a roster full of his recruits. I refuse to believe that there’s such a thing as being “in over your head” when it comes to coaching. You either know the game or not. The only way that can be brought into question is in regards to recruiting. Well in my opinion Miller has answered that question. Maybe I’m wrong and maybe Miller will fail at a school like Indiana and it’s storied past, but until that happens I am firmly in his corner.

He recently punched a clipboard and some people went nuts saying he was losing it. Him and assistant coach Bruiser Flint had a heated discussion on the bench that caused some questions of whether or not there was some friction within the coaching staff. He lit into Al Durham going into a timeout and some thought it was “awful” that he would yell at a player like that. And yesterday’s press conference answer about whether or not IU should be in the NCAA Tournament brought some more people out of the woodwork saying how “classless” he is. I guess I’m old school because I personally loved every one of the episodes. It shows passion. It shows intensity. It shows expectations. It shows a disdain for the “experts” that seem to be so sure about what defines a tournament caliber team and what doesn’t.

If I’m wrong about Archie Miller it will be proven soon enough. Although I have to say, the arc is trending towards my being right more so than it is towards my being wrong. I know Indiana fans are aching for a return to national prominence. They are dying to be relevant again. They expect to compete for the Big10 Title, and they expect to play in the NCAA tourney every year. I for one believe that’s where we are heading in the near future.

The university itself put the program in the shape it’s in and has chosen the wrong coach to lead us out of it with each coaching change. But aside from the one that put us on probation, the other two (I don’t include Dakich) were given ample time (one of them 9yrs.) to do it and couldn’t get us where we want and expect to be. Coach Miller is building a program to sustain success, not have it every other year. Be patient and give him time to do his job, his way. The journey can be rough at times, but the destination will be more rewarding because of it.

Indiana plays Wednesday night against Nebraska in Indianapolis in the Big 10 Tournament. It’s not only a game IU should win, it very well may be a game IU needs to win. So if you are there join me in cheering them on to a victory that will almost assure them of “dancing” the following week. At the very least, understand that the coach can’t shoot, he can’t defend, he can’t rebound, and he can’t turn the ball over.

Go Hoosiers! #IUismyteam #Archieismycoach