Improvement Nets First Road Win
The Indiana Hoosiers arrived in Lincoln, Nebraska a little later than they normally would due to the weather, and just maybe they should consider making that the norm instead of the exception. Because they brought along with them their shooting touch. Which as we are all well aware of has been an issue this season.
IU was seeking their first road win of the season and due to their 50.8% (31-61) from the field they were able to leave town with that elusive win and now find themselves 4-3 in the conference and locked in a 4-way tie for 4th place. The win wasn’t as hard as their earlier overtime battle with Nebraska in Bloomington, but it wasn’t a cake walk either. The Hoosiers had one of their all to familiar scoring droughts in the 2nd half, but thankfully it had followed a very solid first half, as well as an impressive run to start the second half which saw them build a 19 point lead. They saw that lead dwindle during the dry spell, which led to some very tense moments for them, the coaches, and the fans. But they were able to hold on and get out of town with the “W.”
The IU starting frontline was impressive to say the least. Freshman Trayce Jackson-Davis led the way with 18pts. & 13 rebs. Junior Joey Brunk added 16pts. & 5 rebs. Junior Justin Smith had 15pts. & 7 rebs. Factor in Senior De’Ron Davis and Freshman Jerome Hunter’s 4pts. & 3rebs. and 6pts. respectively, and the Hoosier front court accounted for 59 of IU’s 82 points, as well as 28 of their 48 rebounds.
Aside from the 16 turnovers, the Hoosier backcourt played pretty solidly as well. Sophomore point guard, Rob Phinisee didn’t fill up the stat sheet with only 5pts. & 4ast. but when he is on the court the Hoosiers play their best basketball. It’s obvious that the injury he’s dealing with effects his play and his minutes on the court, but he toughs it out and definitely makes IU better.
Freshman Armaan Franklin was solid with 8pts. 6rebs. & 4asts. Senior Devonte Green added 3pts. 4rebs. & 4asts. and Junior guard Aljami Durham had 7pts. Durham’s play of late is somewhat of head scratcher for me personally. His biggest strength in my opinion is defending, and he has been solid in that regard. But offensively is where I can’t figure him out. His biggest strength should be hitting mid range jump shots, yet he is content to shoot from deep, or drive all the way to the hole and get himself off balance expecting the contact that never comes.
The Hoosiers were 12-20 (60%) from the line, which is still not good enough on most nights in my opinion, but last night it was. The problem last night was not only getting just 20 attempts, but also the fact that 10 players saw action, yet only 4 of them went to the line. In my opinion, that’s partly due to the Hoosiers having one of their settling for 3 pointer stretches that they have a tendency to get in.
We all know that shooting is not this teams strength. But with that being said, their percentage from the field, including from deep, goes up when they play inside out, move the ball, and make the extra pass. I haven’t looked at the numbers, but Devonte Green’s lone three pointer made last night was a catch-and-shoot jumper after several passes. He looked in rhythm and the shot was pure from the time it left his hand. Unlike when he dribbles for 20 seconds in a three foot circle and then shoots a contested step-back three.
During IU’s impressive stretch of basketball last night when they built the 19pt. lead they were attacking the basket, playing inside out, and sharing the basketball. That is the recipe for success for this team. Pushing the pace seems to loosen them up offensively. And that ALL starts with their defense. I’ve been saying it all year, when this team sets their mind to playing defense they can be very hard to score against. And their offensive production increases along with it.
Following the Rutgers game I thought long and hard about this team and it’s components. What would it take for them to stay in the hunt in the absolutely loaded Big10. I came to the same conclusion that so many of you have. They have to compete every possession, and they have to value every possession. They are getting consistent with the first part, but the second part is a work in progress.
Coach Archie Miller seems to have made an adjustment or two, besides ditching the tie. He seems to have a shorter leash when mistakes are made, and he seems to be sticking with line-ups that are producing, for longer stretches. This is not a bash Devonte Green paragraph either, because Green will help this team win again. But Green played 14 minutes last night and took 6 shots, going 1-6. He spent the majority of the 2nd half on the bench. I didn’t view it as punishment, I viewed it as Miller recognizing that Green didn’t have “it” last night. There will be games, Florida State for example, where Green has “it” and there will be games he doesn’t. Miller recognizing that Green, or ANYONE ELSE, not having “it” could be a huge key going forward.
I’m not a coach, and obviously Archie Miller not only knows more than me. He also nows his team better than me. But from just being an outside observer, it appears to me that he sees the same thing that we all see and he making adjustments according to his personnel. Which is EXACTLY why I feel like this program is in good hands going forward. We are all dying for the consistent winning ways to return to Bloomington, unfortunately, it just takes time.
“The schedule doesn’t get any easier” is a phrase I see tossed around a lot. Well no kidding is my response to that. Joe Lunardi says that if the tournament started at this very moment there would be twelve Big10 teams playing…TWELVE! Which, believe it or not, is a good thing for this team. After the less than stellar non-conference competition they are starting to understand that you have to bring the effort and the intensity every single possession, every single night. They are simply not good enough to take plays off against anyone. But when they are locked in, the compete with anyone in the country. And up next is B10 leading Michigan State in Bloomington on Thursday night. It should be a crazy atmosphere. And if the Hoosiers are locked in it should be a great game. It’s also a perfect opportunity to knock off a ranked team and add to their resume for March. I personally can’t wait.
They need all of you to make Assembly Hall do what it does to even the best of teams. Make it an environment that makes great teams good and good teams average. Make it the hardest place in the country to come and get a win. I personally can’t wait, and I hope to see you all there.
GO HOOSIERS!