The Obvious

Once again it’s February and the Indiana University (IU) men’s basketball team is struggling. For as good as IU has looked at times, they’ve also looked very mediocre at times. Every single game it is pretty obvious, to me anyway, as to what the biggest issues are. Lack of consistent shooting, as well as basically only having one player who can break down a defense and get their own shot.

When IU has looked their best this year they have moved on offense, they have shared the ball, they have made the extra pass, they have pushed the tempo, and they have shot the ball well. Unfortunately, those moments have rarely been for an entire game. And they haven’t happened at all for awhile.

Their defense has been pretty impressive at times, and at least solid the rest of the time, but when they struggle to score it slowly transfers to the defensive end of the floor as well. At times it’s been mentioned that defense would be their identity until the offense catches up. Well I’m afraid it’s becoming more and more obvious that when you don’t have players that can create their own shots and/or players that consistently knock down an open perimeter shot, which describes to a “T” where IU is right now. Your defense may keep you within striking range, but its not going to win you a high percentage of games if you can’t do those two things. These are not the only issues, but if at the end of the day we are truly being honest with ourselves they are pretty important parts of winning basketball games. Like me most of the “old-timers” remember a time when every IU team had a shooter…and I mean a guy that let it go and you were shocked if he missed. Some even had multiple knock down shooters. That’s what Indiana Basketball was known for. So to witness what we have for the past few years is tough.

IU would like to play through All-American candidate, Trayce Jackson-Davis (TJD), and rightfully so. But when the wing enters the ball to the post and never moves from the spot he entered it from, it allows his man to be able to dig down and yet still be able to recover were the ball to be kicked out. TJD is doubled the majority of the time, and when the wing doesn’t move after the entry pass he is basically triple teamed. Add in the fact that Race Thompson or Jordan Geronimo are the only players that seem to cut or flash to a spot at times, it leaves TJD with not many options. He can make a move directly into the double team, kick it back out to the wing for a contested shot, or try the crosscourt pass that is 50/50 at best of being successful.

Were the wing that entered the ball to the post simply move a step or two to his left it would create enough spacing that the wings defender would have to make a decision of whether to make things difficult for TJD, or possibly give up an uncontested 3-pointer. To often TJD chooses the first option and forces up a tough shot. To his credit he is just trying to make a play. And also to his credit when everyone is standing still watching and waiting for him to do something everyone on the floor is guard-able even with him being double team. That is not to say that he is without fault because he is, but when your options are limited and you are trying to be aggressive it makes it an easier decision to do. He also simply HAS to start looking at the basket when he gets the ball 10 to 15 feet from the basket. Make one of three and he forces the defensive to play him honestly and opens things up for the high/low game with Race, as well as an opportunity for him to use his quickness.

Xavier Johnson and Rob Phinisee are pretty much the only Hoosiers that can break the defense down and get their own shot. And far too many times that results in them having to take a contested shot in the lane, or right at that rim. Why? Because of a lack of movement by the wings If the wings would move with him as he gets past his defender it would create kick-out opportunities. But the wings become stationary and watch, and the post players move toward the basket and clog things up, which creates short passing opportunities to them in traffic.

I love Indiana Basketball and have for many many years. Which is exactly why I continue to support them through their struggles, no matter how frustrating that can be. They want to win…Period! I also support Coach Mike Woodson wholeheartedly, and I assure you that he wants to win! But the bottom line is the roster has deficiencies. Shooting and athletic ability are at the forefront of those deficiencies. But the early recruiting efforts of this staff are addressing those needs, and I expect it to only get better going forward. They have enough talent to be a lot better than they’ve shown of late, and few simple adjustments here & there, plus a big win may just put them back on the right track as we head down the stretch here. Here’s to IU getting that much needed “big win” on Tuesday night in a Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall that should be full and as loud as Hell!

GO HOOSIERS!!!

p.s. MAKE A FREE THROW!