Playing Free Is Key For IU To Continue Making Progress
11/18/2017 2:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio, IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana - Archie Miller has a vision of defense that could one day lead Indiana to basketball championships.
For now, with a 1-2 record, it remains a work in progress, with the next opportunity for growth coming Sunday against South Florida (2-1).
What will that defense at peak efficiency look like?
Miller, three games into his run as head coach, has some thoughts.
"Great effort on the ball," he says. "That's Step 1.
"Watch every three-point shot. What's the big thing? We don't work on the ball. We don't approach the ball well. That's where it starts.
"We have to be a team that has an identity of playing hard on the ball.
"We're a team that's way too spread out. In our system we want to protect the paint. We're getting gashed in terms of the ball getting into the paint. When you get gashed, you give up threes and offensive rebounds.
"The staple of being able to guard the ball and protect the paint is not getting done."
It's the consequences of adapting to a new system that no one expected to come easy.
"It will take time," Miller said. "You have one guy breaking down with four seconds left on the shot clock. He goes for the shot fake or goes for steal when he's not supposed to. You're out of position or you foul a three-point shooter with three seconds left on the shot clock. Things like that are hurting us. We have to get better."
The good news – they will.
It might come faster for freshmen Justin Smith, Al Durham and Clifton Moore than veterans such as Robert Johnson, Josh Newkirk and Juwan Morgan.
"The freshmen don't have to change and reprogram themselves," Miller said. "These other guys have to reprogram what they've been taught in some cases for three years, others a year or two.
"Everything is new. They are trying to re-train. That's not easy because you're thinking. Any time a player thinks on the court and not playing with instinct, it takes aggressiveness away. Then you get a lack of making shots. Unorthodox turnovers. Possessions don't look good. To me that means a lack of experience and chemistry and a belief in what you do.
"They freshmen are playing free. If we can get three, four or five guys playing that way, we'll be better."
Beyond that, Miller said, IU needs "Communication, execution of your system, understanding of offense and how we have to play, and take care of the ball. Those are little things, but hard to get. You've got to get a team in sync. That's what we're fighting for."
Smith sees it coming. Against South Florida, he says, it needs to start with a good start.
"That's something Coach Miller preaches. We have to come out strong, hit them first, not get hit. That's what we look to do. We have to build off of the last game and keep looking forward."
The "last game" was Seton Hall. IU played a strong first half before slipping in the second.
"We were focused on defense in the first half," Smith said, "and then in the second half we let that slip away.
"We' get back to what we do best. We'll try and fix it. We'll work on it."
As far as Miller's defensive approach, the key, Smith said, "Is don't let them drive. It's not something you want to happen. Force them to the middle. That's where all the help is. Just play hard. That's his main mantra – play hard, hustle, be physical and play team defense."
South Florida has four double-figure scorers -- Tulio Da Silva (14.0), Terrance Samuels (12.3), Stephan Jiggetts (12.0) and Payton Banks (10.).
"Their athleticism and size inside will cause problems," Miller said. "We have to be very dialed in on the three-point shooters trying to get that under wraps.
"I expect a very hard-fought game. A very physical game."
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana - Archie Miller has a vision of defense that could one day lead Indiana to basketball championships.
For now, with a 1-2 record, it remains a work in progress, with the next opportunity for growth coming Sunday against South Florida (2-1).
What will that defense at peak efficiency look like?
Miller, three games into his run as head coach, has some thoughts.
"Great effort on the ball," he says. "That's Step 1.
"Watch every three-point shot. What's the big thing? We don't work on the ball. We don't approach the ball well. That's where it starts.
"We have to be a team that has an identity of playing hard on the ball.
"We're a team that's way too spread out. In our system we want to protect the paint. We're getting gashed in terms of the ball getting into the paint. When you get gashed, you give up threes and offensive rebounds.
"The staple of being able to guard the ball and protect the paint is not getting done."
It's the consequences of adapting to a new system that no one expected to come easy.
"It will take time," Miller said. "You have one guy breaking down with four seconds left on the shot clock. He goes for the shot fake or goes for steal when he's not supposed to. You're out of position or you foul a three-point shooter with three seconds left on the shot clock. Things like that are hurting us. We have to get better."
The good news – they will.
It might come faster for freshmen Justin Smith, Al Durham and Clifton Moore than veterans such as Robert Johnson, Josh Newkirk and Juwan Morgan.
"The freshmen don't have to change and reprogram themselves," Miller said. "These other guys have to reprogram what they've been taught in some cases for three years, others a year or two.
"Everything is new. They are trying to re-train. That's not easy because you're thinking. Any time a player thinks on the court and not playing with instinct, it takes aggressiveness away. Then you get a lack of making shots. Unorthodox turnovers. Possessions don't look good. To me that means a lack of experience and chemistry and a belief in what you do.
"They freshmen are playing free. If we can get three, four or five guys playing that way, we'll be better."
Beyond that, Miller said, IU needs "Communication, execution of your system, understanding of offense and how we have to play, and take care of the ball. Those are little things, but hard to get. You've got to get a team in sync. That's what we're fighting for."
Smith sees it coming. Against South Florida, he says, it needs to start with a good start.
"That's something Coach Miller preaches. We have to come out strong, hit them first, not get hit. That's what we look to do. We have to build off of the last game and keep looking forward."
The "last game" was Seton Hall. IU played a strong first half before slipping in the second.
"We were focused on defense in the first half," Smith said, "and then in the second half we let that slip away.
"We' get back to what we do best. We'll try and fix it. We'll work on it."
As far as Miller's defensive approach, the key, Smith said, "Is don't let them drive. It's not something you want to happen. Force them to the middle. That's where all the help is. Just play hard. That's his main mantra – play hard, hustle, be physical and play team defense."
South Florida has four double-figure scorers -- Tulio Da Silva (14.0), Terrance Samuels (12.3), Stephan Jiggetts (12.0) and Payton Banks (10.).
"Their athleticism and size inside will cause problems," Miller said. "We have to be very dialed in on the three-point shooters trying to get that under wraps.
"I expect a very hard-fought game. A very physical game."
Players Mentioned
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Forward
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Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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