Morgan, Johnson Spur Hoosiers To Win Over USF

Sunday, November 19

Bloomington, Ind.

6:00 PM

Indiana University

2-2

South Florida

2-2

South Florida

Indiana

11/19/2017 8:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery Postgame Quotes Postgame Notes VIDEO: Highlights VIDEO: Miller Postgame VIDEO: Players Postgame

By: Pete DiPrimio, IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana Hoosiers are getting it.

They are.

The Archie Miller way that at times seemed full of Rubric's Cube complexity for in-transition Indiana is morphing into much-anticipated promise.

Take the second half of Sunday night's 70-53 victory over South Florida.

The Hoosiers (2-2) found offensive efficiency, rebounding ferocity and defensive tenacity. They turned a one-point halftime deficit into a blowout margin.

"I thought clearly for the longest period of time we showed toughness," Miller said. "We played hard.

"We're getting there. They're starting to understand this is the way it will be. Moving forward we've got to turn it up a level defensively. Keep the effort level going."

Guard Robert Johnson was the first-half difference maker; forward Juwan Morgan was the second-half catalyst and center De'Ron Davis provided inside steadiness, with plenty of help from the others.

"They're deeper than we are," South Florida coach Brian Gregory said. "Their two veterans, Morgan and Johnson, we outstanding. They're going to need that.

"That's what great programs have. This program is accustomed to winning. Those guys know what it takes."

Johnson, a senior guard, is building his leadership and productivity to fit Miller's style. He's averaged 15.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in his last three games, but it goes way beyond numbers.

"Rob's unbelievable," Miller said. "He's doing a great job.

"The more he gives of himself, the more he continues to talk and wants his teammates to do well, good things will happen for him.

"He's passing up some good shots right now, probably because he's trying to be unselfish. He's playing as hard and as well as he probably can."

Johnson showed that in spurts during his first three seasons, when he 10.0 points and 3.6 rebounds in his first three seasons.

Now it's time for more, and he knows it.

"At the end of the day, me and Collin (Hartman) are the most experienced guys on the team," he said. "That's something we're going to need from us -- points, rebounds, being vocal, bringing guys together. I have to make more strides going forward."

That's exactly what Miller wants to hear.

"When you're the guy we count on the most," he said, "you expect him to be aggressive. We need Rob to be that guy.

"He's figuring out that, I have to be a dominant personality. I have to talk. I have to be willing to make big plays and shoot. I have to be willing to defend the other team's best guard. He has to step up and be our guy. He has the right approach.

Added Morgan: "When things got stagnate, we saw Rob slice the defense and get easy layups, we were like, we can do this. Rob is killing it for us right now. We have to help him out. That's really ignited us. It was a domino effect.

Morgan finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Davis added 12 points and five rebounds.

Indiana continues to show offensive progress.

Take the second half. IU only committed three turnovers compared to its nine in the first half.

"We were trying to hit singles more than home runs," Morgan said. "In the first half we tried to hit the first pass instead of let the play develop."

Added Miller: "The second half we were able to control it a little more. We didn't take as many chances. We continue to try to nip the turnovers in the bud.

"At the end of the day, we've got to get comfortable with our roles and figure out what's a good opportunity to take a chance and when to slow it down."

South Florida's aggressive half-court defense forced six IU turnovers in six minutes, but it couldn't take advantage. It never led by more than three points.

After falling behind by four points early in the second half, the Hoosiers ratcheted up the defense, and everything else. That included the three-point defense, which has been a season-long problem. South Florida was just 1-for-8 beyond the arc in the second half.

"It was a collective effort," Johnson said. "It's something we've had trouble with in the early season. We wanted to run guys off the line, especially guys who were hot. We did that."

Miller picked up a first-half technical foul when he swung a towel into the scorer's table, knocking play cards and the towel onto the court.

"I didn't want a technical foul," he said. "I was clearly ticked off we didn't get a loose ball and rebound. I never want to give the other team two points. If I could have kept my play cards and my towel off the floor, it probably would have helped the cause."