Miller Time - Hoosiers Open Season Under New Coach
11/9/2017 4:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio, IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana - The blitz that is Indiana's opening basketball schedule has arrived.
Bring it on, the Hoosiers say, in so many words.
"I'm ready to go," sophomore forward DeRon Davis said. "I've been here for a long time. I'm ready to get after it.
"We have a lot of tough games coming up quickly. It will build us up for later in the season."
IU hosts Indiana State in Friday night's season opener, the first of six games in fourteen days that will showcase Archie Miller's new coaching era.
The Hoosiers face Howard on Sunday followed by a trip to Seton Hall, then home games against South Florida, Arkansas State and Eastern Michigan.
"This is very important to set a foundation," forward Juwan Morgan said. "It will determine how the season will go. If we come out talking and making sure everybody is in the right spot, and not let anybody slack off, that will be a testament to what we'll see later in the season."
IU has had more than a month to prepare for the season opener. Like most coaches, Miller wishes there was more time.
"Even when you have a veteran team coming back like we did a year ago at Dayton, you never feel most comfortable going into that first one," Miller said. "You're thinking, I wish we had a little more time; I wish we were better at this; we should have done more of this.
"That's what every coach is probably doing right now. They're hoping that their guys are prepared to play their best and do the things that they've practiced consistently every day."
Indiana State, 11-20 last season, is fully prepared for Assembly Hall intensity. It lost at Purdue in a charity exhibition. It also played at Illinois in a private scrimmage during which no score or statistics were kept.
"That has to resonate with our players," Miller said. "They're not coming in afraid of us. They're not coming in here ooing and awing. They're prepared to come in here and play, compete to win."
The Sycamores are led by All-Missouri Valley Conference junior guard Brenton Scott, who averaged 15.9 points and 5.0 rebounds last season. Sophomore guard Jordan Barnes averaged 6.5 points and had 41 three-pointers last year.
"Indiana State has two really, really challenging guards," Miller said. "I think each of them on a given night, regardless of who they play against, can get you in a lot of different ways. They're great shooters. They're great off the dribble in transition. They're very, very aggressive. They can really get going."
IU counters with a lighter and fitter Davis, plus veterans Robert Johnson, Collin Hartman, Josh Newkirk, Devonte Green, Curtis Jones, Morgan and Freddie McSwain Jr.
Beyond a victory, what else is Miller looking for?
"From a defensive standpoint is the ability to see a hard-playing team that's more connected, that's not giving up just straight-line dribbles to the rim," Miller said. "There's got to be a team approach defensively that I don't think we had last Sunday's exhibition. I think we were disorganized. We were a lot more stand around.
"I'm looking defensively for a tighter, more connected group that's willing to defend in late clock situations where you don't break down. The effort level, the toughness, being a group that understands they've got to do their jobs.
"Offensively, shot selection is a big thing going into this game. Having the ability to get a great look. Having the ability to work in the paint, inside-out, find a way to get to the foul line, where we're not just hoisting jump shots. That's something we've harped on. Don't shoot quick. In some cases, those are just like turnovers. We have to play the game the right way.
"Offensively, really start the game by running good offense, establishing that we can work inside-out. I think that's a big thing for us. Don't shoot quick. In some cases those are just like turnovers.
"I want our guys to be aggressive. I think we'll be ready to go.
That includes Morgan. He projects to be one of IU's best players, but didn't have the offensive numbers to back that up in last Sunday's exhibition win over Marian University. He took just one shot and finished with two points.
No big deal, Morgan said.
"I was still playing good defense and getting others open. It's demanding the ball when I have someone on my back or when I feel I have the advantage, which is all the time."
Indiana State has won in Assembly Hall before, upsetting the Hoosiers 63-60 in 1999 as part of the Indiana Classic.
"I think we're going to deal with a group that's very, very hungry to beat us," Miller said. "We're trying to get our players ready mentally to compete in what I think will be a 40-minute game. It's getting their heads right, how we're going to have to play to be successful. That's the whole thing.
"We've had a good week. It's been a physical week. We're kind of looking forward to backing it off here a little bit because once the games start, they're going to be coming fast and furious."
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana - The blitz that is Indiana's opening basketball schedule has arrived.
Bring it on, the Hoosiers say, in so many words.
"I'm ready to go," sophomore forward DeRon Davis said. "I've been here for a long time. I'm ready to get after it.
"We have a lot of tough games coming up quickly. It will build us up for later in the season."
IU hosts Indiana State in Friday night's season opener, the first of six games in fourteen days that will showcase Archie Miller's new coaching era.
The Hoosiers face Howard on Sunday followed by a trip to Seton Hall, then home games against South Florida, Arkansas State and Eastern Michigan.
"This is very important to set a foundation," forward Juwan Morgan said. "It will determine how the season will go. If we come out talking and making sure everybody is in the right spot, and not let anybody slack off, that will be a testament to what we'll see later in the season."
IU has had more than a month to prepare for the season opener. Like most coaches, Miller wishes there was more time.
"Even when you have a veteran team coming back like we did a year ago at Dayton, you never feel most comfortable going into that first one," Miller said. "You're thinking, I wish we had a little more time; I wish we were better at this; we should have done more of this.
"That's what every coach is probably doing right now. They're hoping that their guys are prepared to play their best and do the things that they've practiced consistently every day."
Indiana State, 11-20 last season, is fully prepared for Assembly Hall intensity. It lost at Purdue in a charity exhibition. It also played at Illinois in a private scrimmage during which no score or statistics were kept.
"That has to resonate with our players," Miller said. "They're not coming in afraid of us. They're not coming in here ooing and awing. They're prepared to come in here and play, compete to win."
The Sycamores are led by All-Missouri Valley Conference junior guard Brenton Scott, who averaged 15.9 points and 5.0 rebounds last season. Sophomore guard Jordan Barnes averaged 6.5 points and had 41 three-pointers last year.
"Indiana State has two really, really challenging guards," Miller said. "I think each of them on a given night, regardless of who they play against, can get you in a lot of different ways. They're great shooters. They're great off the dribble in transition. They're very, very aggressive. They can really get going."
IU counters with a lighter and fitter Davis, plus veterans Robert Johnson, Collin Hartman, Josh Newkirk, Devonte Green, Curtis Jones, Morgan and Freddie McSwain Jr.
Beyond a victory, what else is Miller looking for?
"From a defensive standpoint is the ability to see a hard-playing team that's more connected, that's not giving up just straight-line dribbles to the rim," Miller said. "There's got to be a team approach defensively that I don't think we had last Sunday's exhibition. I think we were disorganized. We were a lot more stand around.
"I'm looking defensively for a tighter, more connected group that's willing to defend in late clock situations where you don't break down. The effort level, the toughness, being a group that understands they've got to do their jobs.
"Offensively, shot selection is a big thing going into this game. Having the ability to get a great look. Having the ability to work in the paint, inside-out, find a way to get to the foul line, where we're not just hoisting jump shots. That's something we've harped on. Don't shoot quick. In some cases, those are just like turnovers. We have to play the game the right way.
"Offensively, really start the game by running good offense, establishing that we can work inside-out. I think that's a big thing for us. Don't shoot quick. In some cases those are just like turnovers.
"I want our guys to be aggressive. I think we'll be ready to go.
That includes Morgan. He projects to be one of IU's best players, but didn't have the offensive numbers to back that up in last Sunday's exhibition win over Marian University. He took just one shot and finished with two points.
No big deal, Morgan said.
"I was still playing good defense and getting others open. It's demanding the ball when I have someone on my back or when I feel I have the advantage, which is all the time."
Indiana State has won in Assembly Hall before, upsetting the Hoosiers 63-60 in 1999 as part of the Indiana Classic.
"I think we're going to deal with a group that's very, very hungry to beat us," Miller said. "We're trying to get our players ready mentally to compete in what I think will be a 40-minute game. It's getting their heads right, how we're going to have to play to be successful. That's the whole thing.
"We've had a good week. It's been a physical week. We're kind of looking forward to backing it off here a little bit because once the games start, they're going to be coming fast and furious."
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