Juwan Morgan Sticks To Script And Thrives
12/5/2017 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio, IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana – Juwan Morgan thrived as the game required, attacked as his coach demanded, battled as the situation required.
Iowa paid the price.
Indiana reaped the benefit.
Morgan's 15 points and 10 rebounds during Monday night's 77-64 victory reflected a burst of dominance that has reached three games and counting. In that span, the 6-8 junior forward has averaged 17.7 points and 8.0 rebounds.
More than that, he has led by deed, if not word.
"It's just getting teammates open," he said. "And if they get open looks -- although I know they think it's going in, I always think it's a miss -- and just getting on the glass. That creates the opportunities for me."
Teammate Collin Hartman hopes those opportunities keep coming.
"He's playing with a lot more confidence, and he's relentless on the boards," Hartman said. "When you do that, it's hard to deny.
"He's obviously a great athlete. When you add the hustle and the mentality to that athleticism, it's tough to stop."
More and more, Morgan is becoming the player coach Archie Miller hoped he'd become.
"He's very confident," Miller said, "but he's sticking to the script. He's not trying to do anything he doesn't do in practice.
"He hasn't shot the ball as well from the three-ball as he can. Hopefully as the season goes on, he's able to stretch us out.
"He has a chance as we head toward January to be one of the more consistent guys in our league."
As for leadership, Miller said Morgan is "a key figure in terms of our stability.
"We need him on the floor. He gives us a presence offensively and defensively. He understands exactly what we're asking him to do, and he's prepared to do it."
Then there is Hartman, who is slowly building playing time as his health improves from a groin injury, the latest in a series of injuries that have hindered his career.
He's played 20 minutes in each of his last two games. On Monday night he came off the bench for 13 points, five rebounds and two assists.
"Just trying to go day by day," he said. "That's how I'm taking it. Just doing rehab and prehab so nothing else happens.
"It's a never-ending grind, but it's part of the job, part of playing basketball. It's fun because I get more playing time."
Fun sometimes took odd bounces Monday night.
Sometimes, if you're center DeRon Davis, you need to bank in a free throw. So he did, and still only went 3-for-9 from the line.
And yet, he totaled 13 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes, which makes you wonder what he'll do when he finally gets his free throw shooting under control.
"It's just repetition and not thinking about it," Hartman said. "He's not a bad free throw shooter. He makes them in practice. He's thinking about it too much. He has to step up to the line and knock it down."
Beyond that, Miller said, "He's learning to have to do it every night.
"He did some good things in the second half, but he's a little inconsistent around the basket in terms of finishing. He has such a great touch, I'm not sure why he's (struggling).
"But he's a guy we're going to need. He's got to deliver for us not only at home, but on the road."
IU (5-4 overall) delivered a much-needed victory Monday night two days after a disappointing defeat at Michigan.
That gave the Hoosiers a 1-1 Big Ten record. That won't change until conference play resumes next month.
So you know, Miller likes the early conference games.
"I think that it's inevitably going to be the staple of our league," he said. "I think you'll see multiple weeks of Big Ten games in December. I think it's great.
"Playing a Big Ten game, you get tested. You've got to have that bounce-back mentality. It's tough to do, but I like it.
"It's going to be great for our league as we push forward with 20 (conference) games. We'll get used to it."
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana – Juwan Morgan thrived as the game required, attacked as his coach demanded, battled as the situation required.
Iowa paid the price.
Indiana reaped the benefit.
Morgan's 15 points and 10 rebounds during Monday night's 77-64 victory reflected a burst of dominance that has reached three games and counting. In that span, the 6-8 junior forward has averaged 17.7 points and 8.0 rebounds.
More than that, he has led by deed, if not word.
"It's just getting teammates open," he said. "And if they get open looks -- although I know they think it's going in, I always think it's a miss -- and just getting on the glass. That creates the opportunities for me."
Teammate Collin Hartman hopes those opportunities keep coming.
"He's playing with a lot more confidence, and he's relentless on the boards," Hartman said. "When you do that, it's hard to deny.
"He's obviously a great athlete. When you add the hustle and the mentality to that athleticism, it's tough to stop."
More and more, Morgan is becoming the player coach Archie Miller hoped he'd become.
"He's very confident," Miller said, "but he's sticking to the script. He's not trying to do anything he doesn't do in practice.
"He hasn't shot the ball as well from the three-ball as he can. Hopefully as the season goes on, he's able to stretch us out.
"He has a chance as we head toward January to be one of the more consistent guys in our league."
As for leadership, Miller said Morgan is "a key figure in terms of our stability.
"We need him on the floor. He gives us a presence offensively and defensively. He understands exactly what we're asking him to do, and he's prepared to do it."
Then there is Hartman, who is slowly building playing time as his health improves from a groin injury, the latest in a series of injuries that have hindered his career.
He's played 20 minutes in each of his last two games. On Monday night he came off the bench for 13 points, five rebounds and two assists.
"Just trying to go day by day," he said. "That's how I'm taking it. Just doing rehab and prehab so nothing else happens.
"It's a never-ending grind, but it's part of the job, part of playing basketball. It's fun because I get more playing time."
Fun sometimes took odd bounces Monday night.
Sometimes, if you're center DeRon Davis, you need to bank in a free throw. So he did, and still only went 3-for-9 from the line.
And yet, he totaled 13 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes, which makes you wonder what he'll do when he finally gets his free throw shooting under control.
"It's just repetition and not thinking about it," Hartman said. "He's not a bad free throw shooter. He makes them in practice. He's thinking about it too much. He has to step up to the line and knock it down."
Beyond that, Miller said, "He's learning to have to do it every night.
"He did some good things in the second half, but he's a little inconsistent around the basket in terms of finishing. He has such a great touch, I'm not sure why he's (struggling).
"But he's a guy we're going to need. He's got to deliver for us not only at home, but on the road."
IU (5-4 overall) delivered a much-needed victory Monday night two days after a disappointing defeat at Michigan.
That gave the Hoosiers a 1-1 Big Ten record. That won't change until conference play resumes next month.
So you know, Miller likes the early conference games.
"I think that it's inevitably going to be the staple of our league," he said. "I think you'll see multiple weeks of Big Ten games in December. I think it's great.
"Playing a Big Ten game, you get tested. You've got to have that bounce-back mentality. It's tough to do, but I like it.
"It's going to be great for our league as we push forward with 20 (conference) games. We'll get used to it."
Players Mentioned
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