Indiana University Athletics
1997 INDIANA BASKETBALL OUTLOOK
9/29/1997 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
1997 INDIANA BASKETBALL OUTLOOK
Indiana head coach Bob Knight welcomes back four starters to this year's team which went 22-11 a year ago and won the Preseason NIT title. Those four starters combined to average 44.7 points and l9.9 rebounds per game last season so a base of experience returns for what the Hoosier faithful hopes is another successful season.
Leading the list of returnees is senior Andrae Patterson. The 6'8" forward led the team in scoring (13.7) and rebounding (6.7) last season. He was a third-team all-conference selection and also led the team in blocked shots with 39 while missing three games due to injury. Patterson showed flashes of exceptional play in l996-97 including a 39-point performance against Duke in the Preseason NIT final. He needs to be more consistant to become one of the top players in the nation. This summer he was a finalist for two USA Basketball squads.
The second-leading scorer from a year ago is Big Ten Freshman of the Year A.J. Guyton. The now-sophomore averaged 13.6 points and led the team in assists with 129. He became only the second Indiana freshman (Isiah Thomas was the other) and the eighth player in school history to register over 400 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists in a season. He was also a second team all-conference performer.
Another sophomore-to-be, Jason Collier, mans the center position. Collier enjoyed a successful freshman campaign as he averaged 9.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He also blocked 34 shots. He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick and was named to numerous freshmen All-America teams along with Guyton.
The other returning starter is Charlie Miller. The senior averaged 8.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game overall but increased that to 9.2 points and 4.6 rebounds a contest in conference play. He returned to forward last season after spending the previous year at guard and looked more comfortable at that position.
Two other seniors - Robbie Eggers and Richard Mandeville - enter their last season as well. Mandeville played in 32 games last season and started seven of those games. He posted career-highs in almost every statistical category including points (113) and minutes (388). He progressed as the year went on as he averaged 6.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in the last nine Big Ten games.
Eggers played in 30 games and started two. He averaged a career best 2.0 rebounds per game while adding 1.2 points per game. He and Mandeville will be counted on this season to earn a spot in the rotation and provide quality minutes on the front line with the graduation departure of Haris Mujezinovic.
Larry Richardson, who averaged 1.9 points and 1.2 rebounds per game in 22 contests, also returns to add depth to the frontline. Junior college All-American William Gladness comes into the program as a player who is known for his rebounding and athleticism. The 6-8, 220-pounder averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds per game in his two years at Carl Albert State College in Oklahoma and should be able to step in and play. Kirk Haston, the Tennessee Class A Mr. Basketball of a year ago also enters the program and might be able to play in his first season.
Joining Guyton in the backcourt is sophomore Michael Lewis. Lewis played well during his freshman year averaging 5.7 points and finishing second on the team with 95 assists. Known for his shooting touch when he came to Indiana, Lewis did struggled from the floor at times but shot over 80 percent from the line for most of the season before slipping below that mark over the last two games of the year.
Luke Jimenez came to Indiana as a walk-on a year ago and contributed to the Hoosiers' successes. He played in 28 games and averaged 2.0 points per game. A good ball-handler, he had 24 assists in 279 minutes while committing just 12 turnovers.
Two newcomers will help round-out the backsourt and roster. Indiana's 1997 Mr. Basketball, Luke Recker, will finally arrive in Bloomington after committing to IU after his sophomore year. Recker is 6-6, 195 pounds and can play either guard or forward. As a senior he averaged 26.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He scored 2,008 points in his career and also holds his school's assist record with 477. He was named a McDonald's and Parade All American following his senior season.
Rob Turner is the other junior college transfer coming to IU this season. Turner averaged 20.4 points per game last year at Tyler Junior College in Texas. Known for his shooting touch, he connected on 57% of his field goal attempts last year and made 45% of his 3-point attempts. At 6-4 and 205 pounds he possesses good size and will also be looked toward to play right away.
Learn more about each player here (Click on each name to find out more).
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