Indiana University Athletics
Toughness Will Be Key At Rutgers
12/29/2015 3:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Sam Beishuizen, IUHoosiers.com | Twitter
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Tom Crean doesn't necessarily know what his player rotation will be when Big Ten play begins Wednesday on the road against Rutgers.
But he knows what will determine it.
"You have to be tough," Crean said on his weekly radio show with Don Fischer. "You have to be tough in any sport and any faction of life, mentally and physically. You have to have the toughness on a consistent basis and you get that consistency from your awareness. That's going to be crucial."
Mistakes are bound to happen over the course of Indiana's 18-game Big Ten schedule, which begins with back-to-back road games with Nebraska following the season-opener against Rutgers at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Crean said he understands that and won't send guys to the bench for making a few mistakes in the game, as long as they're playing with energy and passion to overcome those mistakes.
That could make for some flexible lineups throughout the conference schedule, depending on the opponent and which Hoosiers have the hot hand. Crean said at the beginning of the season that he wants to have a two-deep lineup, a sentiment he's held true to as he works to build depth up and down his bench.
"We are trying to train a group where anyone can be in at any point of the game," Crean said. "When you have numerous guys that you can play at the end of a game—to seal a win or come back and get a win—that is when we will know we have depth. Playing guys in the middle of the game and stretches of the game is one thing, and we can do that. But when we can play guys at the end of the game, either way, then we will have depth and we will have made progress.
"And we are working towards that."
Indiana's depth—or at least the depth Crean wants to get to—helps bring fatigue to the game, as evident in Indiana's Crossroads Classic win against Notre Dame. Crean talked about the importance of putting pressure on the rim, running and keeping the tempo up without a true rotation and said that shouldn't be a one-time thing.
IU's depth could prove even more important in Wednesday's game against Rutgers, simply due to the Scarlet Knights' lack of depth.
Head coach Eddie Jordan's team has only eight scholarship players available to begin conference play and is relying on a handful of untested players to burden the bulk of the load.
"To me, we have to make sure we understand their talent can get us if we aren't aware of that talent," Crean said. "You can't let a guy have an open look or an open drive, and at the same time, you have to be in a position that you are not just watching the ball. If you are, then guys will slide by you or fly by you or push you out of the way and get an offensive board."
That ties back into what Crean said will keep players on the floor—toughness.
Then once the players show that toughness, Crean said it's a matter of maintaining awareness and making the plays they're expected to make.
"Awareness keeps me awake," Crean said. "My question is, 'Are we going to have good awareness, off the ball especially, to not get beat on cuts and to be in position?'"
Crean, and everyone watching, will find out soon enough.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Tom Crean doesn't necessarily know what his player rotation will be when Big Ten play begins Wednesday on the road against Rutgers.
But he knows what will determine it.
"You have to be tough," Crean said on his weekly radio show with Don Fischer. "You have to be tough in any sport and any faction of life, mentally and physically. You have to have the toughness on a consistent basis and you get that consistency from your awareness. That's going to be crucial."
Mistakes are bound to happen over the course of Indiana's 18-game Big Ten schedule, which begins with back-to-back road games with Nebraska following the season-opener against Rutgers at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Crean said he understands that and won't send guys to the bench for making a few mistakes in the game, as long as they're playing with energy and passion to overcome those mistakes.
That could make for some flexible lineups throughout the conference schedule, depending on the opponent and which Hoosiers have the hot hand. Crean said at the beginning of the season that he wants to have a two-deep lineup, a sentiment he's held true to as he works to build depth up and down his bench.
"We are trying to train a group where anyone can be in at any point of the game," Crean said. "When you have numerous guys that you can play at the end of a game—to seal a win or come back and get a win—that is when we will know we have depth. Playing guys in the middle of the game and stretches of the game is one thing, and we can do that. But when we can play guys at the end of the game, either way, then we will have depth and we will have made progress.
"And we are working towards that."
Indiana's depth—or at least the depth Crean wants to get to—helps bring fatigue to the game, as evident in Indiana's Crossroads Classic win against Notre Dame. Crean talked about the importance of putting pressure on the rim, running and keeping the tempo up without a true rotation and said that shouldn't be a one-time thing.
IU's depth could prove even more important in Wednesday's game against Rutgers, simply due to the Scarlet Knights' lack of depth.
Head coach Eddie Jordan's team has only eight scholarship players available to begin conference play and is relying on a handful of untested players to burden the bulk of the load.
"To me, we have to make sure we understand their talent can get us if we aren't aware of that talent," Crean said. "You can't let a guy have an open look or an open drive, and at the same time, you have to be in a position that you are not just watching the ball. If you are, then guys will slide by you or fly by you or push you out of the way and get an offensive board."
That ties back into what Crean said will keep players on the floor—toughness.
Then once the players show that toughness, Crean said it's a matter of maintaining awareness and making the plays they're expected to make.
"Awareness keeps me awake," Crean said. "My question is, 'Are we going to have good awareness, off the ball especially, to not get beat on cuts and to be in position?'"
Crean, and everyone watching, will find out soon enough.
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