Indiana University Athletics
IU Seeks to Set Basketball Exhibition Tone
10/27/2017 4:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio, IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana - For De'Ron Davis, Saturday night's exhibition debut against Marian University is about fun and domination.
Oh. One other thing.
"Set ourselves up for the season," the Hoosiers' sophomore center said.
Welcome to the latest indication of what basketball life will be like under new coach Archie Miller. It starts with the facts of big-time college basketball life.
"The big thing for these guys is there will only be five guys on the court," Miller said. "You've got some guys sitting on the bench for the first time. The realization that minutes start to get (divided) out. What you do in practice every day is what you've earned.
"Everyone who is available will get an opportunity. I'm looking forward to putting a group out there that will play well. Whoever is playing well is going to play, and we're going to try win the game."
Or, as Davis put it, "We always want to win. We're competitors. We're looking forward to having fun with our team, the new coaching staff. See where we're at after all our hard work and preparation."
The focus is less on Marian, a NAIA program out of Indianapolis picked to finish eighth in the 10-team Crossroads League under new coach Scott Heady (coming off an Indiana high school state championship run at Carmel), and more on the Hoosiers.
"I'm not as concerned about the scouting element in this first one," Miller said. "It's more about what we're trying to accomplish, execute our system on the fly against somebody else, make adjustments in the game and see who can execute.
"It will be good for them to be out there doing something they haven't seen."
IU returns three starters from last year's 18-16 team – guards Robert Johnson and Josh Newkirk, and forward Juwan Morgan. Previous starting swingman Collin Hartman is back after missing last season with a knee injury.
"A lot of times you go into the deal with sort of a scripted first-half rotation," Miller said. "Giving guys either big windows or opportunities to get small windows. And as the second half goes on, you want to get the feel for the game.
"It's a little bit unchartered water because we haven't coached these guys. We don't know what to expect."
IU hopes to ratchet up the defensive intensity.
"Our guys understand how important it is," Miller said. "They're getting accustomed to how we practice. It's a much different style of practice, the physicality of what we're doing. They're starting to absorb that. I like their buy-in. It's an everyday process."
Miller wants to see what kind of early impact freshmen Clifton Moore and Justin Smith will make.
"When it counts with a winner or loser, see who won't shy away from the moment. Who's doing what you're asking them to do. They have to get broken in, go out and play and make mistakes. Find ways to get better."
As for individual goals for Saturday night, senior forward Freddie McSwain was clear – there aren't any.
"We'll see where we're at as a team and what we need to do to be a better team," he said.
Only two Hoosiers players are ruled out for Saturday night – Hartman and freshman guard Al Durham. Hartman is recovering from a sprained ankle. Durham is dealing with a pulled hamstring.
Newkirk, who sat out last Saturday's Hoosier Hysteria, is expected to play Saturday night.
"It's a more serious tone than it was a week ago (with Hoosier Hysteria)," Miller said. "We're starting to see light at end of tunnel. It's coming in a big way. This is the first time this group has to figure out a rotation and see how it goes.
"We've had good work this week. Yesterday was one of our best practices. You could see guys are starting to pick up on things. They have good attitudes. We'll see where we're at."
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana - For De'Ron Davis, Saturday night's exhibition debut against Marian University is about fun and domination.
Oh. One other thing.
"Set ourselves up for the season," the Hoosiers' sophomore center said.
Welcome to the latest indication of what basketball life will be like under new coach Archie Miller. It starts with the facts of big-time college basketball life.
"The big thing for these guys is there will only be five guys on the court," Miller said. "You've got some guys sitting on the bench for the first time. The realization that minutes start to get (divided) out. What you do in practice every day is what you've earned.
"Everyone who is available will get an opportunity. I'm looking forward to putting a group out there that will play well. Whoever is playing well is going to play, and we're going to try win the game."
Or, as Davis put it, "We always want to win. We're competitors. We're looking forward to having fun with our team, the new coaching staff. See where we're at after all our hard work and preparation."
The focus is less on Marian, a NAIA program out of Indianapolis picked to finish eighth in the 10-team Crossroads League under new coach Scott Heady (coming off an Indiana high school state championship run at Carmel), and more on the Hoosiers.
"I'm not as concerned about the scouting element in this first one," Miller said. "It's more about what we're trying to accomplish, execute our system on the fly against somebody else, make adjustments in the game and see who can execute.
"It will be good for them to be out there doing something they haven't seen."
IU returns three starters from last year's 18-16 team – guards Robert Johnson and Josh Newkirk, and forward Juwan Morgan. Previous starting swingman Collin Hartman is back after missing last season with a knee injury.
"A lot of times you go into the deal with sort of a scripted first-half rotation," Miller said. "Giving guys either big windows or opportunities to get small windows. And as the second half goes on, you want to get the feel for the game.
"It's a little bit unchartered water because we haven't coached these guys. We don't know what to expect."
IU hopes to ratchet up the defensive intensity.
"Our guys understand how important it is," Miller said. "They're getting accustomed to how we practice. It's a much different style of practice, the physicality of what we're doing. They're starting to absorb that. I like their buy-in. It's an everyday process."
Miller wants to see what kind of early impact freshmen Clifton Moore and Justin Smith will make.
"When it counts with a winner or loser, see who won't shy away from the moment. Who's doing what you're asking them to do. They have to get broken in, go out and play and make mistakes. Find ways to get better."
As for individual goals for Saturday night, senior forward Freddie McSwain was clear – there aren't any.
"We'll see where we're at as a team and what we need to do to be a better team," he said.
Only two Hoosiers players are ruled out for Saturday night – Hartman and freshman guard Al Durham. Hartman is recovering from a sprained ankle. Durham is dealing with a pulled hamstring.
Newkirk, who sat out last Saturday's Hoosier Hysteria, is expected to play Saturday night.
"It's a more serious tone than it was a week ago (with Hoosier Hysteria)," Miller said. "We're starting to see light at end of tunnel. It's coming in a big way. This is the first time this group has to figure out a rotation and see how it goes.
"We've had good work this week. Yesterday was one of our best practices. You could see guys are starting to pick up on things. They have good attitudes. We'll see where we're at."
Players Mentioned
Forward
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Forward
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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