Wednesday, November 14
Bloomington, Ind.
8:30 P.M.
Indiana University
96
vs
73
Marquette
1
2
F
Marquette
34
39
73
Indiana
47
49
96
Hoosiers Take Down #24 Marquette, 96-73
11/14/2018 10:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio, IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Evan Fitzner is the real deal.
Did you doubt it?
Romeo Langford has this college game down.
Did you expect anything less?
These Indiana newcomers old and young made a statement, and so did the Hoosiers, in a Wednesday night victory rich in national ranking consequences.
IU (3-0) manhandled No. 24 Marquette 96-73 with a ferocious display of defense and offense that suggested preseason potential is becoming regular season reality.
"We stepped up in a big-time game," coach Archie Miller said. "Guys stepped up when their number was called. I was proud of the approach and the intensity level."
Fitzner and Langford led the way, with a lot of help.
Fitzner, the graduate transfer from St. Mary's, showed the complete package against Marquette as he didn't in warm-up victories over out-manned Chicago State and Montana State.
He scored, defended and rebounded.
In 11 first-half minutes Fitzner totaled 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting, including 2-for-2 from three-point range. He finished with 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting with three rebounds.
"Guys were finding me," Fitzner said. "It was just knocking down open shots."
Added Miller: "He's a terrific offensive player. He has to work more on the defensive side of the ball. He has to get better there.
"He fits our style. He's a confident guy. To be able to come off the bench with 16 points in 17 minutes is great to see."
For most teams, Fitzner would have been a one-man first-half show. For this team and night, he shared top billing with Langford, who attacked the basket, as he should, and dominated, as the Hoosiers had hoped.
Langford, one of the nation's most heralded freshmen, had 15 first-half points. He finished with a career-high 22 points and five rebounds.
"He had some fantastic drives and finishes," Miller said. "You can see the ground he can cover. He can go over the top of you. The lights were on and he's ready to play."
The result – the game was basically over by halftime.
After dominating victories over Chicago State and Montana State, the Hoosiers were primed for a major competition upgrade, and if they had to do it without Devonte Green, Zach McRoberts, Race Thompson and Jerome Hunter, out indefinitely with injuries, no matter.
The Hoosiers had more than enough depth and firepower to overcome it. Consider Rob Phinisee and Al Durham combined for 25 points, 13 assists and one turnover while playing shut-down defense.
"That's a backcourt," Miller said in understatement. "That's a good night."
Consider senior forward Juwan Morgan's quiet near double-double (13 points, eight rebounds) and that IU's 63.6-percent shooting was the best in the Miller era.
Finally, consider the average margin of victory is 39 points.
Imagine how good IU could be when at full strength.
"It puts us on the map a little bit," Fitzner said about the decisive victory. "We have a lot of confidence. We showed everyone what we were capable of."
Marquette (2-1) came in hot with that top-25 ranking and a pair of blowout victories over UMBC and Bethune Cookman.
A telling stat -- both of those wins came at home.
Could the Golden Eagles – led by Big East Player of the Week Markus Howard and his averages of 26.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists -- handle Assembly Hall frenzy?
The short answer -- not early.
The longer answer -- not at all.
"This is a tough-minded, confident team," Miller said of the Hoosiers. "A lot has to do with our leadership and the maturity of our young guys being ready to play in college."
IU got good news earlier in the day when Indianapolis Cathedral guard Armaan Franklin signed. The 6-4 Franklin is ranked No. 133 in the Class of 2019 by 247 Sports and No. 137 by Rivals.com.
Franklin averaged 23.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists last season, and 10.0 points and 3.0 rebounds as a sophomore.
As Miller put it in a university release, "Armani is a tremendous young man who will fit in perfectly on and off the court, and in the classroom. He is a self-made player who has gotten better every step. He's got great size and competitiveness. He is shooting is right now as well as he ever has, and brings positive energy."
That momentum carried over to a night to remember.
IU's defense fueled its early offense. It forced three Marquette turnovers in less than three minutes to jump to an 8-2 lead. Two minutes later, with the Hoosiers defending and shooting at an elite level, they pushed ahead 19-4.
As the half came to a close, Fitzner and Langford caught fire. IU built leads as large as 18 points, withstood a 10-0 Marquette run and settled for a 47-34 halftime edge.
Two minutes into the second half, the 18-point lead was back, at 52-34.
Drama was gone, but not Cream 'n Crimson thrill.
"The atmosphere was crazy," Langford said. "It was my first experience here against a ranked opponent. That helped us a lot."
IU proved once again that it has one of the nation's best home-court advantages.
The next challenge is clear – prove it's road ready at Arkansas on Sunday.
"We have to keep it going," Fitzner said.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Evan Fitzner is the real deal.
Did you doubt it?
Romeo Langford has this college game down.
Did you expect anything less?
These Indiana newcomers old and young made a statement, and so did the Hoosiers, in a Wednesday night victory rich in national ranking consequences.
IU (3-0) manhandled No. 24 Marquette 96-73 with a ferocious display of defense and offense that suggested preseason potential is becoming regular season reality.
"We stepped up in a big-time game," coach Archie Miller said. "Guys stepped up when their number was called. I was proud of the approach and the intensity level."
Fitzner and Langford led the way, with a lot of help.
Fitzner, the graduate transfer from St. Mary's, showed the complete package against Marquette as he didn't in warm-up victories over out-manned Chicago State and Montana State.
He scored, defended and rebounded.
In 11 first-half minutes Fitzner totaled 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting, including 2-for-2 from three-point range. He finished with 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting with three rebounds.
"Guys were finding me," Fitzner said. "It was just knocking down open shots."
Added Miller: "He's a terrific offensive player. He has to work more on the defensive side of the ball. He has to get better there.
"He fits our style. He's a confident guy. To be able to come off the bench with 16 points in 17 minutes is great to see."
For most teams, Fitzner would have been a one-man first-half show. For this team and night, he shared top billing with Langford, who attacked the basket, as he should, and dominated, as the Hoosiers had hoped.
Langford, one of the nation's most heralded freshmen, had 15 first-half points. He finished with a career-high 22 points and five rebounds.
"He had some fantastic drives and finishes," Miller said. "You can see the ground he can cover. He can go over the top of you. The lights were on and he's ready to play."
The result – the game was basically over by halftime.
After dominating victories over Chicago State and Montana State, the Hoosiers were primed for a major competition upgrade, and if they had to do it without Devonte Green, Zach McRoberts, Race Thompson and Jerome Hunter, out indefinitely with injuries, no matter.
The Hoosiers had more than enough depth and firepower to overcome it. Consider Rob Phinisee and Al Durham combined for 25 points, 13 assists and one turnover while playing shut-down defense.
"That's a backcourt," Miller said in understatement. "That's a good night."
Consider senior forward Juwan Morgan's quiet near double-double (13 points, eight rebounds) and that IU's 63.6-percent shooting was the best in the Miller era.
Finally, consider the average margin of victory is 39 points.
Imagine how good IU could be when at full strength.
"It puts us on the map a little bit," Fitzner said about the decisive victory. "We have a lot of confidence. We showed everyone what we were capable of."
Marquette (2-1) came in hot with that top-25 ranking and a pair of blowout victories over UMBC and Bethune Cookman.
A telling stat -- both of those wins came at home.
Could the Golden Eagles – led by Big East Player of the Week Markus Howard and his averages of 26.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists -- handle Assembly Hall frenzy?
The short answer -- not early.
The longer answer -- not at all.
"This is a tough-minded, confident team," Miller said of the Hoosiers. "A lot has to do with our leadership and the maturity of our young guys being ready to play in college."
IU got good news earlier in the day when Indianapolis Cathedral guard Armaan Franklin signed. The 6-4 Franklin is ranked No. 133 in the Class of 2019 by 247 Sports and No. 137 by Rivals.com.
Franklin averaged 23.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists last season, and 10.0 points and 3.0 rebounds as a sophomore.
As Miller put it in a university release, "Armani is a tremendous young man who will fit in perfectly on and off the court, and in the classroom. He is a self-made player who has gotten better every step. He's got great size and competitiveness. He is shooting is right now as well as he ever has, and brings positive energy."
That momentum carried over to a night to remember.
IU's defense fueled its early offense. It forced three Marquette turnovers in less than three minutes to jump to an 8-2 lead. Two minutes later, with the Hoosiers defending and shooting at an elite level, they pushed ahead 19-4.
As the half came to a close, Fitzner and Langford caught fire. IU built leads as large as 18 points, withstood a 10-0 Marquette run and settled for a 47-34 halftime edge.
Two minutes into the second half, the 18-point lead was back, at 52-34.
Drama was gone, but not Cream 'n Crimson thrill.
"The atmosphere was crazy," Langford said. "It was my first experience here against a ranked opponent. That helped us a lot."
IU proved once again that it has one of the nation's best home-court advantages.
The next challenge is clear – prove it's road ready at Arkansas on Sunday.
"We have to keep it going," Fitzner said.
Team Stats
M-387
M-306
FG%
.424
.636
3FG%
.217
.450
FT%
.692
.739
RB
29
35
TO
14
13
STL
2
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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