Indiana University Athletics
GRAHAM: Still No Blinking Allowed
11/17/2018 10:06:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By: Andy Graham, IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - "Tonight, no one blinked."
That was Indiana coach Archie Miller's summation of how his Hoosier freshmen, during Wednesday night's win over Marquette, had faced their first Top 25 collegiate foe.
But now all the Hoosiers have to keep their eyes wide open heading into their first road test Sunday at Arkansas.
The Razorbacks' Bud Walton Arena is one of the nation's toughest venues for visitors.
"You know, a true road game at Arkansas is going to be a really, really difficult environment," Miller said this week. "It's a difficult style to play against and prepare for … they're very difficult to play in their building, and the pressure is up, in their building.
"We've had experience as a coaching staff playing against them in our time, and you really have to be organized in your press attack, and then you have to be really organized what you do when you get it in (the half-court)."
Arkansas coach Mike Anderson is an acolyte of Nolan Richardson, whom he served for 17 years as an assistant. And Richardson is the architect of a "40 Minutes of Hell" approach to play.
The premise is that if maximum defensive pressure is applied throughout and entire game, the opposition will eventually wilt.
The Razorbacks rode that style to the 1994 NCAA title and a NCAA runner-up finish in 1995. And the best Arkansas teams still play full-tilt-boogie basketball.
Anderson hasn't had a losing season in his eight years at the helm. His Razorbacks went 23-11 last season, and 26-10 the year before that. Four years ago, they went 27-9.
Four starters graduated from last year's team, but the returning starter is the sort of player around which teams can be built.
Daniel Gafford is a 6-foot-11, 233-pound sophomore listed as the No. 8 prospect for the 2019 NBA Draft by Sports Illustrated heading into this season. He chose Arkansas over Kansas and Florida.
"He's probably the premier big guy in the country in terms of running to the rim," Miller said of Gafford. "His north-south, 94-foot game is as good as it gets.
"And him getting off a ball screens and getting to the rim and then finding him, that's something that's -- obviously for all of our front court players is going to be important to understand."
Gafford is averaging 16.0 points and 8.0 boards through Arkansas' 1-1 start, with his scoring average matched by 6-5 classmate Mason Jones.
Isaiah Joe, a 6-5 freshman, and Adrio Bailey, a 6-6 junior, are also averaging double-figure scoring so far at 15.5 and 14.0 respectively. Jalen Harris, the 6-2 sophomore point guard, is averaging 6.5 points and 4.0 assists.
The Razorbacks could easily be 2-0. They began their season on a neutral court in El Paso against Texas and had the game seemingly in-hand. But they missed what would have been a clinching free throw and, up three points in the waning seconds with Texas in possession, chose not to foul. Texas hit a 3 to force overtime and eventually prevailed, 73-71.
Arkansas bounced right back at home, blasting past Cal-Davis (which has a Nov. 23 date at IU), 81-58.
The Razorbacks have shot .381 from 3-point range (compared to IU's .355) so far and share the Hoosiers early struggles at the free throw line (with Arkansas at .615 and Indiana at .613). But the Hoosiers are shooting a robust .586 from the field and their .636 showing against Marquette was the best since Miller arrived last season.
IU frontliners Juwan Morgan, Justin Smith, Evan Fitzner and De'Ron Davis have combined to hit 48 of 68 shots (.706). Much of that has naturally come in the paint. So if the Hoosier guards withstand the Arkansas press and get the ball inside, Indiana could prosper Sunday.
Freshman point guard Rob Phinisee and sophomore backcourt partner Al Durham combined for 13 assists and just one turnover against Marquette.
"He's a stud," Miller said afterward of Phinisee. "I mean, he's a stud. There's not much to say. I mean, 27 minutes, 12 points, eight assists, one turnover, and he guarded arguably maybe the Player of the Year in the Big East (Markus Howard) for most of the game and held his own.
"Not that he's perfect, but I haven't been around a young guard in a long time that has that type of quiet calmness, that's tough, that's smart. Once he gets more experience under his belt, you know, obviously he has a very bright future. He's a terrific teammate."
And Miller likes how Durham, despite injury issues in recent weeks, continues to broaden and improve his game.
"I thought it was one of the best games he's played" Miller said of Durham's 13-point, five-assist, zero-turnover effort against Marquette. "He was aggressive on offense, made great decisions on the drives to pass.
"Obviously has to play a lot of minutes right now, so we were fortunate he was able to hang in there. Getting him back in general is important for our team, because I think he's experienced and knows what's going on. He played a really, really good game."
With senior co-captain Zach McRoberts and junior point guard Devonte Green both out with injuries Wednesday, Durham and freshman Romeo Langford played 35 minutes apiece against Marquette.
Miller intimated that McRoberts (back spasms) and Green (thigh contusion) could remain out for a while, as is also the case with redshirt freshman forward Race Thompson (concussion protocol) and freshman Jerome Hunter (who had surgery this week for an undisclosed leg issue).
So the Hoosier backcourt players, especially, will likely have to withstand the Arkansas pressure for a lot of minutes individually.
That includes Langford who, at 6-6, can play either guard spot or wing, and who leads IU in scoring with a 17.7 average through the Hoosiers' 3-0 start.
"He had some fantastic drives and finishes," Miller said of Langford's 22-point performance against Marquette. "I think you can see his explosiveness and the amount of ground he can cover.
"When he is driving and he's jumping, that's not a little guy jumping into you. He's going over the top of you and his length is startling sometimes around the basket in what he does. But he's ready to play. Lights were on. Did a great job defensively, for the most part. He rebounded … he played really well."
Morgan, the stalwart senior frontliner, is averaging a near double-double at 12.0 points and 9.0 boards, and his scoring average is matched by Fitzner, the St. Mary's transfer who – at 6-10 – has hit 14-of-17 shot from the field, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range, and all three of his free throws so far.
"He's a terrific offensive player," Miller said of Fitzner. "He's got to continue to work a little bit more on the defensive side of the ball, just in terms of his physicalness around the basket. He's got to get better at that.
"But without question, he fits our style. I knew it from day one. He's a confident guy. He's not questioning what's going on. He's playing with great confidence."
Smith, the talented 6-7 sophomore, is averaging 11.3 points and 4.3 rebounds, and Phinisee is at 10.0 points, giving the Hoosiers five players currently averaging double-digit scoring.
But Phinisee's key task Sunday, as is the case with all of IU's ball-handlers, is to withstand the Arkansas defensive pressure and protect the ball.
"They'll play a lot of different styles where they'll switch 1 through 5 on the ball, they'll switch 1 through 5 off the ball," Miller said of the Razorbacks. "Their press will make it hard to get it in, and then once you cross half court, you have to be organized.
"It's not going to be one of those deals where you're going to be able, as a coach, to control the game, so to speak. They have to play."
With eyes wide open.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - "Tonight, no one blinked."
That was Indiana coach Archie Miller's summation of how his Hoosier freshmen, during Wednesday night's win over Marquette, had faced their first Top 25 collegiate foe.
But now all the Hoosiers have to keep their eyes wide open heading into their first road test Sunday at Arkansas.
The Razorbacks' Bud Walton Arena is one of the nation's toughest venues for visitors.
"You know, a true road game at Arkansas is going to be a really, really difficult environment," Miller said this week. "It's a difficult style to play against and prepare for … they're very difficult to play in their building, and the pressure is up, in their building.
"We've had experience as a coaching staff playing against them in our time, and you really have to be organized in your press attack, and then you have to be really organized what you do when you get it in (the half-court)."
Arkansas coach Mike Anderson is an acolyte of Nolan Richardson, whom he served for 17 years as an assistant. And Richardson is the architect of a "40 Minutes of Hell" approach to play.
The premise is that if maximum defensive pressure is applied throughout and entire game, the opposition will eventually wilt.
The Razorbacks rode that style to the 1994 NCAA title and a NCAA runner-up finish in 1995. And the best Arkansas teams still play full-tilt-boogie basketball.
Anderson hasn't had a losing season in his eight years at the helm. His Razorbacks went 23-11 last season, and 26-10 the year before that. Four years ago, they went 27-9.
Four starters graduated from last year's team, but the returning starter is the sort of player around which teams can be built.
Daniel Gafford is a 6-foot-11, 233-pound sophomore listed as the No. 8 prospect for the 2019 NBA Draft by Sports Illustrated heading into this season. He chose Arkansas over Kansas and Florida.
"He's probably the premier big guy in the country in terms of running to the rim," Miller said of Gafford. "His north-south, 94-foot game is as good as it gets.
"And him getting off a ball screens and getting to the rim and then finding him, that's something that's -- obviously for all of our front court players is going to be important to understand."
Gafford is averaging 16.0 points and 8.0 boards through Arkansas' 1-1 start, with his scoring average matched by 6-5 classmate Mason Jones.
Isaiah Joe, a 6-5 freshman, and Adrio Bailey, a 6-6 junior, are also averaging double-figure scoring so far at 15.5 and 14.0 respectively. Jalen Harris, the 6-2 sophomore point guard, is averaging 6.5 points and 4.0 assists.
The Razorbacks could easily be 2-0. They began their season on a neutral court in El Paso against Texas and had the game seemingly in-hand. But they missed what would have been a clinching free throw and, up three points in the waning seconds with Texas in possession, chose not to foul. Texas hit a 3 to force overtime and eventually prevailed, 73-71.
Arkansas bounced right back at home, blasting past Cal-Davis (which has a Nov. 23 date at IU), 81-58.
The Razorbacks have shot .381 from 3-point range (compared to IU's .355) so far and share the Hoosiers early struggles at the free throw line (with Arkansas at .615 and Indiana at .613). But the Hoosiers are shooting a robust .586 from the field and their .636 showing against Marquette was the best since Miller arrived last season.
IU frontliners Juwan Morgan, Justin Smith, Evan Fitzner and De'Ron Davis have combined to hit 48 of 68 shots (.706). Much of that has naturally come in the paint. So if the Hoosier guards withstand the Arkansas press and get the ball inside, Indiana could prosper Sunday.
Freshman point guard Rob Phinisee and sophomore backcourt partner Al Durham combined for 13 assists and just one turnover against Marquette.
"He's a stud," Miller said afterward of Phinisee. "I mean, he's a stud. There's not much to say. I mean, 27 minutes, 12 points, eight assists, one turnover, and he guarded arguably maybe the Player of the Year in the Big East (Markus Howard) for most of the game and held his own.
"Not that he's perfect, but I haven't been around a young guard in a long time that has that type of quiet calmness, that's tough, that's smart. Once he gets more experience under his belt, you know, obviously he has a very bright future. He's a terrific teammate."
And Miller likes how Durham, despite injury issues in recent weeks, continues to broaden and improve his game.
"I thought it was one of the best games he's played" Miller said of Durham's 13-point, five-assist, zero-turnover effort against Marquette. "He was aggressive on offense, made great decisions on the drives to pass.
"Obviously has to play a lot of minutes right now, so we were fortunate he was able to hang in there. Getting him back in general is important for our team, because I think he's experienced and knows what's going on. He played a really, really good game."
With senior co-captain Zach McRoberts and junior point guard Devonte Green both out with injuries Wednesday, Durham and freshman Romeo Langford played 35 minutes apiece against Marquette.
Miller intimated that McRoberts (back spasms) and Green (thigh contusion) could remain out for a while, as is also the case with redshirt freshman forward Race Thompson (concussion protocol) and freshman Jerome Hunter (who had surgery this week for an undisclosed leg issue).
So the Hoosier backcourt players, especially, will likely have to withstand the Arkansas pressure for a lot of minutes individually.
That includes Langford who, at 6-6, can play either guard spot or wing, and who leads IU in scoring with a 17.7 average through the Hoosiers' 3-0 start.
"He had some fantastic drives and finishes," Miller said of Langford's 22-point performance against Marquette. "I think you can see his explosiveness and the amount of ground he can cover.
"When he is driving and he's jumping, that's not a little guy jumping into you. He's going over the top of you and his length is startling sometimes around the basket in what he does. But he's ready to play. Lights were on. Did a great job defensively, for the most part. He rebounded … he played really well."
Morgan, the stalwart senior frontliner, is averaging a near double-double at 12.0 points and 9.0 boards, and his scoring average is matched by Fitzner, the St. Mary's transfer who – at 6-10 – has hit 14-of-17 shot from the field, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range, and all three of his free throws so far.
"He's a terrific offensive player," Miller said of Fitzner. "He's got to continue to work a little bit more on the defensive side of the ball, just in terms of his physicalness around the basket. He's got to get better at that.
"But without question, he fits our style. I knew it from day one. He's a confident guy. He's not questioning what's going on. He's playing with great confidence."
Smith, the talented 6-7 sophomore, is averaging 11.3 points and 4.3 rebounds, and Phinisee is at 10.0 points, giving the Hoosiers five players currently averaging double-digit scoring.
But Phinisee's key task Sunday, as is the case with all of IU's ball-handlers, is to withstand the Arkansas defensive pressure and protect the ball.
"They'll play a lot of different styles where they'll switch 1 through 5 on the ball, they'll switch 1 through 5 off the ball," Miller said of the Razorbacks. "Their press will make it hard to get it in, and then once you cross half court, you have to be organized.
"It's not going to be one of those deals where you're going to be able, as a coach, to control the game, so to speak. They have to play."
With eyes wide open.
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