GRAHAM: Time For Hoosier Hoops
11/6/2018 2:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Andy Graham, IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Tonight, Romeo starts to deal with the Capulets.
In other words, things are about to get real.
(With the home crowd certainly hoping for a happier ending than in Shakespeare's play.)
Indiana's Hoosiers formally open their 119th season of men's basketball, and second campaign helmed by coach Archie Miller, by hosting Chicago State for a 6:30 p.m. tip.
IU has seven scholarship returnees who acclimated to Miller's approach last season, including senior co-captains Juwan Morgan (who led the Hoosiers in both scoring and rebounding last season) and Zach McRoberts.
The game also marks the collegiate debut for a heralded freshman class, including McDonald's All-American Romeo Langford, the 27th Indiana high school Mr. Basketball to suit up for the Hoosiers.
Indiana enters off lopsided warm-up wins over Loyola (Chicago), which returned three starters from its Final Four team but fell 70-48 to the Hoosiers in a closed scrimmage, and Division II Southern Indiana (96-62 in exhibition play last Thursday). IU shot a combined .521 from the field, including .410 from 3-point range.
Langford was the combined scoring leader at 16.0 per game, followed by Morgan (12.5), Justin Smith (11.5) and Rob Phinisee (10.5).
But numbers that perhaps jump out even more are the opposition's .342 shooting (.302 from beyond the arc) and 55-point average. The Hoosiers averaged 10.5 steals per outing.
Back-to-back steals by Langford helped ignite Indiana's offense early against USI. McRoberts had four steals against Loyola.
"I feel like we have more versatility on defense," Morgan said while meeting the media Monday. "Just different ways we can play. Different lineups we can use. I just think stems from just how well Coach has recruited and how hard we work in practice.
"Length and athleticism play a big part in it. And I just think, having a year under our belts (with Miller), we know what to expect. We can communicate that across to the other guys. And when you have a better understanding of it, it's easier to do that."
It's hard to tell, going in, just who or what the Hoosiers will have to defend tonight.
Chicago State has struggled recently. The Cougars (3-29 overall, 1-13 Western Athletic Conference last year) have posted 13 total wins over the last three seasons, including just two in league play.
The Cougars graduated top scorer Fred Sims and point guard Glen Burns. Overall, tonight's expected Chicago State starting lineup is similar to IU's in terms of size, with the tallest starter 6-foot-8 junior Christian Jacob (matching Morgan, the tallest Hoosier starter).
A key Chicago State returnee is 6-7 sophomore forward Cameron Bowles (4.7 ppg last year), who showed some post presence on both ends last year, but the Cougars largely constitute unknown quantities.
And that includes the coaching, really with Chicago native Lance Irvin in place only since Aug. 7, and his staff just recently filled out.
"New coaching staff, tons of new players," Miller said of the Cougars. "We're going to have to be really, concentration-wise, (and) just good at what we do in our base stuff. And then as the game goes along we'll try to adjust and make some adjustments based on what they're trying to do.
"We have Chicago State on Tuesday, Montana State on Friday (at 8 p.m.), both teams a little bit unknown as we get into the early part of the season," Miller said. "And we'll have to be ready to attack, I would say, some changing defenses for the first time.
"And then from a defensive perspective we're really going to have to -- just nuts and bolts here, getting back in transition better, rebounding better and finding a way to play with maybe some unique lineups as well, depending on who is available for the first week health-wise."
IU sophomore guard Al Durham left the USI game with an unspecified injury. Redshirt-freshman forward Race Thompson (groin) and true freshman forward Jerome Hunter (foot) both sat out that game entirely.
So did junior point guard Devonte Green, who has missed a lot of practice time with a thigh contusion during preseason but was cleared for full practice Monday and is expected to be available tonight.
"I think most of them will be game-time decisions," Miller said of IU's injury situations. "Right now, I don't think Race Thompson or Al Durham will be available for at least this week, maybe both games, due to their lingering issues.
"Devonte, he's moved back into full-go for the first time here. He was involved in some non-contact stuff the last two days. He's been cleared to practice today which hopefully will go well, and knock on wood, he'll be available for the game. That will be a big help for us."
Green started 12 games, including the final seven, last season. But true freshman Rob Phinisee has played well in Green's absence this fall. He had 13 points, four assists and zero turnovers in 28 minutes against USI.
"He's well ahead of probably any point guard as a freshman that I've coached," Miller said of Phinisee, "just in terms of his demeanor, his smarts — and it's on both ends.
"He's got to get better clearly, but he's definitely made the most of his time."
Damezi Anderson, another true freshman, did likewise last Thursday. He finished with a game-high 14 points, hitting 4 of 7 from 3-point range, and got more minutes at the wing in Hunter's absence.
"I thought it was really important moving forward to (see that) at least Damezi made a couple of shots," Miller said. "I think that made him feel a little better. Obviously he's not perfect. But he's a big, strong kid who can really run, that can stretch the floor for us.
"He's just got to keep learning the game, not turning it over, and defensively trying to do exactly what we're asking him to do. Because without question, right now, we're planning on having to play him a little bit, especially as Jerome is going through some of his health stuff. So Damezi is a guy that has to step up and be ready.
"Obviously Rob and Romeo, they've played a ton of minutes early in the season. They've got to get better. Everyone's got to get better. But I do think that those (freshman) guys, as long as they keep improving, all of them can have a chance to help us."
Those two freshmen guards are expected to join Morgan, McRoberts and sophomore forward Justin Smith in IU's starting lineup tonight.
Morgan feels Langford will be ready when the bright lights come on, as Langford demonstrated while scoring 3,002 career points for New Albany High School, third most in the state's storied high school hoops history.
Langford is accustomed to dealing successfully with a rarified sort of hype that surrounds only the biggest potential stars.
He is a freshman playing big-time college basketball now. And, as such, he might have bad stints in games or bad games or even a bad series of games. But he has always handled both ups and downs well. And the talent and toughness and smarts he brings to bear are undeniable, and will doubtless shine through much of the time.
"I don't think the pressure has got to him at all," Morgan said of Langford. "He's just here to play basketball, like the rest of us. I think he's really just accepted it for what it is.
"He's going to make mistakes. I think that was the hardest thing for him, realizing that he will make mistakes. I think, coming in, Zach (McRoberts) was guarding him – and Zach is, like, the best defensive player on the team. And Zach was pressuring him, taking the ball away from him a couple of times, and I think he learned he's going to have to go against that (caliber of defender) night-in, night-out.
"As time has gone on, he's gotten better, more strong with the ball. His overall game has gotten a lot better."
So bring on the Capulets.
Time for Hoosier hoops.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Tonight, Romeo starts to deal with the Capulets.
In other words, things are about to get real.
(With the home crowd certainly hoping for a happier ending than in Shakespeare's play.)
Indiana's Hoosiers formally open their 119th season of men's basketball, and second campaign helmed by coach Archie Miller, by hosting Chicago State for a 6:30 p.m. tip.
IU has seven scholarship returnees who acclimated to Miller's approach last season, including senior co-captains Juwan Morgan (who led the Hoosiers in both scoring and rebounding last season) and Zach McRoberts.
The game also marks the collegiate debut for a heralded freshman class, including McDonald's All-American Romeo Langford, the 27th Indiana high school Mr. Basketball to suit up for the Hoosiers.
Indiana enters off lopsided warm-up wins over Loyola (Chicago), which returned three starters from its Final Four team but fell 70-48 to the Hoosiers in a closed scrimmage, and Division II Southern Indiana (96-62 in exhibition play last Thursday). IU shot a combined .521 from the field, including .410 from 3-point range.
Langford was the combined scoring leader at 16.0 per game, followed by Morgan (12.5), Justin Smith (11.5) and Rob Phinisee (10.5).
But numbers that perhaps jump out even more are the opposition's .342 shooting (.302 from beyond the arc) and 55-point average. The Hoosiers averaged 10.5 steals per outing.
Back-to-back steals by Langford helped ignite Indiana's offense early against USI. McRoberts had four steals against Loyola.
"I feel like we have more versatility on defense," Morgan said while meeting the media Monday. "Just different ways we can play. Different lineups we can use. I just think stems from just how well Coach has recruited and how hard we work in practice.
"Length and athleticism play a big part in it. And I just think, having a year under our belts (with Miller), we know what to expect. We can communicate that across to the other guys. And when you have a better understanding of it, it's easier to do that."
It's hard to tell, going in, just who or what the Hoosiers will have to defend tonight.
Chicago State has struggled recently. The Cougars (3-29 overall, 1-13 Western Athletic Conference last year) have posted 13 total wins over the last three seasons, including just two in league play.
The Cougars graduated top scorer Fred Sims and point guard Glen Burns. Overall, tonight's expected Chicago State starting lineup is similar to IU's in terms of size, with the tallest starter 6-foot-8 junior Christian Jacob (matching Morgan, the tallest Hoosier starter).
A key Chicago State returnee is 6-7 sophomore forward Cameron Bowles (4.7 ppg last year), who showed some post presence on both ends last year, but the Cougars largely constitute unknown quantities.
And that includes the coaching, really with Chicago native Lance Irvin in place only since Aug. 7, and his staff just recently filled out.
"New coaching staff, tons of new players," Miller said of the Cougars. "We're going to have to be really, concentration-wise, (and) just good at what we do in our base stuff. And then as the game goes along we'll try to adjust and make some adjustments based on what they're trying to do.
"We have Chicago State on Tuesday, Montana State on Friday (at 8 p.m.), both teams a little bit unknown as we get into the early part of the season," Miller said. "And we'll have to be ready to attack, I would say, some changing defenses for the first time.
"And then from a defensive perspective we're really going to have to -- just nuts and bolts here, getting back in transition better, rebounding better and finding a way to play with maybe some unique lineups as well, depending on who is available for the first week health-wise."
IU sophomore guard Al Durham left the USI game with an unspecified injury. Redshirt-freshman forward Race Thompson (groin) and true freshman forward Jerome Hunter (foot) both sat out that game entirely.
So did junior point guard Devonte Green, who has missed a lot of practice time with a thigh contusion during preseason but was cleared for full practice Monday and is expected to be available tonight.
"I think most of them will be game-time decisions," Miller said of IU's injury situations. "Right now, I don't think Race Thompson or Al Durham will be available for at least this week, maybe both games, due to their lingering issues.
"Devonte, he's moved back into full-go for the first time here. He was involved in some non-contact stuff the last two days. He's been cleared to practice today which hopefully will go well, and knock on wood, he'll be available for the game. That will be a big help for us."
Green started 12 games, including the final seven, last season. But true freshman Rob Phinisee has played well in Green's absence this fall. He had 13 points, four assists and zero turnovers in 28 minutes against USI.
"He's well ahead of probably any point guard as a freshman that I've coached," Miller said of Phinisee, "just in terms of his demeanor, his smarts — and it's on both ends.
"He's got to get better clearly, but he's definitely made the most of his time."
Damezi Anderson, another true freshman, did likewise last Thursday. He finished with a game-high 14 points, hitting 4 of 7 from 3-point range, and got more minutes at the wing in Hunter's absence.
"I thought it was really important moving forward to (see that) at least Damezi made a couple of shots," Miller said. "I think that made him feel a little better. Obviously he's not perfect. But he's a big, strong kid who can really run, that can stretch the floor for us.
"He's just got to keep learning the game, not turning it over, and defensively trying to do exactly what we're asking him to do. Because without question, right now, we're planning on having to play him a little bit, especially as Jerome is going through some of his health stuff. So Damezi is a guy that has to step up and be ready.
"Obviously Rob and Romeo, they've played a ton of minutes early in the season. They've got to get better. Everyone's got to get better. But I do think that those (freshman) guys, as long as they keep improving, all of them can have a chance to help us."
Those two freshmen guards are expected to join Morgan, McRoberts and sophomore forward Justin Smith in IU's starting lineup tonight.
Morgan feels Langford will be ready when the bright lights come on, as Langford demonstrated while scoring 3,002 career points for New Albany High School, third most in the state's storied high school hoops history.
Langford is accustomed to dealing successfully with a rarified sort of hype that surrounds only the biggest potential stars.
He is a freshman playing big-time college basketball now. And, as such, he might have bad stints in games or bad games or even a bad series of games. But he has always handled both ups and downs well. And the talent and toughness and smarts he brings to bear are undeniable, and will doubtless shine through much of the time.
"I don't think the pressure has got to him at all," Morgan said of Langford. "He's just here to play basketball, like the rest of us. I think he's really just accepted it for what it is.
"He's going to make mistakes. I think that was the hardest thing for him, realizing that he will make mistakes. I think, coming in, Zach (McRoberts) was guarding him – and Zach is, like, the best defensive player on the team. And Zach was pressuring him, taking the ball away from him a couple of times, and I think he learned he's going to have to go against that (caliber of defender) night-in, night-out.
"As time has gone on, he's gotten better, more strong with the ball. His overall game has gotten a lot better."
So bring on the Capulets.
Time for Hoosier hoops.
Players Mentioned
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