Indiana University Athletics
DIPRIMIO: Morgan Building Early Case for Big Ten MVP
12/19/2018 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio, IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Juwan Morgan as Big Ten MVP?
Could it happen?
Absolutely.
Will it happen?
Indiana's senior forward has 18 conference games left to make his case.
Morgan's record-breaking Crossroads Classic performance against Butler -- career-high 35 points, three rebounds, two steals at Indianapolis's Bankers Life Fieldhouse -- showcased what he can do against elite competition under NCAA tourney-like pressure in a nationally televised setting.
Sustain that MVP effort for the next two-plus months, lead the Hoosiers to a strong conference showing, and he could become the first Hoosier to earn Big Ten player-of-the-year honors since D.J. White in 2008.
Yes, that's a lot of sustaining to do, but Morgan seems up for it.
"Every day is the same," coach Archie Miller said when asked what he enjoys about coaching Morgan. "Game day is no different than practice.
"There are very few guys who can eliminate moodiness and the ability not to feel tired. For about two years straight, through about 150 practices, that's what I see every day.
"It's not that his game days are perfect, but the guy plays the right way."
Other coaches see it.
"If he's not a (NBA) first-round pick," Louisville coach Chris Mack said, "I understand why some of these guys get fired at the next level."
Butler coach LaVall Jordan wasn't about to disagree, calling Morgan a guy "that will step up and make big shots no matter how the game is going."
In an era of rush-to-glory gratification, when so many players consider it a failure if they can't reach one-and-done achievement, Morgan shows the benefits of staying the four-year course.
He's grown as a player and a person, season by season, and he and the Hoosiers are reaping the rewards.
IU is 9-2 and ranked No. 22 in the Associated Press poll, three spots higher than last week. It will resume Big Ten play in January in a five-way tie for first, at 2-0, with No. 4 Michigan, No. 10 Michigan State, No. 15 Ohio State and No. 16 Wisconsin.
In so many ways, Hoosier prospects rest with Morgan.
He carried the Hoosiers against Butler as he has all season. Without him, the Hoosiers would have been blown out. With him, they escaped with a 71-68 thriller that suggests a season to remember is building after two straight seasons to forget.
Beyond Morgan's points, there was his Bill Walton-like 12-for-14 shooting, and his 7-for-7 free throw shooting.
Morgan said he's found something that is working from the line, and given he's 10-for-11 in his last two games, believe him.
"It's what we work on every day. I stepped up with confidence and knocked them down."
The result – he earned his second career Big Ten player-of-the-week honor and first of the season.
His 17.3-point scoring average is second on the team to Romeo Langford's 17.7. He leads in rebounding, at 7.6. He's shooting 67.2 percent from the field and 48.1 percent from three-point range.
Morgan also has four double-doubles this season, and 13 for his career.
This is a big follow-up after his break-through junior season, when after two injury-hindered years, he averaged 15.5 points and 8.1 rebounds. His 1,020 career points rank 51st in program history.
"It's a great honor," he said about breaking the 1,000-point barrier. "But it's just one small piece of the puzzle going forward."
That puzzle centers on returning the Hoosiers to national prominence, and if ever an IU team needed a strong senior leader, this is the group. IU starts two freshmen in Romeo Langford and Rob Phinisee, and while both are playing beyond their years, they can't match Morgan's leadership aura.
"He's vocal in the huddles," Miller said. "He's an extension of the staff. If you communicate something to him, he can communicate it to the other guys. He's a smart player.
"When you see the oldest face on the team being the guy everyone looks to when things aren't going well, that has to give people confidence. He does that for us. He's turned into a really good leader."
Players see it.
"We can lean on him when times get rough," Langford said. "He leads by example and by voice."
That might ultimately give Morgan an edge in what looms as formidable Big Ten MVP competition. It starts with Wisconsin forward Ethan Happ. He's already earned four Big Ten player-of-the-week honors this season. He ranks second in the Big Ten in scoring (19.2 points) and rebounding (10.8), and is third in assists (5.0). His eight double doubles lead the nation.
Then there is Purdue guard Carsen Edwards, who is by far the conference's best scorer, at 25.6 points. He's earned a pair of Big Ten player-of-the-week awards and has a 40-point game on his resume.
Ultimately, it could come down to who is the best player on the conference's best team.
The Hoosiers are showing the toughness necessary to be the best.
First, though, there are two more non-conference games to play, starting with Wednesday's home game against Central Arkansas (4-6), which is coming off an 82-70 loss to New Mexico.
It's another game for Morgan and the Hoosiers to make the case that no Big Ten player or team does it better.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Juwan Morgan as Big Ten MVP?
Could it happen?
Absolutely.
Will it happen?
Indiana's senior forward has 18 conference games left to make his case.
Morgan's record-breaking Crossroads Classic performance against Butler -- career-high 35 points, three rebounds, two steals at Indianapolis's Bankers Life Fieldhouse -- showcased what he can do against elite competition under NCAA tourney-like pressure in a nationally televised setting.
Sustain that MVP effort for the next two-plus months, lead the Hoosiers to a strong conference showing, and he could become the first Hoosier to earn Big Ten player-of-the-year honors since D.J. White in 2008.
Yes, that's a lot of sustaining to do, but Morgan seems up for it.
"Every day is the same," coach Archie Miller said when asked what he enjoys about coaching Morgan. "Game day is no different than practice.
"There are very few guys who can eliminate moodiness and the ability not to feel tired. For about two years straight, through about 150 practices, that's what I see every day.
"It's not that his game days are perfect, but the guy plays the right way."
Other coaches see it.
"If he's not a (NBA) first-round pick," Louisville coach Chris Mack said, "I understand why some of these guys get fired at the next level."
Butler coach LaVall Jordan wasn't about to disagree, calling Morgan a guy "that will step up and make big shots no matter how the game is going."
In an era of rush-to-glory gratification, when so many players consider it a failure if they can't reach one-and-done achievement, Morgan shows the benefits of staying the four-year course.
He's grown as a player and a person, season by season, and he and the Hoosiers are reaping the rewards.
IU is 9-2 and ranked No. 22 in the Associated Press poll, three spots higher than last week. It will resume Big Ten play in January in a five-way tie for first, at 2-0, with No. 4 Michigan, No. 10 Michigan State, No. 15 Ohio State and No. 16 Wisconsin.
In so many ways, Hoosier prospects rest with Morgan.
He carried the Hoosiers against Butler as he has all season. Without him, the Hoosiers would have been blown out. With him, they escaped with a 71-68 thriller that suggests a season to remember is building after two straight seasons to forget.
Beyond Morgan's points, there was his Bill Walton-like 12-for-14 shooting, and his 7-for-7 free throw shooting.
Morgan said he's found something that is working from the line, and given he's 10-for-11 in his last two games, believe him.
"It's what we work on every day. I stepped up with confidence and knocked them down."
The result – he earned his second career Big Ten player-of-the-week honor and first of the season.
His 17.3-point scoring average is second on the team to Romeo Langford's 17.7. He leads in rebounding, at 7.6. He's shooting 67.2 percent from the field and 48.1 percent from three-point range.
Morgan also has four double-doubles this season, and 13 for his career.
This is a big follow-up after his break-through junior season, when after two injury-hindered years, he averaged 15.5 points and 8.1 rebounds. His 1,020 career points rank 51st in program history.
"It's a great honor," he said about breaking the 1,000-point barrier. "But it's just one small piece of the puzzle going forward."
That puzzle centers on returning the Hoosiers to national prominence, and if ever an IU team needed a strong senior leader, this is the group. IU starts two freshmen in Romeo Langford and Rob Phinisee, and while both are playing beyond their years, they can't match Morgan's leadership aura.
"He's vocal in the huddles," Miller said. "He's an extension of the staff. If you communicate something to him, he can communicate it to the other guys. He's a smart player.
"When you see the oldest face on the team being the guy everyone looks to when things aren't going well, that has to give people confidence. He does that for us. He's turned into a really good leader."
Players see it.
"We can lean on him when times get rough," Langford said. "He leads by example and by voice."
That might ultimately give Morgan an edge in what looms as formidable Big Ten MVP competition. It starts with Wisconsin forward Ethan Happ. He's already earned four Big Ten player-of-the-week honors this season. He ranks second in the Big Ten in scoring (19.2 points) and rebounding (10.8), and is third in assists (5.0). His eight double doubles lead the nation.
Then there is Purdue guard Carsen Edwards, who is by far the conference's best scorer, at 25.6 points. He's earned a pair of Big Ten player-of-the-week awards and has a 40-point game on his resume.
Ultimately, it could come down to who is the best player on the conference's best team.
The Hoosiers are showing the toughness necessary to be the best.
First, though, there are two more non-conference games to play, starting with Wednesday's home game against Central Arkansas (4-6), which is coming off an 82-70 loss to New Mexico.
It's another game for Morgan and the Hoosiers to make the case that no Big Ten player or team does it better.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballFB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Spring Practice - Curt Cignetti Press Conference
Thursday, April 16