Hoosiers Find Success Stretching the Floor Against Troy

Redshirt freshman Jerome Hunter swung the ball from the right of the key to junior Al Durham at the top of the floor. Durham fired a crisp pass to his left, where freshman Armaan Franklin was waiting. Franklin took his time—patience is everything against a zone—before finding junior Joey Brunk at the free-throw line. Brunk took one dribble toward the basket, pivoted, and found Durham behind the 3-point line in space.

Durham had a wide-open Hunter off to his right, but seeing plenty of space for his own shot, he rose up, fired, and buried a triple as the crowd at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall exploded.

The Hoosiers had taken a 38-18 lead midway through the first half vs. Troy, and they did it by moving the ball, keeping their opponent scrambling, and, crucially, making the open 3-pointer when they had the opportunity.

Indiana drained 9-of-23 shots from beyond the arc in its 100-62 win over the Trojans, the most for the team since burying 11 vs. Ohio State late last season. The victory marked the third time in four outings this season that the Hoosiers made at least 38 percent of their 3-point attempts, and they have drained 17 threes in their last two wins.

Earlier in the week vs. North Alabama, IU made 8-of-21 shots from the field, and head coach Archie Miller mentioned his team's improving perimeter shooting after the game.

"We're not that team that we were a year ago where you can just put five guys in the paint and say, 'Let them shoot,' " Miller said. "We're not that team."

In the win over Troy, Franklin and Durham, IU's starting guards, plus forward Justin Smith, combined to go 6-of-9 from 3-point range, and guard Damezi Anderson came off the bench to go 2-of-4 from deep. Durham made 3-of-4 attempts. Smith made both of his. The Hoosiers' improved shooting from distance, if it continues, could open the floor for Indiana.

"Shooting the ball and making the shots just makes the game easy," Miller said. "Everything is easier when you're able to make some shots. It's the quality of the shot that you concentrate the most on. Are they taking the ones you're really working on? Are you taking the ones that are in the rhythm of the game?"

Durham's certainly came in rhythm. He stepped into a couple of his threes, and his confidence is growing with each passing game.

Smith, meanwhile, has shown encouraging signs that he has improved his game dramatically.

After making 21.9 percent of his attempts from distance last season, Smith has made 3-of-7 attempts this year, which puts him at 42.9 percent. It's a small sample, and two of those three makes came vs. Troy, but Smith also looks a lot more comfortable on the floor, and that comfort has equaled success.

"I mean, if they're going to continue to leave me open, I'm going to shoot it," Smith said. "I'm not going to force anything to try to prove anything to anybody. I'm going to take the shots when they come to me. I'm just preparing to make those shots we practice every day, getting up extra shots."

Anderson is another player who has shown growing confidence in his shot. He went 7-of-30 from 3-point range as a freshman last year, but this year, he has already made 4-of-8 attempts. Anderson finished with 14 points overall, a career high, and he made 6-of-9 shots from the field. He already has 11 made field goals this year vs. 12 all of last season, and it's clear his outside shooting is allowing him to build confidence all over the floor.

"His great gift is he can really shoot the ball," Miller said. "I think you're starting to see more in minutes when he takes good ones and he's getting good looks that come off unselfish play. He's a guy that can really stick it from long range. (He's) one of our better long-range shooters."

Indiana is shooting 36.2 percent from 3-point range as a team so far this season, and IU's depth from the perimeter could make shooting a strength down the road. Hunter is still finding his stroke, but the coaching staff is excited about his ability to knock down open shots.

Sophomore Rob Phinisee has made 3-of-8 attempts on the young season, and he missed the Troy game with an illness.

Senior Devonte Green will help round out IU's sharpshooters when he returns to form. Green missed the first three games of the year with an injury, and the rust showed as he went 1-of-6 from 3-point range in his season debut. Green led the team from beyond the arc a season ago, draining 41.0 percent of his attempts, and the coaching staff isn't worried about his shooting.

"He took some shots that he'll make down the line," Miller said.

With Durham, Smith, Phinisee, Anderson, Hunter, and Green all possessing the skills to stretch defenses, the Hoosiers should be on their way to creating more headaches for opponents down the road.

Hoosiers Find Success Stretching the Floor Against Troy

Players Mentioned

Damezi Anderson

Joey Brunk

Aljami Durham

Armaan Franklin

Devonte Green

Jerome Hunter

Rob Phinisee

Justin Smith

Indiana University Athletics