Hoosiers See Best Start Since 2013-14 with a 79-54 Victory over Princeton

Wednesday, November 20

Bloomington, Ind.

7:00 PM

Indiana University

5-0,0-0Big Ten

Princeton

0-4,0-0Ivy League

Princeton

Indiana

Hoosiers See Best Start Since 2013-14 with a 79-54 Victory over Princeton

11/20/2019 8:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Joey Brunk as full-time starter.

He had to come to Indiana to earn that distinction.

Boy, has this Butler graduate transfer taken advantage.

The 6-11, 245-pound Brunk was a Simon Skojdt Assembly Hall inside wrecking crew during Wednesday night's 79-54 victory over Princeton in the Indiana Challenge. He spent most of the second half flirting with a double-double before finishing with 16 points and eight rebounds.

Brunk capped his big night with an alley-oop dunk courtesy of an Al Durham feed that left the backboard shaking.

"It kind of happened," he said. "I've been wanting to be aggressive. I've been working on it, being ready, being prepared."

Brunk has had better performances in his career. He had a 20-point, 10-rebound showing against Seton Hall last season for Butler.

But as a Hoosier, it was a career night, and perhaps not the last.

"He was ready to play," coach Archie Miller said. "He stepped up to the challenge. He's a good offensive player. He hasn't been as aggressive or assertive. We need him to be selfish down there.

"Around the basket he was good. We found him."

Guard Devonte Green did much of the finding.

"He's a problem down low," Green said of Brunk. "He has a such a presence. It opens up the floor."

Brunk has started every game this season (he'd started only 13 times in 60 games at Butler) averaging 9.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in the process. That's well above his career averages of 5.1 and 2.8.

Brunk will not dictate through three-point shooting. He's only taken five three-pointers in 65 career college games, none this season.

He battles in the paint, and just beyond, and what he lacks in Trayce Jackson-Davis talent he makes up for in experience, hustle, strength … and defense.

Brunk was a big reason why Princeton center Richmond Aririguzoh (Tigers coach Mitch Henderson calls him "one of the best centers in the country") was held to four points and seven rebounds. The 6-9, 230-pound senior came in averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 rebounds.

"Joey did a great job defensively," Miller said. "I'm more proud of Joe working defensively."

Added Green: "He was a huge help. They had a good big man and we needed somebody to answer the call. He was big on both sides of the ball."

Green was just as big. He had 16 points, four assists and one turnover in 26 minutes.

"You love it love having somebody looking for you, who wants to reward you," Brunk said of Green. "You know he will get you the ball in the right spots."

Forward Justin Smith added 14 points for IU. Freshman Trayce Jackson-Davis had 11 points.

IU (5-0) continued its November blitz -- and best start since 2013. It's average margin of victory is 26.6 points. Ten players played at least eight minutes. Ten scored.

"There's a lot of sacrificing going on," Miller said. "Guys realize the best we can do is push each other every day, and take advantage of the opportunity to play. If you do, the opportunities will be more.

"That's the gift this team has. A lot of guys are not that different in terms of impact."

Full backcourt strength arrived with the return from Illness of guard Rob Phinisee, who had two points, three rebounds, two assists and two turnovers in 11 minutes.

"It gives us more depth in the backcourt for the first time all year," Miller said.

Combined with Green's recent return from a hamstring injury, the Hoosiers had everything in place – except crisp first-half execution.

A halftime discussion solved that, which has been typical of the season.

"We have an inexperienced team," Miller said. "In the second half we calm down, make a few adjustments and we'll be fine.

"As the year goes on, because of our inexperience, we'll be a better second-half team."

The second half produced offensive and defensive ferocity Princeton (0-4) couldn't match.

"When did our schedule, Princeton garners a lot of respect," Miller said. "They have all-conference players. They'll be a contender in the Ivy League.

"It was not an easy run-out game. We had to execute. The first half we felt our way through. In the second half, we were much better. We were better defensively. The overall depth of our team had something to do with wearing them down."

IU bolted to a 12-5 lead. It didn't last. After 13 minutes, the score was tied at 21-21. One big reason – Princeton was 4-for-10 from three-point range to the Hoosiers' 0-for-3.

The Tigers inched ahead 25-24. Indiana scored five straight. Princeton tied it at 31-31.

Indiana scored the final four points of the half, capped by a Jackson-Davis fade-away jumper, for a 35-31 lead.

Eight Hoosiers scored in the first half, led by Jackson-Davis' seven points.

IU built its first double-digit lead on forward Race Thompson's put-back with 13:42 left, at 48-37. By that point, the Hoosiers had decisive edges in points off turnovers (15-6) and points in the paint (28-16). Princeton had twice as many turnovers (10) as assists (five).

The Hoosiers didn't let up, pounding inside with Brunk, Jackson-Davis, Smith and Thompson, with plenty of Green mixed in. The lead reached 14 , then 18, then 23.

Princeton was finished.

Miller pointed to IU's solid edge in rebounding (34 to 25) and strong ball security (nine turnovers, only three in the second half).

"For us, it comes down to rebounding and turnovers. If we do that, we'll be all right. If we don't rebound or if we turn it over, we're done."