Indiana's Attacking Mindset Has Taken Center Stage

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Archie Miller is known throughout college basketball as being a coach with a keen defensive mind.

Miller's Pack Line defense is known throughout the country as a puzzle that isn't easy to solve, and through the first four games of the 2019-20 season, nobody has figured out how to put the pieces together. IU opponents have averaged just 66.5 points a game, and teams have shot just 36.9 percent from the floor vs. the Hoosiers, fourth-best in the Big Ten.

But Indiana's defense hasn't been the biggest story over the first few weeks of the season. It's IU's ability to put the ball in the basket that has taken center stage.

Indiana is averaging 93.5 points a game, seventh-best in the nation, and the team ranks 12th in the country by making 53.4 percent of its field-goal attempts. The Hoosiers have made a habit of getting to the free-throw line as well, attempting 130 shots from the line (fifth-best in the nation) and making 97 of them (third-best).

Indiana's ability to get to the line has been a welcome development this season, and it has been a result of the Hoosiers' willingness to attack the basket. Guard Al Durham has made all 14 of his attempts on the season, and forward Justin Smith has been aggressive with the ball in his hands, getting to the line 15 times.

But that attack mentality doesn't just live on the perimeter. Freshman Trayce Jackson-Davis leads the team with 30 attempts, and he has converted 22 of them, also tops on the team. Forward Race Thompson is 12-of-13 on the season, an impressive number of attempts given he is averaging just 16 minutes a game.

With Princeton coming to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall Wednesday night, the Hoosiers need to continue to attack and take advantage of one of the weaker parts of the Tigers' game. Princeton is allowing 82.7 points a game, which ranks the team 329th in the country, and only 11 teams in the country have struggled more when it comes to opponents' field-goal percentage.

The Tigers have allowed teams to shoot 51.4 percent from the floor so far this season, but they haven't run into a habit of sending teams to the line. The Ivy Leaguers play smart defense, committing just 14.3 fouls a game.

Ball movement is going to be critical for the Hoosiers, who want to keep the Tigers scrambling on the floor.

"The one thing this team can't lose is a bunch of guys getting touches," Miller said during his his weekly radio show.

Indiana has done a good job of keeping the ball moving this season, and the return of senior guard Devonte Green to the lineup should help keep that trend rolling. Green also knows how to be aggressive going to the bucket, and his vision while driving makes him a weapon going through the lane.

Green is getting back up to speed after missing the first couple of games of the year with an injury, but Miller is excited by what he can bring to the lineup.

"I think athletically he's back, but he's got to shake some rust off and get his feet under him," Miller said. "He'll be fine. He plays an important role."

One focus for the Hoosiers will be to go after Princeton's top big man, Richmond Aririguzoh, who is tied for the top spot with the Tigers averaging 17.3 points a night. Aririguzoh will be a challenge for IU inside, but if they can attack the post and get him in foul trouble, Indiana might find more success on offense. The same goes on the perimeter with Jaelin Llewellyn, who also is averaging 17.3 points a night. Forcing that duo to deal with foul issues will be critical.

Indiana tips off vs. Princeton in the second game of the Indiana Classic at 7 p.m. ET with the game being televised on the Big Ten Network.

Indiana's Attacking Mindset Has Taken Center Stage

Players Mentioned

Aljami Durham

Devonte Green

Trayce Jackson-Davis

Justin Smith

Race Thompson

Indiana University Athletics