Indiana University Athletics
DIPRIMIO: Phinisee Staying Healthy Key for IU
12/12/2019 8:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The goal is as clear as it is complex:
Keep Rob Phinisee healthy.
If Indiana does that, if the sophomore guard can blast past the injury bad luck that has plagued him so often as an Indiana Hoosier, look out.
Phinisee is a stabilizer, a good decision maker, a guy who makes shots, passes accurately, dribbles efficiently and defends aggressively.
Phinisee can't offensively dominate in the manner of teammate Devonte Green (his career high is 17 points, 13 fewer than Green), but he can facilitate to the point of team excellence.
Take, for instance, the impact he had in Tuesday night's win over UConn.
It's no surprise he was there in crunch time of an ugly game that badly needed sound execution. He finished with six points, four rebounds and two assists.
"Defensively, he impacted the game," coach Archie Miller says. "Offensively, he is steady and strong. He doesn't just fire the ball all over the place. He keeps it tight."
Health might prevent Phinisee from becoming a 25-minute-plus player this season. A series of injuries have limited him to five of IU's 10 games and sporadic practicing. Still, he averages 8.4 points and 4.0 assists, better than his freshman numbers of 6.8 and 2.9.
He has scored as many as 14 points and dished out as many as seven assists this season.
Imagine what he could do when fully healthy.
"He has had a really tough start to the season," Miller says. "He has not been able to get over the hump (health-wise). Hopefully, this is a sign of getting him back."
If Phinisee is back, it gives IU four solid guards along with Green, Al Durham and Armaan Franklin. It means Miller can implement the full force of his impressive depth, something he didn't have in the previous 60 games.
"This is the first time all season we've had all 11 available," he says. "All 11 have a chance to play. I'm not afraid to play any of them."
That means every day is a battle to prove yourself, the kind of competition coaches love to ensure total effort and engagement.
"We have to be mindful around each other every day of how hard it is to coexist with 11 players and expect to play," Miller says. "If we're about the right things and play the right way, this team has a chance to be pretty good."
That showed in limited doses against Connecticut at Madison Square Garden. More will be needed Friday night against Nebraska at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
IU (9-1) seeks its first Big Ten win after losing the opener last weekend at Wisconsin.
The Cornhuskers (4-5) are in their first year under coach Fred Hoiberg, who spent four seasons coaching the NBA's Chicago Bulls after a record-setting run at Iowa State (four NCAA tourney appearances, two Big 12 Tournament titles).
Hoiberg, who played 10 years in the NBA, has Nebraska in major rebuilding mode. It has lost three of its last four games by at least 17 points, including two straight.
The Cornhuskers haven't played since last Saturday's 85-76 loss at Creighton. They also lost at Georgia Tech, 73-56, in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge
Nebraska is led by guards Haanif Cheatham (12.6 points, 4.7 rebounds), Cam Mack (12.3, 3.1), Dachon Burke Jr. (12.0, 3.1) and Jervay Green (10.3, 3.8).
The Cornhuskers average 73.6 points while allowing 77.2. They also force 15.0 turnovers a game.
A healthy Indiana squad has everything it needs to counter that, and more.
"There is a lot of good experience out there," Miller says of his Hoosiers.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The goal is as clear as it is complex:
Keep Rob Phinisee healthy.
If Indiana does that, if the sophomore guard can blast past the injury bad luck that has plagued him so often as an Indiana Hoosier, look out.
Phinisee is a stabilizer, a good decision maker, a guy who makes shots, passes accurately, dribbles efficiently and defends aggressively.
Phinisee can't offensively dominate in the manner of teammate Devonte Green (his career high is 17 points, 13 fewer than Green), but he can facilitate to the point of team excellence.
Take, for instance, the impact he had in Tuesday night's win over UConn.
It's no surprise he was there in crunch time of an ugly game that badly needed sound execution. He finished with six points, four rebounds and two assists.
"Defensively, he impacted the game," coach Archie Miller says. "Offensively, he is steady and strong. He doesn't just fire the ball all over the place. He keeps it tight."
Health might prevent Phinisee from becoming a 25-minute-plus player this season. A series of injuries have limited him to five of IU's 10 games and sporadic practicing. Still, he averages 8.4 points and 4.0 assists, better than his freshman numbers of 6.8 and 2.9.
He has scored as many as 14 points and dished out as many as seven assists this season.
Imagine what he could do when fully healthy.
"He has had a really tough start to the season," Miller says. "He has not been able to get over the hump (health-wise). Hopefully, this is a sign of getting him back."
If Phinisee is back, it gives IU four solid guards along with Green, Al Durham and Armaan Franklin. It means Miller can implement the full force of his impressive depth, something he didn't have in the previous 60 games.
"This is the first time all season we've had all 11 available," he says. "All 11 have a chance to play. I'm not afraid to play any of them."
That means every day is a battle to prove yourself, the kind of competition coaches love to ensure total effort and engagement.
"We have to be mindful around each other every day of how hard it is to coexist with 11 players and expect to play," Miller says. "If we're about the right things and play the right way, this team has a chance to be pretty good."
That showed in limited doses against Connecticut at Madison Square Garden. More will be needed Friday night against Nebraska at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
IU (9-1) seeks its first Big Ten win after losing the opener last weekend at Wisconsin.
The Cornhuskers (4-5) are in their first year under coach Fred Hoiberg, who spent four seasons coaching the NBA's Chicago Bulls after a record-setting run at Iowa State (four NCAA tourney appearances, two Big 12 Tournament titles).
Hoiberg, who played 10 years in the NBA, has Nebraska in major rebuilding mode. It has lost three of its last four games by at least 17 points, including two straight.
The Cornhuskers haven't played since last Saturday's 85-76 loss at Creighton. They also lost at Georgia Tech, 73-56, in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge
Nebraska is led by guards Haanif Cheatham (12.6 points, 4.7 rebounds), Cam Mack (12.3, 3.1), Dachon Burke Jr. (12.0, 3.1) and Jervay Green (10.3, 3.8).
The Cornhuskers average 73.6 points while allowing 77.2. They also force 15.0 turnovers a game.
A healthy Indiana squad has everything it needs to counter that, and more.
"There is a lot of good experience out there," Miller says of his Hoosiers.
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