DIPRIMIO: Dialed In – ‘Energy’ an Indiana Key Against Ohio State
1/10/2020 9:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana has had two days to get it basketball right, two days to correct flaws exposed against Northwestern and other opponents, two days to dial in against a top-15 opponent faced with its own struggles.
So has Indiana coach Archie Miller ratcheted up the practice intensity with No. 11 Ohio State coming to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Saturday?
You be the judge.
"Practices with Coach Miller are really intense," sophomore guard Rob Phinisee said, "but it's picked up a little bit.
"Besides that, we have to come out and play with energy from the go. Play 40 minutes like that."
Energy was among the things missing for huge stretches against Northwestern, and, in fact, against Notre Dame, Nebraska, Arkansas and Maryland in recent games.
That has to change, junior forward Joey Brunk said.
"It's been a point of emphasis to play with energy and play for each other," he said. "We want to carry that over to (Saturday)."
IU (12-3 overall, 2-2 in the Big Ten) was sparked by using full-court pressure against Northwestern. Could that become the Hoosier norm moving forward?
Maybe, Miller said.
"Once you set the tone that you're picking up the pressure and play it full court, it hopefully engages your guys. You're going to play hard.
"This team has the ability to do that. It's something our staff has talked about adding."
Miller went with six players down the stretch against Northwestern. Is that a sign of what's to come?
"We're playing to win, and we've got to play with the guys who are doing the best job," Miller said. "That doesn't mean it's going to be the recipe for every game, but you've got to be dialed in. You've got to have a great attitude. You've got to be coachable. You have to be about the right things when it's not your night.
"We're going to go with guys who are playing well. It might be a different group (on Saturday), but I expect everybody to have a good mindset."
Forward Trayce Jackson-Davis continues to rate among the nation's best freshmen. He's second nationally among freshmen in shooting percentage (64.3), third in blocked shots (31) and free throws made (66).
Overall he's eighth in the Big Ten in scoring (15.2) and ninth in rebounding (8.3).
As for Ohio State, the Buckeyes (11-4, 1-3) have lost their offensive way, losing 67-59 to West Virginia, 61-57 at home to Wisconsin and 67-55 at No. 12 Maryland in its last three games.
This is a major setback from the first nine games, when the Buckeyes shot their way to a 9-0 record and flirted with a No. 1 ranking. They beat North Carolina, Villanova and Cincinnati to rise to No. 2 in the polls.
An 84-71 loss at Minnesota ended that momentum. The Buckeyes bounced back with two more wins -- including a victory over Kentucky that again generated No. 1 talk -- before hitting an offensive wall.
The three-point shot, crucial to Ohio State's hot start, has faded. The Buckeyes shot 33.3 percent beyond the arc against West Virginia, 26.1 percent against Wisconsin and 18.5 percent against Maryland.
Still, their 38-percent three-point shooting ranks No. 23 nationally. Andre and Kaleb Wesson, Duane Washington Jr. and DJ Carton shoot 40 percent or better beyond the arc. C.J Walker (37.1 percent) and Luther Muhammad (35.4 percent) are right behind them.
Turnovers are another problem. Ohio State averages 13.8 turnovers a game. It throws the ball away on 20.4 percent of its possessions. That ranks No. 226 nationally.
Still, the Buckeyes have one of the nation's best players in Kaleb Wesson, a 6-9, 269-pound forward who dominated all over the court. He averages 14.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He also shoots 42 percent from three-point range and has 19 blocks.
"I don't think there's another big guy in college basketball that commands as much attention as Kaleb Wesson," Miller said. "He just puts so much pressure on you inside."
Washington averages 11.4 points and 2.7 rebounds. Carton averages 10.0 points and 2.7 rebounds.
The Buckeyes hope for the return of forward Kyle Young, who has missed the past two games because of an appendectomy. He averages 8.3 points and 6.8 rebounds.
Miller said the Hoosiers are preparing as if Young will play.
Defense remains Ohio State's strength. It allows just 58.9 points. It ranks third nationally in two-point-shooting defense (39.8 percent) and sixth in defensive effective shooting percentage.
Forget the Buckeyes' recent slump. Miller recognizes the challenge IU will face. It has lost four straight to Ohio State, including the last two meetings in Assembly Hall – one by two points in overtime, one by three points.
"Ohio State is, without question, a Final Four-caliber team, a team that has aspirations to do big things within our conference," Miller said.
"Ohio State plays as hard as anybody. They're as physical as anybody. They win with defense and toughness as much as anything else. This game will be as hard as any we play."
Chris Holtmann has a three-year coaching record with the Buckeyes at 56-28. He previously coached at Butler.
Brunk, a Butler transfer, played for Holtmann, and knows better than anyone what the Hoosiers will face.
"They're going to have guys who play hard. They're going to be tough. They're going to be tough-minded and play for each other. They're going to play the right way."
Saturday will also include a basketball alumni gathering. Several former Indiana players, staff and managers are set to attend.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana has had two days to get it basketball right, two days to correct flaws exposed against Northwestern and other opponents, two days to dial in against a top-15 opponent faced with its own struggles.
So has Indiana coach Archie Miller ratcheted up the practice intensity with No. 11 Ohio State coming to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Saturday?
You be the judge.
"Practices with Coach Miller are really intense," sophomore guard Rob Phinisee said, "but it's picked up a little bit.
"Besides that, we have to come out and play with energy from the go. Play 40 minutes like that."
Energy was among the things missing for huge stretches against Northwestern, and, in fact, against Notre Dame, Nebraska, Arkansas and Maryland in recent games.
That has to change, junior forward Joey Brunk said.
"It's been a point of emphasis to play with energy and play for each other," he said. "We want to carry that over to (Saturday)."
IU (12-3 overall, 2-2 in the Big Ten) was sparked by using full-court pressure against Northwestern. Could that become the Hoosier norm moving forward?
Maybe, Miller said.
"Once you set the tone that you're picking up the pressure and play it full court, it hopefully engages your guys. You're going to play hard.
"This team has the ability to do that. It's something our staff has talked about adding."
Miller went with six players down the stretch against Northwestern. Is that a sign of what's to come?
"We're playing to win, and we've got to play with the guys who are doing the best job," Miller said. "That doesn't mean it's going to be the recipe for every game, but you've got to be dialed in. You've got to have a great attitude. You've got to be coachable. You have to be about the right things when it's not your night.
"We're going to go with guys who are playing well. It might be a different group (on Saturday), but I expect everybody to have a good mindset."
Forward Trayce Jackson-Davis continues to rate among the nation's best freshmen. He's second nationally among freshmen in shooting percentage (64.3), third in blocked shots (31) and free throws made (66).
Overall he's eighth in the Big Ten in scoring (15.2) and ninth in rebounding (8.3).
As for Ohio State, the Buckeyes (11-4, 1-3) have lost their offensive way, losing 67-59 to West Virginia, 61-57 at home to Wisconsin and 67-55 at No. 12 Maryland in its last three games.
This is a major setback from the first nine games, when the Buckeyes shot their way to a 9-0 record and flirted with a No. 1 ranking. They beat North Carolina, Villanova and Cincinnati to rise to No. 2 in the polls.
An 84-71 loss at Minnesota ended that momentum. The Buckeyes bounced back with two more wins -- including a victory over Kentucky that again generated No. 1 talk -- before hitting an offensive wall.
The three-point shot, crucial to Ohio State's hot start, has faded. The Buckeyes shot 33.3 percent beyond the arc against West Virginia, 26.1 percent against Wisconsin and 18.5 percent against Maryland.
Still, their 38-percent three-point shooting ranks No. 23 nationally. Andre and Kaleb Wesson, Duane Washington Jr. and DJ Carton shoot 40 percent or better beyond the arc. C.J Walker (37.1 percent) and Luther Muhammad (35.4 percent) are right behind them.
Turnovers are another problem. Ohio State averages 13.8 turnovers a game. It throws the ball away on 20.4 percent of its possessions. That ranks No. 226 nationally.
Still, the Buckeyes have one of the nation's best players in Kaleb Wesson, a 6-9, 269-pound forward who dominated all over the court. He averages 14.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He also shoots 42 percent from three-point range and has 19 blocks.
"I don't think there's another big guy in college basketball that commands as much attention as Kaleb Wesson," Miller said. "He just puts so much pressure on you inside."
Washington averages 11.4 points and 2.7 rebounds. Carton averages 10.0 points and 2.7 rebounds.
The Buckeyes hope for the return of forward Kyle Young, who has missed the past two games because of an appendectomy. He averages 8.3 points and 6.8 rebounds.
Miller said the Hoosiers are preparing as if Young will play.
Defense remains Ohio State's strength. It allows just 58.9 points. It ranks third nationally in two-point-shooting defense (39.8 percent) and sixth in defensive effective shooting percentage.
Forget the Buckeyes' recent slump. Miller recognizes the challenge IU will face. It has lost four straight to Ohio State, including the last two meetings in Assembly Hall – one by two points in overtime, one by three points.
"Ohio State is, without question, a Final Four-caliber team, a team that has aspirations to do big things within our conference," Miller said.
"Ohio State plays as hard as anybody. They're as physical as anybody. They win with defense and toughness as much as anything else. This game will be as hard as any we play."
Chris Holtmann has a three-year coaching record with the Buckeyes at 56-28. He previously coached at Butler.
Brunk, a Butler transfer, played for Holtmann, and knows better than anyone what the Hoosiers will face.
"They're going to have guys who play hard. They're going to be tough. They're going to be tough-minded and play for each other. They're going to play the right way."
Saturday will also include a basketball alumni gathering. Several former Indiana players, staff and managers are set to attend.
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