DIPRIMIO: ‘Hard to Guard’ -- Durham, Phinisee Pace Dynamic Backcourt
11/24/2020 2:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Aljami Durham isn't boasting. He doesn't have to. Truth matters in the basketball world, and Indiana's senior guard is ready to seize this big basketball moment, pandemic be darned.
"I'm always able to do anything. If you need me to score, pass, play defense, I'm up for the challenge. I'm able to do it."
Durham is the leader of a potentially do-it-all backcourt, and that means doing what needs to be done.
He can.
"No matter where coaches put me," he says, "I'll be able to succeed or do whatever they need."
Durham's success, and that of the Hoosiers, officially begin with Wednesday's season opener against Tennessee Tech.
He'll get plenty of guard help with veterans Rob Phinisee, Armaan Franklin and Jerome Hunter, plus heralded freshmen Khristian Lander, Anthony Leal and Trey Galloway.
It's a deep, athletic backcourt that should thrive at pushing the pace, defending, attacking the basket, defending, shooting from the perimeter and getting the ball to the right people (can you say pre-season All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis?) at the right time.
Oh, yes. Defending.
"We have guys we trust to bring it down and get us into our offense," Durham says. "On the break, we have multiple guys who can handle the ball. A key piece for us to get into the offense quicker."
Indiana figures to attack with three-guard lineups. Coach Archie Miller likely will start with Durham, Phinisee and Lander matched with inside players Jackson-Davis and Joey Brunk, although depth will allow all sorts of combinations.
"Having three guys who can bring the ball up the court is very valuable," Phinisee says. "We can play a lot faster. We have a lot of matchup nightmares for other teams. We will be really hard to guard."
Forget preseason rankings that leave the Hoosiers outside of top-25 recognition. This is a team rich in possibilities in Year Four of the Miller era, and it starts with effort and attitude.
"(Coach) sees our non-stop work," Durham says. "The non-stop wanting to learn. Everybody wants to learn, to be around each other, to learn from the next man.
"It gives a good vibe. Everyone is locked in."
Adds Phinisee: "Everyone is holding everyone accountable. Everyone wants to win. Whatever happens, everyone will stay together."
Through it all, Durham won't wow with spectacular plays as guard Devonte Green did last season with his are-you-kidding marksmanship, but he will make a difference through effort, attitude and leadership.
Take, for instance, 3-point shooting.
Durham went from 28.6 percent as a freshman to 34.8 percent as a sophomore to 38.3 percent last season. That reflects work and dedication, and leads to this question:
How much better can he get?
"To be the shooter I want to be," he says, "I always have to be better. I want to improve each year. I'm always working.
"I want to shoot a higher percentage than I did last year, like 39 or 40 percent.
"As long as I'm making strides, I feel like I'm doing something good. It's all up from there."
Last season, Durham set career highs in scoring (9.8 points), rebounding (2.1) and assists (80). He ranked fifth in the Big Ten in free throw shooting (81.1 percent) while also having team co-captain leadership responsibility.
"It's an honor to be looked at like that," he says. "It was my opportunity to have my input for them, make sure I don't steer them wrong.
"It was like, 'How I can become a leader?' It's a steppingstone to what I've been trying to do. Make sure we're all on the same path."
Durham hopes to use this season to honor Green and fellow ex-senior De'Ron Davis, whose IU careers ended last March without getting to play in the NCAA Tournament because of the pandemic.
"Those guys are like my brothers," Durham says. "They didn't get to finish their season. I want to play my hardest and do my best for them."
Then there's Phinisee, who finally is fully healthy after battling a series of injuries in his first two seasons.
"I feel great. It's the best I've felt in a while. I'm ready to play."
Phinisee is better than his career numbers, which are decent, but not dominant. He has averaged 7.0 points and 3.2 assists over his first two seasons, while shooting 32.1 percent from three-point range.
These final two seasons figure to be Phinisee's prime. One goal is to better use his quickness to attack the paint.
"That is very important," he says. "That's one of the main things for the offense. Me getting into the paint will open things up for everybody. I can score or kick it out to my teammates.
"Be more of a scorer. Be more aggressive. The more aggressive I am, I can create for myself and my teammates. Be more consistent."
Still, Phinisee's biggest growth will likely come beyond numbers.
"My leadership. My confidence. I know what to expect. That experience has really helped me."
A key role for Phinisee and Durham is helping speed Lander's development. While he has 5-star talent, there's much Lander's needs to learn about the college game, especially after he decided to skip his high school senior year and jump straight to college.
"That's what Coach emphasizes to the older guys," Phinisee says. "Teach the younger guys. That's how they learn the best. We've been through it.
"The main thing for a lot of freshmen is the physicality and the speed of the game. Take it day by day, learn everything you can and soak everything in."
That's part of Phinisee's increased leadership responsibility.
"We have a lot of young guys," he says, "so taking control of the team is important. Being that leader that we need to have."
That includes ensuring everyone makes good decisions under pandemic conditions.
"Listen to our leaders," Phinisee says. "Wear your mask. Social distance. If everyone does that, the virus can be under control and hopefully we can go back to normal."
Tennessee Tech is coming off a 9-22 season. It was picked to finish ninth in the Ohio Valley Conference and is led by guard Jr. Clay, who averaged 13.4 points and 3.9 assists.
Wednesday night's season opener will be played without fans, meaning IU won't have a rocking Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, one of the nation's most intimidating home atmospheres, to help.
The Hoosiers will adjust, Durham says.
"There's nothing like playing at Assembly Hall. Thousands of people yelling and cheering.
"But at the end of the day, basketball is still basketball. Play our hardest and do our best with or without the crowd. We have to take home turf."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Aljami Durham isn't boasting. He doesn't have to. Truth matters in the basketball world, and Indiana's senior guard is ready to seize this big basketball moment, pandemic be darned.
"I'm always able to do anything. If you need me to score, pass, play defense, I'm up for the challenge. I'm able to do it."
Durham is the leader of a potentially do-it-all backcourt, and that means doing what needs to be done.
He can.
"No matter where coaches put me," he says, "I'll be able to succeed or do whatever they need."
Durham's success, and that of the Hoosiers, officially begin with Wednesday's season opener against Tennessee Tech.
He'll get plenty of guard help with veterans Rob Phinisee, Armaan Franklin and Jerome Hunter, plus heralded freshmen Khristian Lander, Anthony Leal and Trey Galloway.
It's a deep, athletic backcourt that should thrive at pushing the pace, defending, attacking the basket, defending, shooting from the perimeter and getting the ball to the right people (can you say pre-season All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis?) at the right time.
Oh, yes. Defending.
"We have guys we trust to bring it down and get us into our offense," Durham says. "On the break, we have multiple guys who can handle the ball. A key piece for us to get into the offense quicker."
Indiana figures to attack with three-guard lineups. Coach Archie Miller likely will start with Durham, Phinisee and Lander matched with inside players Jackson-Davis and Joey Brunk, although depth will allow all sorts of combinations.
"Having three guys who can bring the ball up the court is very valuable," Phinisee says. "We can play a lot faster. We have a lot of matchup nightmares for other teams. We will be really hard to guard."
Forget preseason rankings that leave the Hoosiers outside of top-25 recognition. This is a team rich in possibilities in Year Four of the Miller era, and it starts with effort and attitude.
"(Coach) sees our non-stop work," Durham says. "The non-stop wanting to learn. Everybody wants to learn, to be around each other, to learn from the next man.
"It gives a good vibe. Everyone is locked in."
Adds Phinisee: "Everyone is holding everyone accountable. Everyone wants to win. Whatever happens, everyone will stay together."
Through it all, Durham won't wow with spectacular plays as guard Devonte Green did last season with his are-you-kidding marksmanship, but he will make a difference through effort, attitude and leadership.
Take, for instance, 3-point shooting.
Durham went from 28.6 percent as a freshman to 34.8 percent as a sophomore to 38.3 percent last season. That reflects work and dedication, and leads to this question:
How much better can he get?
"To be the shooter I want to be," he says, "I always have to be better. I want to improve each year. I'm always working.
"I want to shoot a higher percentage than I did last year, like 39 or 40 percent.
"As long as I'm making strides, I feel like I'm doing something good. It's all up from there."
Last season, Durham set career highs in scoring (9.8 points), rebounding (2.1) and assists (80). He ranked fifth in the Big Ten in free throw shooting (81.1 percent) while also having team co-captain leadership responsibility.
"It's an honor to be looked at like that," he says. "It was my opportunity to have my input for them, make sure I don't steer them wrong.
"It was like, 'How I can become a leader?' It's a steppingstone to what I've been trying to do. Make sure we're all on the same path."
Durham hopes to use this season to honor Green and fellow ex-senior De'Ron Davis, whose IU careers ended last March without getting to play in the NCAA Tournament because of the pandemic.
"Those guys are like my brothers," Durham says. "They didn't get to finish their season. I want to play my hardest and do my best for them."
Then there's Phinisee, who finally is fully healthy after battling a series of injuries in his first two seasons.
"I feel great. It's the best I've felt in a while. I'm ready to play."
Phinisee is better than his career numbers, which are decent, but not dominant. He has averaged 7.0 points and 3.2 assists over his first two seasons, while shooting 32.1 percent from three-point range.
These final two seasons figure to be Phinisee's prime. One goal is to better use his quickness to attack the paint.
"That is very important," he says. "That's one of the main things for the offense. Me getting into the paint will open things up for everybody. I can score or kick it out to my teammates.
"Be more of a scorer. Be more aggressive. The more aggressive I am, I can create for myself and my teammates. Be more consistent."
Still, Phinisee's biggest growth will likely come beyond numbers.
"My leadership. My confidence. I know what to expect. That experience has really helped me."
A key role for Phinisee and Durham is helping speed Lander's development. While he has 5-star talent, there's much Lander's needs to learn about the college game, especially after he decided to skip his high school senior year and jump straight to college.
"That's what Coach emphasizes to the older guys," Phinisee says. "Teach the younger guys. That's how they learn the best. We've been through it.
"The main thing for a lot of freshmen is the physicality and the speed of the game. Take it day by day, learn everything you can and soak everything in."
That's part of Phinisee's increased leadership responsibility.
"We have a lot of young guys," he says, "so taking control of the team is important. Being that leader that we need to have."
That includes ensuring everyone makes good decisions under pandemic conditions.
"Listen to our leaders," Phinisee says. "Wear your mask. Social distance. If everyone does that, the virus can be under control and hopefully we can go back to normal."
Tennessee Tech is coming off a 9-22 season. It was picked to finish ninth in the Ohio Valley Conference and is led by guard Jr. Clay, who averaged 13.4 points and 3.9 assists.
Wednesday night's season opener will be played without fans, meaning IU won't have a rocking Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, one of the nation's most intimidating home atmospheres, to help.
The Hoosiers will adjust, Durham says.
"There's nothing like playing at Assembly Hall. Thousands of people yelling and cheering.
"But at the end of the day, basketball is still basketball. Play our hardest and do our best with or without the crowd. We have to take home turf."
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballFB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 4 (Illinois)
Wednesday, September 17
FB: Kellan Wyatt Media Availability (9/16/25)
Tuesday, September 16
FB: Mikail Kamara Media Availability (9/16/25)
Tuesday, September 16
FB: Curt Cignetti Media Availability (9/15/25)
Monday, September 15