Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Tennessee Tech
NOTES: Indiana Opens the 2020-21 Season Wednesday Against Tennessee Tech
11/24/2020 11:32:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Indiana University begins its 121st season of competition in men's basketball and will open the doors of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for the 50th season in the building against Tennessee Tech. This is the latest the Hoosiers have opened a season since 2004-05 when they started the 2004-05 campaign against UMass at the Maui Invitational. The Hoosiers will play 15 games away from their home court and just 12 games at home. That is the fewest home games for IU since the 2005-06 season when they played 13 away or neutral site games. Potentially, the Hoosiers could play 15 games against teams ranked in the AP Preseason Poll (Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan State, Texas, North Carolina, Florida State, Ohio State, Rutgers, Michigan). The Hoosiers were tied for 7th in the country with 5 wins over nationally ranked teams (Florida State, Ohio State, Michigan State, Iowa, Penn State) a year ago.
GAME INFORMATION
Wednesday, Nov. 25 • 8 p.m.
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222)
Watch: BTN (Brandon Gaudin and Robbie Hummel)
Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, Joe Smith) | TuneIn
Series History: Indiana leads, 4-0
Last Meeting: at IU 87, TTU 59; 12/21/17
THE COACHES
Indiana Coach Archie Miller is in his fourth season of guiding the Cream and Crimson and is 55-43 with the Hoosiers. He is 194-106 in nine years as a head coach, which includes six years at the University of Dayton. His Flyer teams made NCAA Tournament appearances in each of his last four seasons, including a trip to the Elite Eight in 2014. John Pelfrey is in his second year as head coach at Tennessee Tech. The former Kentucky standout saw his team finish 9-22 a season ago. He also has been a head coach at South Alabama and Arkansas. IU Co-Associate Head Coach Tom Ostrom was on Pelfrey's staff at both stops. The pair also worked together at Florida.
JACKSON-DAVIS EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
Sophomore forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, a Preseason All-Big Ten pick, has been named to several Preseason All-American teams and is on the watch lists for the Naismith and Malone Award. He was named third team All-Big Ten and also selected to the All-Freshman team. He had 12 double-doubles, the most since D.J. White had 20 in 2007-08. Davis, a native of Greenwood and a graduate of Center Grove High School, averaged a team-best 13.5 points and 8.4 rebounds. He was just one of four freshman nationally a year ago to lead his team in scoring, rebounds, FG percentage, FT made and FT attempted and blocked shots. He was 7th in the B1G in rebounding, 2nd in FG percentage and 7th in blocked shots.
MISCELLANEOUS
IU will return seven of its top nine scorers, including four starters. Last year, IU was on the brink of earning its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2016 before the COVID-19 pandemic halted post season play after one game. The Hoosiers finished the season with a 20-12 record. Senior guard Aljami Durham returns along with his 71 career starts. The Georgia native averaged 9.8 points. Senior center Joey Brunk averaged 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 32 starts. Junior guard Rob Phinisee has made 45 career starts and averaged 7.3 points and led the team with 93 assists. Junior forward Race Thompson, sophomore wing Jerome Hunter and sophomore guard Armaan Franklin give IU a deep returning cast. Freshman guard Khristian Lander is the top recruit and he skipped his senior year of high school to join the Hoosiers. Fellow freshmen Anthony Leal (Indiana Mr. Basketball, 2020), Trey Galloway, and Jordan Geronimo all look to have an immediate pact. The Hoosiers have signed the last three Indiana Mr. Basketball winners including Leal, Jackson-Davis and Romeo Langford (2018).
