Indiana University Athletics
DIPRIMIO: Phinisee, Hoosiers Seek Bounce Back Against North Alabama
12/12/2020 6:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Is a big game in Rob Phinisee's future?
Why not?
The signs are there, the work has happened and as for the opportunity, well, here comes North Alabama (2-1).
Sunday's Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall game finds Indiana's junior guard doing the behind-the-scenes things necessary for success.
"Rob is one of our most consistent shooters on a daily basis," coach Archie Miller says. "He has worked very hard in the offseason. He has a lot of games under his belt and I think he has shown at times in his career he has made big shots."
That includes a couple of big shots to help beat Stanford in the Maui Invitational, as well as the game-winning 3-pointer to beat Butler two years ago in the Crossroads Classic.
Phinisee averages career highs in scoring (8.2 points), shooting (41.9 percent) and three-point shooting (45.5 percent).
Yes, he struggled Wednesday against Florida State's length and athleticism by going 2-for-10 from the field, but he was 4-for-6 on free throws for nine points and two assists.
"The thing with Rob is to be confident and be more of a catch-ready guy, and not just when he has to take it," Miller says. "When he is open, we feel like he is a guy who has to deliver for us from three."
If he does, look out.
"Rob has confidence in his shot," Miller says. "He shoots it every day in practice like he does in the game. Rob takes good shots and when he takes good shots, he has a chance to be one of our most consistent guys."
Consistency includes the free throw line. Phinisee shoots 71.4 percent from the line, just under his 72.5 from last season. As a team, IU shoots 69.5 on free throws.
"As the season continues to unfold," Miller says, "we are going to need more consistency from behind the line, especially for guys like him. The more consistent he is, the more difficult we become."
Then there's sophomore guard Armaan Franklin, who takes instruction to a new level. Miller demands all the guards rebound better, and Franklin has responded with career-best production. He had a career-high-tying eight rebounds against Florida State to give him 23 in his last three games.
Overall, Franklin averages 6.0 rebounds for the season, third on the team behind forwards Trayce Jackson-Davis (9.0) and Race Thompson (7.2).
"That's what we are going to need him to do," Miller says. "With this year's team, the biggest (concern) is rebounding overall. For him to rebound the way he is doing it, is a big help. It is a big advantage."
Franklin also averages a career-best 8.8 points and does the little things that matter.
"The thing I am most proud of for Armaan," Miller says, "is that he is has the same attitude every day. He understands what needs to be done. He doesn't question anything.
"His ability level has gotten better because he has gotten older and stronger. He is taking full advantage of his opportunity. He is growing into his role. He is one of the bright spots. He is a much-improved player."
Meanwhile, Jackson-Davis has gone into beast mode. In his last two games, he's averaged 28.0 points and 11.5 rebounds. His 25-point, 17-rebound effort against Florida State made him the first Hoosier in the last 25 years to have three games of at least 25 points and at least 15 rebounds.
The Hoosiers (3-2) seek to bounce back from the overtime loss against Florida State.
Some programs shut down their non-conference play, but most seek to play as many games as possible as long as it's safe to do so.
When it's not safe, as in the Oaken Bucket football game between IU and Purdue, play is stopped.
Miller's Hoosiers are locked into let's-play mode to build for upcoming Big Ten play, which started Dec. 23 at home against Northwestern, and beyond.
"You want to keep your momentum going," Miller says. "You want to play.
"In a normal setting, you are looking for home games in the month of December, and that's not the case this year."
In fact, because of the pandemic, this is IU's only non-conference December home game. The only other home game, against Tennessee Tech, came in November.
In non-pandemic years, teams play around 12 non-conference games, most at home.
Of the Hoosiers' five games, three were in the Maui Invitational in North Carolina, and one was at Florida State as part of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge (the Big Ten won the overall competition 6-5). Their final non-conference game is Saturday in Indianapolis against Butler as part of the annual Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
"We are spending the entire month before we get to conference play playing good teams on the road," Miller says. "It is a unique year in that, but I think in general people want to get to the games. They are almost anxious and nervous to play them. You want to play them, and coaches need the games to help their players rather than practicing."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Is a big game in Rob Phinisee's future?
Why not?
The signs are there, the work has happened and as for the opportunity, well, here comes North Alabama (2-1).
Sunday's Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall game finds Indiana's junior guard doing the behind-the-scenes things necessary for success.
"Rob is one of our most consistent shooters on a daily basis," coach Archie Miller says. "He has worked very hard in the offseason. He has a lot of games under his belt and I think he has shown at times in his career he has made big shots."
That includes a couple of big shots to help beat Stanford in the Maui Invitational, as well as the game-winning 3-pointer to beat Butler two years ago in the Crossroads Classic.
Phinisee averages career highs in scoring (8.2 points), shooting (41.9 percent) and three-point shooting (45.5 percent).
Yes, he struggled Wednesday against Florida State's length and athleticism by going 2-for-10 from the field, but he was 4-for-6 on free throws for nine points and two assists.
"The thing with Rob is to be confident and be more of a catch-ready guy, and not just when he has to take it," Miller says. "When he is open, we feel like he is a guy who has to deliver for us from three."
If he does, look out.
"Rob has confidence in his shot," Miller says. "He shoots it every day in practice like he does in the game. Rob takes good shots and when he takes good shots, he has a chance to be one of our most consistent guys."
Consistency includes the free throw line. Phinisee shoots 71.4 percent from the line, just under his 72.5 from last season. As a team, IU shoots 69.5 on free throws.
"As the season continues to unfold," Miller says, "we are going to need more consistency from behind the line, especially for guys like him. The more consistent he is, the more difficult we become."
Then there's sophomore guard Armaan Franklin, who takes instruction to a new level. Miller demands all the guards rebound better, and Franklin has responded with career-best production. He had a career-high-tying eight rebounds against Florida State to give him 23 in his last three games.
Overall, Franklin averages 6.0 rebounds for the season, third on the team behind forwards Trayce Jackson-Davis (9.0) and Race Thompson (7.2).
"That's what we are going to need him to do," Miller says. "With this year's team, the biggest (concern) is rebounding overall. For him to rebound the way he is doing it, is a big help. It is a big advantage."
Franklin also averages a career-best 8.8 points and does the little things that matter.
"The thing I am most proud of for Armaan," Miller says, "is that he is has the same attitude every day. He understands what needs to be done. He doesn't question anything.
"His ability level has gotten better because he has gotten older and stronger. He is taking full advantage of his opportunity. He is growing into his role. He is one of the bright spots. He is a much-improved player."
Meanwhile, Jackson-Davis has gone into beast mode. In his last two games, he's averaged 28.0 points and 11.5 rebounds. His 25-point, 17-rebound effort against Florida State made him the first Hoosier in the last 25 years to have three games of at least 25 points and at least 15 rebounds.
The Hoosiers (3-2) seek to bounce back from the overtime loss against Florida State.
Some programs shut down their non-conference play, but most seek to play as many games as possible as long as it's safe to do so.
When it's not safe, as in the Oaken Bucket football game between IU and Purdue, play is stopped.
Miller's Hoosiers are locked into let's-play mode to build for upcoming Big Ten play, which started Dec. 23 at home against Northwestern, and beyond.
"You want to keep your momentum going," Miller says. "You want to play.
"In a normal setting, you are looking for home games in the month of December, and that's not the case this year."
In fact, because of the pandemic, this is IU's only non-conference December home game. The only other home game, against Tennessee Tech, came in November.
In non-pandemic years, teams play around 12 non-conference games, most at home.
Of the Hoosiers' five games, three were in the Maui Invitational in North Carolina, and one was at Florida State as part of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge (the Big Ten won the overall competition 6-5). Their final non-conference game is Saturday in Indianapolis against Butler as part of the annual Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
"We are spending the entire month before we get to conference play playing good teams on the road," Miller says. "It is a unique year in that, but I think in general people want to get to the games. They are almost anxious and nervous to play them. You want to play them, and coaches need the games to help their players rather than practicing."
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballWednesday, August 12
Wednesday, August 12
Tuesday, August 11
Tuesday, August 11