Indiana University Athletics
DIPRIMIO: Disciplined Hoosiers Steeled for Crossroads Classic Challenge
12/18/2020 8:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Sure, the temptation is there. Indiana basketball players feel it every day -- socialize as if the pandemic is a myth rather than reality.
But the Hoosiers have high goals, and the first one is to stay healthy enough to play, to not be the one who lets teammates and coaches down through risky behavior.
So they do what's necessary -- including daily 8 a.m. testing -- and the results are clear – six games scheduled, six games played as IU (4-2) heads into Saturday's Crossroads Classic game against Butler (1-1) at Indianapolis' Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
"It's really hard," forward Race Thompson said. "You go from online class to online tutoring to practice and then back home, every day. It's hard to stay in your apartment with your roommates, with your teammates, all the time.
"But I think everyone's bought in and it's showing, because we've been able to play all these games."
College athletics has always demanded discipline and dedication, but that's shot up under Covid-19 conditions.
"It's real early," guard Armaan Franklin said about the 8 a.m. testing. "Especially if we've got practice at 11, so we're pretty much here until practice time, getting extra lifts in, getting extra shots. It isn't something I've gotten used to yet, but I'll get used to it soon."
Coach Archie Miller understands the sacrifice, and the potential reward.
"It's definitely something I think is an added element of stress, weight, anxiety every day that you gotta do it," he said. "To me, those early mornings, every single day, seven days a week now, heading into months at a time, you get used to it. But, at the same time, man, it's not the normal deal."
Under this new normal, the Hoosiers will wrap up non-conference play Saturday against an opponent known for its toughness.
"We know the game is going to be absolutely a bear and it's a great non-conference opponent for us as we finish up our non-conference slate," Miller said.
"To be able to get all seven non-conference games before we head to conference was essential to us. We feel like our schedule strength is as good as anyone in the country. It has prepared us for the long grind."
That grind comes with this thought -- IU is built to rock opposing offenses.
Miller likes what he's seen, including the defensive improvement from the loss at Florida State to the win over North Alabama.
"We're keeping teams in front of us," Miller told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during his Monday night radio show. "We're making teams take challenged jump shots. If we're successful in rebounding, our defense is triggering a lot of our offense. It's going to be a huge deal."
It will be huge against Butler, and then in Big Ten play.
"The Big Ten is such a grind," Miller told Fischer. "You have to be able to defend and get stops. We're still a long way from where we can be.
"We have to do a better job of communicating in transition. A better job of getting back and not giving up silly ones that we still give up."
Miller told Fischer he's seen plenty of individual defensive improvement, including guard Armaan Franklin, who now rivals Rob Phinisee for title of the team's best backcourt defender.
"You can't be a great defensive team unless have some guys who want to get after it and have some real outstanding talent," Miller told Fischer.
"Rob has always been a guy we can count on from the perimeter. I told Armaan, you're almost right up there with him in terms of dependability and accountability.
"If you have a great backcourt that is really defending the other team's (point and shooting guards), that's a big deal."
Beyond that, IU is getting plenty of defense from forwards Trayce Jackson-Davis and Thompson.
Miller praised Jackson-Davis' shot blocking and overall strong play around the basket.
"And Race has always been one of our best team defenders," Miller told Fischer. "He's a guy who understands what to do."
"We have a lot more versatility. We're keeping the ball in front of us better than we ever have. That has to continue to be a strong point."
Meanwhile, Covid-19 continues to disrupt. While IU hasn't lost a game to it yet, there's no guarantee that will continue.
IU must be prepared for anything, Miller told Fischer.
"You have to put yourself in the situation to stay with it. The teams that handles the negatives and twists and stops the best will have a chance at the end of the day to be where they want to be."
Butler comes in after a 21-day pandemic-caused break that cost it four games, and then an 85-66 loss at No. 7 Villanova last Wednesday in which it wasn't at full strength.
Does that mean the Bulldogs will be vulnerable on Saturday?
Not a chance, Miller told Fischer.
"If you walk into that game not understanding what's going on, you will get seriously punched in the mouth. Our guys understand what this game will take."
Butler, which opened with a 66-62 win over Western Michigan, was led by guard John Bolden's 18 points against Villanova.
Guard Aaron Thompson, a semifinalist last year for national defensive player of the year, was injured late in the game. His status for Saturday is uncertain.
Other returning starters are forwards Bryce Golden and Bryce Nze.
Miller told Fischer that all three of the returning starters, "look the part of Butler tough."
"The heart and soul of their team is their point guard, Aaron Thompson. He's one of the best on ball defenders in the country. He runs their team. He's just a tough nut."
Miller described Nze and Golden as "physical" players "who can both shoot and play inside." He said Bolden, a transfer from South Carolina, "can really shoot it."
The Hoosiers don't expect Butler's loss to Villanova to diminish its intensity for Saturday's game.
"When you get into the anticipation and the environment, it's a big game, particularly when Butler is involved," Miller told Fischer.
"They have that mantra. You take the names off the front of the jersey, let's play shirts and skins, and we'll beat you. That's always been Butler's deal."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Sure, the temptation is there. Indiana basketball players feel it every day -- socialize as if the pandemic is a myth rather than reality.
But the Hoosiers have high goals, and the first one is to stay healthy enough to play, to not be the one who lets teammates and coaches down through risky behavior.
So they do what's necessary -- including daily 8 a.m. testing -- and the results are clear – six games scheduled, six games played as IU (4-2) heads into Saturday's Crossroads Classic game against Butler (1-1) at Indianapolis' Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
"It's really hard," forward Race Thompson said. "You go from online class to online tutoring to practice and then back home, every day. It's hard to stay in your apartment with your roommates, with your teammates, all the time.
"But I think everyone's bought in and it's showing, because we've been able to play all these games."
College athletics has always demanded discipline and dedication, but that's shot up under Covid-19 conditions.
"It's real early," guard Armaan Franklin said about the 8 a.m. testing. "Especially if we've got practice at 11, so we're pretty much here until practice time, getting extra lifts in, getting extra shots. It isn't something I've gotten used to yet, but I'll get used to it soon."
Coach Archie Miller understands the sacrifice, and the potential reward.
"It's definitely something I think is an added element of stress, weight, anxiety every day that you gotta do it," he said. "To me, those early mornings, every single day, seven days a week now, heading into months at a time, you get used to it. But, at the same time, man, it's not the normal deal."
Under this new normal, the Hoosiers will wrap up non-conference play Saturday against an opponent known for its toughness.
"We know the game is going to be absolutely a bear and it's a great non-conference opponent for us as we finish up our non-conference slate," Miller said.
"To be able to get all seven non-conference games before we head to conference was essential to us. We feel like our schedule strength is as good as anyone in the country. It has prepared us for the long grind."
That grind comes with this thought -- IU is built to rock opposing offenses.
Miller likes what he's seen, including the defensive improvement from the loss at Florida State to the win over North Alabama.
"We're keeping teams in front of us," Miller told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during his Monday night radio show. "We're making teams take challenged jump shots. If we're successful in rebounding, our defense is triggering a lot of our offense. It's going to be a huge deal."
It will be huge against Butler, and then in Big Ten play.
"The Big Ten is such a grind," Miller told Fischer. "You have to be able to defend and get stops. We're still a long way from where we can be.
"We have to do a better job of communicating in transition. A better job of getting back and not giving up silly ones that we still give up."
Miller told Fischer he's seen plenty of individual defensive improvement, including guard Armaan Franklin, who now rivals Rob Phinisee for title of the team's best backcourt defender.
"You can't be a great defensive team unless have some guys who want to get after it and have some real outstanding talent," Miller told Fischer.
"Rob has always been a guy we can count on from the perimeter. I told Armaan, you're almost right up there with him in terms of dependability and accountability.
"If you have a great backcourt that is really defending the other team's (point and shooting guards), that's a big deal."
Beyond that, IU is getting plenty of defense from forwards Trayce Jackson-Davis and Thompson.
Miller praised Jackson-Davis' shot blocking and overall strong play around the basket.
"And Race has always been one of our best team defenders," Miller told Fischer. "He's a guy who understands what to do."
"We have a lot more versatility. We're keeping the ball in front of us better than we ever have. That has to continue to be a strong point."
Meanwhile, Covid-19 continues to disrupt. While IU hasn't lost a game to it yet, there's no guarantee that will continue.
IU must be prepared for anything, Miller told Fischer.
"You have to put yourself in the situation to stay with it. The teams that handles the negatives and twists and stops the best will have a chance at the end of the day to be where they want to be."
Butler comes in after a 21-day pandemic-caused break that cost it four games, and then an 85-66 loss at No. 7 Villanova last Wednesday in which it wasn't at full strength.
Does that mean the Bulldogs will be vulnerable on Saturday?
Not a chance, Miller told Fischer.
"If you walk into that game not understanding what's going on, you will get seriously punched in the mouth. Our guys understand what this game will take."
Butler, which opened with a 66-62 win over Western Michigan, was led by guard John Bolden's 18 points against Villanova.
Guard Aaron Thompson, a semifinalist last year for national defensive player of the year, was injured late in the game. His status for Saturday is uncertain.
Other returning starters are forwards Bryce Golden and Bryce Nze.
Miller told Fischer that all three of the returning starters, "look the part of Butler tough."
"The heart and soul of their team is their point guard, Aaron Thompson. He's one of the best on ball defenders in the country. He runs their team. He's just a tough nut."
Miller described Nze and Golden as "physical" players "who can both shoot and play inside." He said Bolden, a transfer from South Carolina, "can really shoot it."
The Hoosiers don't expect Butler's loss to Villanova to diminish its intensity for Saturday's game.
"When you get into the anticipation and the environment, it's a big game, particularly when Butler is involved," Miller told Fischer.
"They have that mantra. You take the names off the front of the jersey, let's play shirts and skins, and we'll beat you. That's always been Butler's deal."
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