Indiana University Athletics
DIPRIMIO: ‘Battle-Tested' Hoosiers Ready for Big Ten Opener
12/23/2020 12:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Could the Big Ten have a Final Four team this basketball season?
Absolutely, Indiana coach Archie Miller said.
IU (5-2) opens Big Ten play Wednesday night by hosting Northwestern (4-1) and this much we know (because Miller told us):
"We're as battle tested as probably any team in the league in terms of understanding what it's going to take for us to be successful," he said.
Five games away from Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, two against dynamic ranked teams in No. 17 Texas and No. 20 Florida State, have steeled the Hoosiers for this opportunity.
"We have that information," Miller said. "We've got to keep getting better. We've got to keep getting more guys involved in the game."
The Hoosiers have won their last two games, including a tough-minded win last Saturday against tough-minded Butler in Indianapolis, and they seem primed to make a big statement.
Are they flawless?
Not even close, but they defend as if their next five meals depend on it, they are shooting better (can you say Armaan Franklin and his 10-for-14 3-point marksmanship over the past two games) and they have a beast inside with Trayce Jackson-Davis, a double-double threat every time he steps on to a court.
Still, Miller pushes the coaching buttons because he has to if IU is to get through this Big Ten gauntlet.
"We have to rebound by committee," he said. "We're going to have to do a great job of not giving up easy baskets inside. We have to do a better job of continuing to be creative there.
"Offensively, it's our turnovers. We continue to have five or six plays that are just way too many turnovers. We can't play with 15 turnovers and win in our league.
"We've got to do a better job of executing. A better job of taking care of the ball. But I'm here to tell you, I don't know how we'll go through a Big Ten season without everybody on our team being able to contribute every game."
The Big Ten was brutally good last year, and Miller told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during his Monday night radio show that the league might be better this season.
All 14 teams have winning records. Two -- Rutgers (6-0) and Michigan (6-0), are undefeated.
The conference has seven ranked teams with No. 4 Iowa (6-1), No. 9 Wisconsin (6-1), No. 11 Rutgers, No. 12 Michigan State (6-1), No. 18 Illinois (5-3), No. 19 Michigan and No. 23 Ohio State (6-1).
Rutgers leads the Big Ten with a 2-0 record. Michigan, Purdue and Northwestern are 1-0.
"The teams at the top are just as good," Miller told Fischer. "Some of the teams in the middle are just as good or improved. I also see the bottom improved when you see the way Northwestern handled Michigan State in their opener. It shows you there are no nights off."
IU's conference play opens quickly with three games in the next week. After Northwestern, there's a trip to Illinois on Saturday and then a Dec. 30 home game against Penn State.
"You have to have a tunnel vision of how to approach the next 60 days," Miller told Fischer. "You play 20 games in two months. We're skipping Christmas. We're going all the way through.
"It will be the mental challenge to not break down when things don't go your way."
Northwestern made history with its stunning 79-65 victory over then No. 4 and previously unbeaten Michigan State on Sunday.
It was the Wildcats' first win over a top-5 team in 41 years.
Miller was impressed.
"That was as good an offensive performance as you will see," he told Fischer. "Michigan State had a difficult time guarding them."
Guard Boo Buie set the tone with 30 points. The leading scorer at 15.2 points, he's one of five Wildcats averaging in double figures, joining forward Miller Kopp (14.0), guard Chase Audige (13.2), center Pete Nance (11.0) and guard Ty Berry (10.6).
The 6-10 Nance averages a team-leading 8.2 rebounds.
Northwestern shoots 43.5 percent from three-point range, 47.5 percent overall. It also is a 73.5-percent free-throw shooting team.
"They're playing fast," Miller told Fischer. "They're making the most threes in the league, almost 12 a game. They play the Princeton-style of offense and it's opened the floor for them.
"Buie can really shoot it. Kopp can really shoot it. They have four guys shooting over 50 percent. They are a very difficult cover. I'm trying to figure out what we're going to do with these guys."
For IU, freshman guard Trey Galloway continues to impress. He averages 5.0 points and 2.3 rebounds.
"He's a throw-back, old-school player," Miller told Fischer. "He's not one-dimensional. He's much more comfortable with the ball in his hands. He's very good in transition. He can really drive. That's something we haven't had in a long time. He's a guy who can get to the paint."
Galloway made a difference in Saturday's win over Butler despite not scoring a point. He had a team-leading five assists in 27 minutes. He also added two rebounds and a steal.
"He made guys better," Miller told Fischer. "He got Armaan (Franklin) a three in the first half. He got Trayce (Jackson-Davis) a dunk in the first half.
"He made a lot of good plays. He's learning the ropes. He impacted the game without scoring, which is a great sign."
Miller expects Galloway's scoring to increase.
"As we get into conference play, he will make more shots. He's feeling his way. He's developing a role. If he builds on what did Saturday and improve his ability to create for people, that's another weapon we will need."
Defensively Galloway plays beyond his years, whether it's guarding his man or understanding the nuances of help defense.
"The hardest thing to adjust to when you get to college is defense," Miller told Fischer. "Offenses are so sophisticated. You're playing against older players.
"He's sturdy, strong, and not afraid of contact. He plays hard. He has a lot of hustle plays. He does a good enough job of understanding off-the-ball defense."
Miller is counting on Galloway and fellow freshmen Anthony Leal, Khristian Lander and Jordan Geronimo to play key roles the rest of the way.
"The freshmen still have room to grow," he told Fischer. "We hope to make them better through practices and onslaught of games. They need to find a niche. It will make us deeper."
Absolutely, Indiana coach Archie Miller said.
IU (5-2) opens Big Ten play Wednesday night by hosting Northwestern (4-1) and this much we know (because Miller told us):
"We're as battle tested as probably any team in the league in terms of understanding what it's going to take for us to be successful," he said.
Five games away from Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, two against dynamic ranked teams in No. 17 Texas and No. 20 Florida State, have steeled the Hoosiers for this opportunity.
"We have that information," Miller said. "We've got to keep getting better. We've got to keep getting more guys involved in the game."
The Hoosiers have won their last two games, including a tough-minded win last Saturday against tough-minded Butler in Indianapolis, and they seem primed to make a big statement.
Are they flawless?
Not even close, but they defend as if their next five meals depend on it, they are shooting better (can you say Armaan Franklin and his 10-for-14 3-point marksmanship over the past two games) and they have a beast inside with Trayce Jackson-Davis, a double-double threat every time he steps on to a court.
Still, Miller pushes the coaching buttons because he has to if IU is to get through this Big Ten gauntlet.
"We have to rebound by committee," he said. "We're going to have to do a great job of not giving up easy baskets inside. We have to do a better job of continuing to be creative there.
"Offensively, it's our turnovers. We continue to have five or six plays that are just way too many turnovers. We can't play with 15 turnovers and win in our league.
"We've got to do a better job of executing. A better job of taking care of the ball. But I'm here to tell you, I don't know how we'll go through a Big Ten season without everybody on our team being able to contribute every game."
The Big Ten was brutally good last year, and Miller told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during his Monday night radio show that the league might be better this season.
All 14 teams have winning records. Two -- Rutgers (6-0) and Michigan (6-0), are undefeated.
The conference has seven ranked teams with No. 4 Iowa (6-1), No. 9 Wisconsin (6-1), No. 11 Rutgers, No. 12 Michigan State (6-1), No. 18 Illinois (5-3), No. 19 Michigan and No. 23 Ohio State (6-1).
Rutgers leads the Big Ten with a 2-0 record. Michigan, Purdue and Northwestern are 1-0.
"The teams at the top are just as good," Miller told Fischer. "Some of the teams in the middle are just as good or improved. I also see the bottom improved when you see the way Northwestern handled Michigan State in their opener. It shows you there are no nights off."
IU's conference play opens quickly with three games in the next week. After Northwestern, there's a trip to Illinois on Saturday and then a Dec. 30 home game against Penn State.
"You have to have a tunnel vision of how to approach the next 60 days," Miller told Fischer. "You play 20 games in two months. We're skipping Christmas. We're going all the way through.
"It will be the mental challenge to not break down when things don't go your way."
Northwestern made history with its stunning 79-65 victory over then No. 4 and previously unbeaten Michigan State on Sunday.
It was the Wildcats' first win over a top-5 team in 41 years.
Miller was impressed.
"That was as good an offensive performance as you will see," he told Fischer. "Michigan State had a difficult time guarding them."
Guard Boo Buie set the tone with 30 points. The leading scorer at 15.2 points, he's one of five Wildcats averaging in double figures, joining forward Miller Kopp (14.0), guard Chase Audige (13.2), center Pete Nance (11.0) and guard Ty Berry (10.6).
The 6-10 Nance averages a team-leading 8.2 rebounds.
Northwestern shoots 43.5 percent from three-point range, 47.5 percent overall. It also is a 73.5-percent free-throw shooting team.
"They're playing fast," Miller told Fischer. "They're making the most threes in the league, almost 12 a game. They play the Princeton-style of offense and it's opened the floor for them.
"Buie can really shoot it. Kopp can really shoot it. They have four guys shooting over 50 percent. They are a very difficult cover. I'm trying to figure out what we're going to do with these guys."
For IU, freshman guard Trey Galloway continues to impress. He averages 5.0 points and 2.3 rebounds.
"He's a throw-back, old-school player," Miller told Fischer. "He's not one-dimensional. He's much more comfortable with the ball in his hands. He's very good in transition. He can really drive. That's something we haven't had in a long time. He's a guy who can get to the paint."
Galloway made a difference in Saturday's win over Butler despite not scoring a point. He had a team-leading five assists in 27 minutes. He also added two rebounds and a steal.
"He made guys better," Miller told Fischer. "He got Armaan (Franklin) a three in the first half. He got Trayce (Jackson-Davis) a dunk in the first half.
"He made a lot of good plays. He's learning the ropes. He impacted the game without scoring, which is a great sign."
Miller expects Galloway's scoring to increase.
"As we get into conference play, he will make more shots. He's feeling his way. He's developing a role. If he builds on what did Saturday and improve his ability to create for people, that's another weapon we will need."
Defensively Galloway plays beyond his years, whether it's guarding his man or understanding the nuances of help defense.
"The hardest thing to adjust to when you get to college is defense," Miller told Fischer. "Offenses are so sophisticated. You're playing against older players.
"He's sturdy, strong, and not afraid of contact. He plays hard. He has a lot of hustle plays. He does a good enough job of understanding off-the-ball defense."
Miller is counting on Galloway and fellow freshmen Anthony Leal, Khristian Lander and Jordan Geronimo to play key roles the rest of the way.
"The freshmen still have room to grow," he told Fischer. "We hope to make them better through practices and onslaught of games. They need to find a niche. It will make us deeper."
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