DIPRIMIO: IU Aims to Test Depth Against No. 18 Illinois

BLOOMINGTON, IN - DECEMBER 23, 2020 - \mbb during the game against the Northwestern Wildcats and the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Missy Minear/Indiana Hoosiers

DIPRIMIO: IU Aims to Test Depth Against No. 18 Illinois

12/25/2020 10:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball

By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- How do you bounce back from a disappointing defeat?

Play better, of course

Play the bench, by necessity.

Indiana coach Archie Miller left open that possibility in the wake of Wednesday night's home loss to Northwestern, and Saturday afternoon's game at No. 18 Illinois (6-3).

"We are going to have to bite the bullet get a little deeper, play more guys to be able to sustain the depth that we are going to need throughout the season defensively," he said.

Seven Hoosiers played at least 15 minutes against Northwestern, with guard Armaan Franklin (36), forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (35) and guard Aljami Durham (35) getting the brunt of it.

Forward Race Thompson (28 minutes), guards Rob Phinisee (23), Trey Galloway (22), and swingman Jerome Hunter (15) also got significant action.

That leaves freshmen Khristian Lander, Anthony Leal and Jordan Geronimo with potentially more time in their future.

And, of course, senior forward Joey Brunk when his ailing back allows. He has yet to play this season.

"Fatigue played a factor," Miller said about the closing minutes of Wednesday's second half after the Hoosiers (5-3) had surged to a 54-50 lead.

Miller wants to play fast, but the continuing turnover problem (IU has had at least 14 in the last six games) has him considering a change.

"Maybe we have to slow it down and make sure we don't turn it over because turnovers are hard to defend on the other end," he said.

That could be especially true against Illinois, which has pressure defense in its arsenal.

It would help to get more contributions from Durham and Phinisee, who combined for six points (on 1-for-9 shooting), three rebounds and two assists against Northwestern.

"Those guys are much better players than they played," Miller said. "We need them to be better, and I know they will be. Both guys care and work hard, but we've got to get them straightened. Both play a vital role in what we are doing."

Everyone's roles will be vital against an Illinois team as talented as any in a Big Ten Miller calls, "The deepest, hardest league in the country." Seven are ranked in the top 22, with No. 4 Iowa and No. 9 Wisconsin setting the pace.

Freshman guard Andre Curbelo has found his rhythm. In the last four games, he has 26 assists against seven turnovers while thriving in an up-tempo pace. He averages 10.4 points and 4.3 assists while shooting 83.3 percent on free throws. He's at a Big Ten-leading 7.3 assists in conference play.

It helps to have one of the nation's best big men to pass to in 7-foot, 285-pound Kofi Cockburn, who is shooting 71 percent from the field in his last three games, and is a career 57-percent shooter. He averages 17.4 points and 9.8 rebounds. He's had five double-doubles this season.

The Illini's best player is do-it-all 6-5 swingman Ayo Dosunmu, who averages 23.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists. No other player in the nation has that kind of versatility. He's had six games of more than 22 or more points, including 30 in Wednesday's win over Penn State.

Illinois was ranked as high as No. 3, and is still ranked No. 7 in the highly regarded kenpom.com ratings. The Illini rank fifth in kenpom's offensive efficiency. They are eighth in the nation in shooting (53.9 percent) and fifth in three-point shooting (43.6 percent). Last year they ranked No. 294 with 30.9 percent three-point shooting.

A big reason is guard Da'Monte Williams, who shoots 70 percent (14.for-20) from three-point range. Last year he was at 27.8 percent.

Illinois beat Duke 83-68 and lost on the road to Rutgers and Missouri, and to No. 2 Baylor in Indianapolis.

"I think they've played a really difficult schedule," Miller said. "If you look at their losses, they've lost at Rutgers which is as hard of a team you're going to play in their building, they've lost at Missouri which is a rivalry game, which could have went either way and they lost to Baylor, who arguably may be the No.1 team in the country early.

"When you look at them in general, it goes through the inside-out game. It starts with Kofi inside and them playing four really good guards around him that can shoot the ball.

"Their offensive attack in transition with the perimeter guys is as good as it's going to get in the country. Ayo Dosunmu is one of the best players in all of college basketball in terms of on the perimeter as a one-on-one player in transition. His size is problematic for any guard."

The challenge, Miller said, will be formidable.

"Going there over Christmas and playing them the day after, going into Champaign that will be a difficult task. We have to get back up, and get ready to go."