Indiana University Athletics
DIPRIMIO: IU Faces ACC/Big Ten Challenge Against Florida State
12/9/2020 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Archie Miller knows what's coming in Indiana's ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup with No. 20/21 Florida State on Wednesday night.
Pressure.
"You can pretty much scrap 95 percent of what you do on a daily basis because it doesn't work against them," Miller says. "You have to go in there with a different mindset and a different game plan."
The Seminoles (1-0) are built to break you. They are long, athletic and relentless. They are, in many ways, a bigger version of the Texas team that dismantled the Hoosiers (3-1) in last week's Maui Invitational.
"They are stunning," Miller says. "They stun you when you look from top to bottom. It has got to be one of the biggest teams in college basketball year in and year out. Not just inside, but the perimeter guys are all very, very physically gifted, long and athletic.
"That is what they do with their system. They bring 10 to 12 players a game. They use their depth and physicality to pressure you and wear you down. Clearly, that is what they are built to do. You don't see very many teams like it."
The Hoosiers saw some of that in Texas, which could help.
"Texas was very, very athletic and physically strong inside," Miller says. "Texas gave us a real hard time in and around the basket with their athleticism, their length and their talent. We had to learn a hard lesson that day about being good at what we're doing. Be stronger with the ball and our execution.
"This game is even a little bit different than that one because it is underneath out of bounds defensive. It is full-court pressure on makes and misses. It is side out-of-bounds pressure. When you cross half-court there is pressure. It is constantly on top of you in terms of not allowing you to do what you want to do."
Florida State will attack at all times. It starts with 6-9 freshman Scottie Barnes and his power-forward size and point-guard skills. Rated the No. 6 player nationally in the Class of 2020, he had six assists and six rebounds in his college debut, last week's 86-58 win over North Florida.
"Scottie Barnes is a highly decorated player coming out the door," Miller says. "He was one of the best players to come out of high school last year. Tremendous size and has great ball skills.
"He is a guy who can really handle the ball. He has great length and makes good decisions.
"He seems to run their team the way they want him to run the team, and doesn't have a problem doing that. Once he's around 12 feet (from the basket), that's where it gets unique. Whether it's post ups, drives, offensive rebounding, he is a unique match-up for any guard."
Indiana senior center Joey Brunk likely will not play against Florida State, and perhaps beyond. He has yet to play this season because of a back issue.
"Joey hasn't participated in anything," Miller says. "I doubt he will be available in the near future just because we are trying to figure out what the best plan of action is for him. We are not planning on having Joey now or in the immediate future unless something changes."
Senior guard Aljami Durham also might be out after suffering an ankle injury against Texas that sidelined him for the Maui Invitational finale against Stanford.
"Al has been very slow on his recovery," Miller says. "He had a tough ankle sprain. It has been about a week. He has started to increase his activity. He did a little more (Monday) in practice, which was a live practice. His live action wasn't very much. It will be more of a game time decision to see how he feels."
IU beat Florida State last season because guard Devonte Green was an unstoppable force with 30 points that included 5-of-7 from three-point range.
The Seminoles went on to win the ACC championship. Three of their players -- Trent Forrest, Devin Vassell and Patrick Williams -- are in the NBA.
"Last year's game was an incredible environment in Assembly Hall," Miller says. "There was a lot of juice in the building, a lot of adrenaline. That won't be the case as we go down there.
"We will have to go down to a place where they are very successful. I know they will be ready. They haven't played a lot of games, so they have to be chomping at the bit to play against a team like ours."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Archie Miller knows what's coming in Indiana's ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup with No. 20/21 Florida State on Wednesday night.
Pressure.
"You can pretty much scrap 95 percent of what you do on a daily basis because it doesn't work against them," Miller says. "You have to go in there with a different mindset and a different game plan."
The Seminoles (1-0) are built to break you. They are long, athletic and relentless. They are, in many ways, a bigger version of the Texas team that dismantled the Hoosiers (3-1) in last week's Maui Invitational.
"They are stunning," Miller says. "They stun you when you look from top to bottom. It has got to be one of the biggest teams in college basketball year in and year out. Not just inside, but the perimeter guys are all very, very physically gifted, long and athletic.
"That is what they do with their system. They bring 10 to 12 players a game. They use their depth and physicality to pressure you and wear you down. Clearly, that is what they are built to do. You don't see very many teams like it."
The Hoosiers saw some of that in Texas, which could help.
"Texas was very, very athletic and physically strong inside," Miller says. "Texas gave us a real hard time in and around the basket with their athleticism, their length and their talent. We had to learn a hard lesson that day about being good at what we're doing. Be stronger with the ball and our execution.
"This game is even a little bit different than that one because it is underneath out of bounds defensive. It is full-court pressure on makes and misses. It is side out-of-bounds pressure. When you cross half-court there is pressure. It is constantly on top of you in terms of not allowing you to do what you want to do."
Florida State will attack at all times. It starts with 6-9 freshman Scottie Barnes and his power-forward size and point-guard skills. Rated the No. 6 player nationally in the Class of 2020, he had six assists and six rebounds in his college debut, last week's 86-58 win over North Florida.
"Scottie Barnes is a highly decorated player coming out the door," Miller says. "He was one of the best players to come out of high school last year. Tremendous size and has great ball skills.
"He is a guy who can really handle the ball. He has great length and makes good decisions.
"He seems to run their team the way they want him to run the team, and doesn't have a problem doing that. Once he's around 12 feet (from the basket), that's where it gets unique. Whether it's post ups, drives, offensive rebounding, he is a unique match-up for any guard."
Indiana senior center Joey Brunk likely will not play against Florida State, and perhaps beyond. He has yet to play this season because of a back issue.
"Joey hasn't participated in anything," Miller says. "I doubt he will be available in the near future just because we are trying to figure out what the best plan of action is for him. We are not planning on having Joey now or in the immediate future unless something changes."
Senior guard Aljami Durham also might be out after suffering an ankle injury against Texas that sidelined him for the Maui Invitational finale against Stanford.
"Al has been very slow on his recovery," Miller says. "He had a tough ankle sprain. It has been about a week. He has started to increase his activity. He did a little more (Monday) in practice, which was a live practice. His live action wasn't very much. It will be more of a game time decision to see how he feels."
IU beat Florida State last season because guard Devonte Green was an unstoppable force with 30 points that included 5-of-7 from three-point range.
The Seminoles went on to win the ACC championship. Three of their players -- Trent Forrest, Devin Vassell and Patrick Williams -- are in the NBA.
"Last year's game was an incredible environment in Assembly Hall," Miller says. "There was a lot of juice in the building, a lot of adrenaline. That won't be the case as we go down there.
"We will have to go down to a place where they are very successful. I know they will be ready. They haven't played a lot of games, so they have to be chomping at the bit to play against a team like ours."
Players Mentioned
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