DIPRIMIO: For Indiana, The Time To Step Up Has Arrived
3/11/2020 1:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Forget past Big Ten tourney misery.
Indiana seeks to deliver a new future -- and perhaps win this annual event for the first time ever -- and it starts with one key above all others:
A rocking backcourt.
"You need (good) guard play this time of year," coach Archie Miller said. "Can guys step up and make plays?"
"It will come down to our backcourt. Can they step up and make plays in March for us to be successful? They have to play like they have been doing."
The Hoosiers (19-12) open with Nebraska (7-24) Wednesday night at Indianapolis' Bankers Life Fieldhouse with guards that are, in so many ways, peaking.
Case in point -- turnovers.
Guards Devonte Green and Rob Phinisee combined for seven assists (all by Phinisee) and no turnovers during Sunday's loss to Wisconsin. Fellow guard Aljami Durham had three turnovers, but he added nine points, four rebounds and a blocked shot.
IU only had seven turnovers for the game. It hasn't had more than 13 turnovers in its last seven games. It averages less than 10 turnovers a game in that stretch, far better than its season average of 12.8.
"Our guards have done a good job," Miller said. "The last (seven) games we've come to grips with how we need to play. They've embraced it. They've gotten a lot better. The team is playing a lot more consistent.
"We're not turning it over. That gives us a better chance to get fouled, rebound and score more."
Ball security is big in every game, but especially in the postseason, when everything is magnified by win-or-else pressure.
"As you head into the postseason, every possession matters even more," Miller said. "You have to play with fewer mistakes. You'll be in a lot of tough games. If we keep our turnovers down, that's a recipe for playing better."
Green, Phinisee and Durham are the catalysts for that. So, too, in limited minutes, is freshman guard Armaan Franklin.
"For us, it's going to come down to the backcourt," Miller said. "They've been more aggressive, and really taken care of the ball."
Despite losses in three of its last four games, and eight of its last 11, Indiana is playing better. Effort is improved. Mistakes are fewer. Defense is stingier (the Hoosiers have held four of their last six opponents to 60 or less points).
"We're playing good ball right now," Miller said. "We're playing hard. Offensively, although we struggled against a terrific Wisconsin team in terms of putting the ball in the basket, we're playing with a little more purpose."
Wednesday night's game could be crucial for NCAA tourney at-large bid prospects, and perhaps even making a deep run.
"If you advance in this tournament," Miller said, "if you can win in this tournament, it sets you up with the confidence to do it against the best.
"You go into a tournament and all bets are off. You go into a one-game season trying to advance. We have to be ready to compete."
Nebraska, which has lost 16 straight games, is depleted with the indefinite suspensions of guards Cam Mack and Dachon Burke.
That left the Cornhuskers with just seven available players from this season's roster, four of whom were freshmen, during a 107-75 loss to Minnesota on Sunday.
Mack averages 12.0 points and has a team-leading 179 assists. Burke averages 12.2 points.
Haanif Cheatham leads Nebraska with a 13.0 scoring average.
The Cornhuskers emphasize the three-point shot, averaging 24.7 attempts a game. Seven players have made at least 23 three-pointers, led by Thorir Thorbjarnarson's 48.
IU swept Nebraska during the regular season.
"They present a lot of challenges with five shooters at times on the floor," Miller said. "They spread out with unbelievable pace. They create a lot of problems with their tempo and spacing. Guarding the 3-point line and the dribble are the two things that stand out."
At least the grind of what might have been the most difficult Big Ten regular season in history is over. Wisconsin, Michigan State and Maryland shared the title with 14-6 records.
"Everybody getting ready to start the Big Ten Tournament probably took a deep breath and looked back on the grind of the regular season," Miller said.
"It's been an unprecedented league. It's the best league in America. It's the deepest league in America. It was incredible to be part of."
The tourney wraps up on Selection Sunday. The winner gets an automatic NCAA tourney bid.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Forget past Big Ten tourney misery.
Indiana seeks to deliver a new future -- and perhaps win this annual event for the first time ever -- and it starts with one key above all others:
A rocking backcourt.
"You need (good) guard play this time of year," coach Archie Miller said. "Can guys step up and make plays?"
"It will come down to our backcourt. Can they step up and make plays in March for us to be successful? They have to play like they have been doing."
The Hoosiers (19-12) open with Nebraska (7-24) Wednesday night at Indianapolis' Bankers Life Fieldhouse with guards that are, in so many ways, peaking.
Case in point -- turnovers.
Guards Devonte Green and Rob Phinisee combined for seven assists (all by Phinisee) and no turnovers during Sunday's loss to Wisconsin. Fellow guard Aljami Durham had three turnovers, but he added nine points, four rebounds and a blocked shot.
IU only had seven turnovers for the game. It hasn't had more than 13 turnovers in its last seven games. It averages less than 10 turnovers a game in that stretch, far better than its season average of 12.8.
"Our guards have done a good job," Miller said. "The last (seven) games we've come to grips with how we need to play. They've embraced it. They've gotten a lot better. The team is playing a lot more consistent.
"We're not turning it over. That gives us a better chance to get fouled, rebound and score more."
Ball security is big in every game, but especially in the postseason, when everything is magnified by win-or-else pressure.
"As you head into the postseason, every possession matters even more," Miller said. "You have to play with fewer mistakes. You'll be in a lot of tough games. If we keep our turnovers down, that's a recipe for playing better."
Green, Phinisee and Durham are the catalysts for that. So, too, in limited minutes, is freshman guard Armaan Franklin.
"For us, it's going to come down to the backcourt," Miller said. "They've been more aggressive, and really taken care of the ball."
Despite losses in three of its last four games, and eight of its last 11, Indiana is playing better. Effort is improved. Mistakes are fewer. Defense is stingier (the Hoosiers have held four of their last six opponents to 60 or less points).
"We're playing good ball right now," Miller said. "We're playing hard. Offensively, although we struggled against a terrific Wisconsin team in terms of putting the ball in the basket, we're playing with a little more purpose."
Wednesday night's game could be crucial for NCAA tourney at-large bid prospects, and perhaps even making a deep run.
"If you advance in this tournament," Miller said, "if you can win in this tournament, it sets you up with the confidence to do it against the best.
"You go into a tournament and all bets are off. You go into a one-game season trying to advance. We have to be ready to compete."
Nebraska, which has lost 16 straight games, is depleted with the indefinite suspensions of guards Cam Mack and Dachon Burke.
That left the Cornhuskers with just seven available players from this season's roster, four of whom were freshmen, during a 107-75 loss to Minnesota on Sunday.
Mack averages 12.0 points and has a team-leading 179 assists. Burke averages 12.2 points.
Haanif Cheatham leads Nebraska with a 13.0 scoring average.
The Cornhuskers emphasize the three-point shot, averaging 24.7 attempts a game. Seven players have made at least 23 three-pointers, led by Thorir Thorbjarnarson's 48.
IU swept Nebraska during the regular season.
"They present a lot of challenges with five shooters at times on the floor," Miller said. "They spread out with unbelievable pace. They create a lot of problems with their tempo and spacing. Guarding the 3-point line and the dribble are the two things that stand out."
At least the grind of what might have been the most difficult Big Ten regular season in history is over. Wisconsin, Michigan State and Maryland shared the title with 14-6 records.
"Everybody getting ready to start the Big Ten Tournament probably took a deep breath and looked back on the grind of the regular season," Miller said.
"It's been an unprecedented league. It's the best league in America. It's the deepest league in America. It was incredible to be part of."
The tourney wraps up on Selection Sunday. The winner gets an automatic NCAA tourney bid.
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