Indiana University Athletics
‘Bright Spot’ – Phinisee And the ‘Killer Instinct’
10/11/2021 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The message is clear from coach to player, from Mike Woodson to Rob Phinisee:
Take the shot.
Is it heard?
Of course.
Will it be followed under basketball game pressure?
We'll start knowing with the Nov. 9 season opener against Eastern Michigan.
One thing is certain, if Phinisee shoots to the level he has in workouts, big years could come from this senior point guard and the Indiana Hoosiers.
Consider what Woodson had to say during last week's Big Ten media gathering in Indianapolis.
"For me, he's been a treat. I think he's been one of the brightest spots over the last three months in terms of running our club and getting this done on both sides of the floor."
This implies more than shooting, of course. The point guard runs the offensive show, sets the defensive tone, grabs rebounds that produce fast breaks and leads on the court as the coach does on the sidelines.
It requires a maturity and drive that Phinisee has shown in measures doses over his first three seasons. Woodson pushes Phinisee to make that the every game standard.
Shooting, for Phinisee and all the Hoosiers, is a top priority.
"My problem with Rob is I've got to get him to shoot more," Woodson says. "I'm telling him it's okay to shoot. I don't know if he's had coaches tell in the past, but I'm telling him it's okay to do that."
Woodson's free-flowing, NBA-like offense should help.
"His style of play is a lot different," Phinisee says. "It's a lot more spread out. I feel like I'm able to do more within the offense and create for others."
Phinisee has always had a knack for clutch shooting, from the Crossroads Classic three-pointer he drained to beat to Butler as a freshman to the late-game-tying three-pointers he had against Iowa and Arkansas to the game-winning overtime three-pointer he drilled against Penn State last season.
But consistency has been as elusive as a pot of gold at a rainbow's end. For his career, he shoots 36.0 percent from the field, 29.8 percent from three-point range. Lack of confidence has resulted in Phinisee sometimes becoming offensively invisible.
In three of his starts last season, he didn't score. In seven other games, he scored four or fewer points. He set career lows in shooting (34.7 percent), three-point shooting (26.0) and free-throw shooting (63.8) after setting career highs the previous season (37.4, 33.3, 72.2).
For a guy who has scored as many as 18 points in a game, and whose run-the-offense potential is so high (he averages 7.1 points, 3.1 assists and 2.7 rebounds for his career), this must stop.
Woodson has made that clear, and is pleased with Phinisee's "growth."
"Rob has improved. His confidence is a little better than it was last year.
"I'm going to need him, his leadership, as we move forward."
Reading helps Phinisee move forward. The main source is the book, "Intentional Mindset: Developing Mental Toughness and Killer Instinct" by Dave Anderson.
Phinisee has tweeted that the book, "Is helping me get ready for the upcoming season by getting my mind right. Everyone go check it out."
Phinisee also tweeted this quote from the book, "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."
"Love this quote," he tweeted.
"The book helps me with mindset every day," he adds. "I take it day by day. Just wake up in the morning and set your goals to win each day.
"I try to (read) it every day. There are certain things in the morning that starts your day off right and keeps you focused. That book has given me a lot of mental tips to help with my life, not just my game."
Phinisee will share point guard duties with Pitt transfer Xavier Johnson (who started the two games in the Bahamas last August) and sophomore Khristian Lander.
While the competition is intense, Phinisee says, rivalry gives way to camaraderie.
"The vibes are good. The more guards, the better the competition and that will help everybody."
Phinisee remains a shut-down defender. Beyond that, Woodson says, "Rob has stood out in terms of being more relaxed and comfortable. I need him to stay there and continue to grow, but that (point guard) position is so important. A lot of times the ball will be in his hands or Xavier's hands. You need them to make the right decisions."
Improved three-point shooting is critical for all the Hoosiers. They ranked 11th in the Big Ten in three-point shooting (32.4 percent) and last in three-pointers attempted (488).
Iowa led the conference in three-point percentage (38.6) and attempts (780).
"We'll be a lot better shooting team this year," Phinisee says. "One of Coach Woodson's big things is confidence in everybody. He wants everybody to shoot. Every practice he tells everybody to shoot with confidence.
"Our offense will be a lot different. You'll see guys doing different things."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The message is clear from coach to player, from Mike Woodson to Rob Phinisee:
Take the shot.
Is it heard?
Of course.
Will it be followed under basketball game pressure?
We'll start knowing with the Nov. 9 season opener against Eastern Michigan.
One thing is certain, if Phinisee shoots to the level he has in workouts, big years could come from this senior point guard and the Indiana Hoosiers.
Consider what Woodson had to say during last week's Big Ten media gathering in Indianapolis.
"For me, he's been a treat. I think he's been one of the brightest spots over the last three months in terms of running our club and getting this done on both sides of the floor."
This implies more than shooting, of course. The point guard runs the offensive show, sets the defensive tone, grabs rebounds that produce fast breaks and leads on the court as the coach does on the sidelines.
It requires a maturity and drive that Phinisee has shown in measures doses over his first three seasons. Woodson pushes Phinisee to make that the every game standard.
Shooting, for Phinisee and all the Hoosiers, is a top priority.
"My problem with Rob is I've got to get him to shoot more," Woodson says. "I'm telling him it's okay to shoot. I don't know if he's had coaches tell in the past, but I'm telling him it's okay to do that."
Woodson's free-flowing, NBA-like offense should help.
"His style of play is a lot different," Phinisee says. "It's a lot more spread out. I feel like I'm able to do more within the offense and create for others."
Phinisee has always had a knack for clutch shooting, from the Crossroads Classic three-pointer he drained to beat to Butler as a freshman to the late-game-tying three-pointers he had against Iowa and Arkansas to the game-winning overtime three-pointer he drilled against Penn State last season.
But consistency has been as elusive as a pot of gold at a rainbow's end. For his career, he shoots 36.0 percent from the field, 29.8 percent from three-point range. Lack of confidence has resulted in Phinisee sometimes becoming offensively invisible.
In three of his starts last season, he didn't score. In seven other games, he scored four or fewer points. He set career lows in shooting (34.7 percent), three-point shooting (26.0) and free-throw shooting (63.8) after setting career highs the previous season (37.4, 33.3, 72.2).
For a guy who has scored as many as 18 points in a game, and whose run-the-offense potential is so high (he averages 7.1 points, 3.1 assists and 2.7 rebounds for his career), this must stop.
Woodson has made that clear, and is pleased with Phinisee's "growth."
"Rob has improved. His confidence is a little better than it was last year.
"I'm going to need him, his leadership, as we move forward."
Reading helps Phinisee move forward. The main source is the book, "Intentional Mindset: Developing Mental Toughness and Killer Instinct" by Dave Anderson.
Phinisee has tweeted that the book, "Is helping me get ready for the upcoming season by getting my mind right. Everyone go check it out."
Phinisee also tweeted this quote from the book, "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."
"Love this quote," he tweeted.
"The book helps me with mindset every day," he adds. "I take it day by day. Just wake up in the morning and set your goals to win each day.
"I try to (read) it every day. There are certain things in the morning that starts your day off right and keeps you focused. That book has given me a lot of mental tips to help with my life, not just my game."
Phinisee will share point guard duties with Pitt transfer Xavier Johnson (who started the two games in the Bahamas last August) and sophomore Khristian Lander.
While the competition is intense, Phinisee says, rivalry gives way to camaraderie.
"The vibes are good. The more guards, the better the competition and that will help everybody."
Phinisee remains a shut-down defender. Beyond that, Woodson says, "Rob has stood out in terms of being more relaxed and comfortable. I need him to stay there and continue to grow, but that (point guard) position is so important. A lot of times the ball will be in his hands or Xavier's hands. You need them to make the right decisions."
Improved three-point shooting is critical for all the Hoosiers. They ranked 11th in the Big Ten in three-point shooting (32.4 percent) and last in three-pointers attempted (488).
Iowa led the conference in three-point percentage (38.6) and attempts (780).
"We'll be a lot better shooting team this year," Phinisee says. "One of Coach Woodson's big things is confidence in everybody. He wants everybody to shoot. Every practice he tells everybody to shoot with confidence.
"Our offense will be a lot different. You'll see guys doing different things."
Players Mentioned
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