Indiana University Athletics
Maturing Lander Ready for Next Hoosier Step
10/2/2021 12:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – There's no time to look back, no need for second guessing. Not for Khristian Lander. He's too busy working to become the basketball player he wants to be, the point guard Indiana needs him to be.
A glimpse of that could come during Saturday's annual Hoosier Hysteria at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Inspiration will come from former IU All-America and NBA superstar point guard Isiah Thomas, who is set to attend and address the crowd.
Beyond a team workout, Lander, a 6-2 sophomore, will participate in a dunk contest, along with 6-6 Jordan Geronimo, 6-4 Trey Galloway and 6-9 Trayce Jackson-Davis.
With a college season on his resume and full acclimation to strength coach Clif Marshall's athletic performance program achieved, Lander is ready to make a significant Hoosier impact under new coach Mike Woodson.
"My mental got a lot better," he says. "I matured a lot. There's a lot of positive energy around here."
Lander skipped his senior season at Evansville Reitz High School, passing up a chance to win Indiana Mr. Basketball honors and perhaps a team state title to get an early college start. He still earned five-star recruit status, and his do-it-all ability is well suited for elite college play.
Still, when you're 17 years old facing some of the best college players in the country, some with four and five years of experience and strength on you, challenges will surface.
They did.
Last year as a freshman, Lander played in 26 games, averaging 2.1 points in 10.2 minutes while shooting 25.7 percent from the field. He added 30 assists against 26 turnovers.
He had some memorable moments -- 10 points, four rebounds, three assists against North Alabama; five points, four assists and three blocks against Stanford; seven points, three rebounds, two assists at Michigan State
Still, he had much to learn, strength to develop and physical and mental maturity to attain.
Throw in the limited playing time, something Lander had never experienced before, and doubt crept in.
"My confidence level was kind of down," he says.
That "down" didn't last. Youth, talent and hard work saw to that. Woodson and his staff accelerated that.
"It's back up now," Lander says. "That's all I needed, to get my confidence back up. The work ethic will take care of itself."
As far as leaving high school early, he says, "It gave me a good head start. I got the experience of a year in college early. I matured a lot. I'm still maturing. That year taught me a lot. It helped."
Now it's time to put what he learned into performance. Lander is one of three veteran point guards on the roster, joining senior Rob Phinisee and Pitt transfer Xavier Johnson.
"Khristian is starting to step up," Woodson says. "Before he was a little behind the eight ball. Xavier and Rob were leading the way, which I expected.
"All three have been playing well."
Johnson was the starting point guard during the two Bahamas exhibition games in August, although Lander and Phinisee played.
"Xavier in the first game in the Bahamas got in foul trouble, so that put him behind a little bit," Woodson says. "But the second game, he stepped up and played like we thought he was capable of playing and leading our club.
"I feel good about our point guard play. All three have got to score for us to be effective. I'm pushing all three in that direction to do that."
Strong guard play is crucial to IU prospects, especially in Woodson's free-flowing attack.
"I've given all three of those guys freedom to play," Woodson says. "I've given everybody freedom to play. I've never been a coach that locks a guy in a box and says, 'You stay in the box, this is the only area you can play in.'
"I think any coach would want a point guard, or two or three, that can just run the team, where I can sit back and don't have to say a (darn) thing.
"That's not the case right now. Till they actually know me and learn what I'm about … I don't have (past and present NBA point guard standouts) Jason Kidd or Palou Prigioni or Raymond Felton, guys like that, who I think were great point guards.
"But I do have adequate point guards who can do the job. I've got to put them in the best possible position to be successful and help us win."
That's true for the entire roster. Woodson isn't locked into a set rotation or starting lineup. Opportunity is there for those who earn it.
"I want 10 guys ready to play," he says. "That's important to me. I've got to instill confidence in all 10.
I don't promise minutes to anybody. I told them that when I took the job. You've got to earn it. But, if it's three minutes you play, you better make the most of it because I might not come back that way."
As for Hoosier Hysteria, admission is free, but fans are asked to bring one or more canned food items to donate to Hoosier Hills Food Bank. Doors open at 2:30 and the 90-minute event starts at 4.
The men's and women's teams will participate in a three-point shooting contest and a skills competition. There also will be a men's team workout.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – There's no time to look back, no need for second guessing. Not for Khristian Lander. He's too busy working to become the basketball player he wants to be, the point guard Indiana needs him to be.
A glimpse of that could come during Saturday's annual Hoosier Hysteria at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Inspiration will come from former IU All-America and NBA superstar point guard Isiah Thomas, who is set to attend and address the crowd.
Beyond a team workout, Lander, a 6-2 sophomore, will participate in a dunk contest, along with 6-6 Jordan Geronimo, 6-4 Trey Galloway and 6-9 Trayce Jackson-Davis.
With a college season on his resume and full acclimation to strength coach Clif Marshall's athletic performance program achieved, Lander is ready to make a significant Hoosier impact under new coach Mike Woodson.
"My mental got a lot better," he says. "I matured a lot. There's a lot of positive energy around here."
Lander skipped his senior season at Evansville Reitz High School, passing up a chance to win Indiana Mr. Basketball honors and perhaps a team state title to get an early college start. He still earned five-star recruit status, and his do-it-all ability is well suited for elite college play.
Still, when you're 17 years old facing some of the best college players in the country, some with four and five years of experience and strength on you, challenges will surface.
They did.
Last year as a freshman, Lander played in 26 games, averaging 2.1 points in 10.2 minutes while shooting 25.7 percent from the field. He added 30 assists against 26 turnovers.
He had some memorable moments -- 10 points, four rebounds, three assists against North Alabama; five points, four assists and three blocks against Stanford; seven points, three rebounds, two assists at Michigan State
Still, he had much to learn, strength to develop and physical and mental maturity to attain.
Throw in the limited playing time, something Lander had never experienced before, and doubt crept in.
"My confidence level was kind of down," he says.
That "down" didn't last. Youth, talent and hard work saw to that. Woodson and his staff accelerated that.
"It's back up now," Lander says. "That's all I needed, to get my confidence back up. The work ethic will take care of itself."
As far as leaving high school early, he says, "It gave me a good head start. I got the experience of a year in college early. I matured a lot. I'm still maturing. That year taught me a lot. It helped."
Now it's time to put what he learned into performance. Lander is one of three veteran point guards on the roster, joining senior Rob Phinisee and Pitt transfer Xavier Johnson.
"Khristian is starting to step up," Woodson says. "Before he was a little behind the eight ball. Xavier and Rob were leading the way, which I expected.
"All three have been playing well."
Johnson was the starting point guard during the two Bahamas exhibition games in August, although Lander and Phinisee played.
"Xavier in the first game in the Bahamas got in foul trouble, so that put him behind a little bit," Woodson says. "But the second game, he stepped up and played like we thought he was capable of playing and leading our club.
"I feel good about our point guard play. All three have got to score for us to be effective. I'm pushing all three in that direction to do that."
Strong guard play is crucial to IU prospects, especially in Woodson's free-flowing attack.
"I've given all three of those guys freedom to play," Woodson says. "I've given everybody freedom to play. I've never been a coach that locks a guy in a box and says, 'You stay in the box, this is the only area you can play in.'
"I think any coach would want a point guard, or two or three, that can just run the team, where I can sit back and don't have to say a (darn) thing.
"That's not the case right now. Till they actually know me and learn what I'm about … I don't have (past and present NBA point guard standouts) Jason Kidd or Palou Prigioni or Raymond Felton, guys like that, who I think were great point guards.
"But I do have adequate point guards who can do the job. I've got to put them in the best possible position to be successful and help us win."
That's true for the entire roster. Woodson isn't locked into a set rotation or starting lineup. Opportunity is there for those who earn it.
"I want 10 guys ready to play," he says. "That's important to me. I've got to instill confidence in all 10.
I don't promise minutes to anybody. I told them that when I took the job. You've got to earn it. But, if it's three minutes you play, you better make the most of it because I might not come back that way."
As for Hoosier Hysteria, admission is free, but fans are asked to bring one or more canned food items to donate to Hoosier Hills Food Bank. Doors open at 2:30 and the 90-minute event starts at 4.
The men's and women's teams will participate in a three-point shooting contest and a skills competition. There also will be a men's team workout.
Players Mentioned
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