Michael Durr Aims to Make His Hoosier Mark
10/6/2021 10:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Michael Durr shrinks a room just by entering.
It happens when you're 7-foot and 250 pounds.
But can this South Florida transfer -- called a "banger" by Indiana coach Mike Woodson -- stretch opposing defenses?
Prospects are intriguing for Durr and the Hoosiers in Year One of the Woodson era.
Durr brings a much-needed massive inside presence, with some perimeter potential.
He did, after all, make two three-pointers last season for South Florida.
"I'm comfortable shooting (from the outside)," he says. "I showed I could do it last year. This year, I'll do the same thing -- stretch the floor and score inside."
Teammate Race Thompson is convinced.
"He's a really good, big body we needed," Thompson says. "He's got a lot of post moves. He's a strong defender. He can make shots outside, too. I'm excited to play with him."
Durr has scored as many as 18 points, grabbed as many as 13 rebounds. He started 85 of 87 games in three seasons at South Florida, with career averages of 6.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks. Last season he averaged 8.8 points and 7.9 rebounds and shot 79.0 percent from the free throw line.
He sees no reason why the steady progress that defined him won't continue.
"I got better every year (at South Florida). I want to get better at the things I have improved on, and prove myself in this conference."
What kind of impact could Durr, basically a double-double guy as a high school standout in Atlanta, Ga., have for the Hoosiers?
"As far as my skills, I bring a big guy who can score down low, rebound and play defense. That's what I think I will bring to the team."
Adds Woodson: "He is who he is. He bangs. That's what his main trait is.
"He's a little more competitive because he's a bigger guy who can bang and do things down low when he gets the ball."
That includes going against All-America forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, who needs all the physical practices he can get to prepare for what looms as a career season.
"It's phenomenal," Durr says about his practice matchups with Jackson-Davis. "You don't always get the chance to go against someone who is really good in practice every day.
"That being the case, we're both able to go hard every day and make each other better. That's something that the coaches wanted from the jump. We've done a good job on doing that."
Jackson-Davis wouldn't want it any other way.
"He also just brings a lot of physicality. He's Big Ten big. I noticed that from the get-go. He's able to space the floor, so I get to work on my defense, as well.
"He is a really great player. He is going to help us a lot. Playing against him, being able to work on my moves.
"Playing against someone that's an actual seven-footer, not having that last year, I really have to work on my jump hooks, all that stuff, getting the ball up, touch around the rim, not being able to just force things up. It's been good for both of us."
Durr, the 6-9 Jackson-Davis and the 6-8 Thompson represent one of the Big Ten's most formidable three-man front court rotations.
How formidable?
We won't know for certain until IU opens its season Nov. 9 at home against Eastern Michigan, but one thing is certain:
Durr will bring it.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Michael Durr shrinks a room just by entering.
It happens when you're 7-foot and 250 pounds.
But can this South Florida transfer -- called a "banger" by Indiana coach Mike Woodson -- stretch opposing defenses?
Prospects are intriguing for Durr and the Hoosiers in Year One of the Woodson era.
Durr brings a much-needed massive inside presence, with some perimeter potential.
He did, after all, make two three-pointers last season for South Florida.
"I'm comfortable shooting (from the outside)," he says. "I showed I could do it last year. This year, I'll do the same thing -- stretch the floor and score inside."
Teammate Race Thompson is convinced.
"He's a really good, big body we needed," Thompson says. "He's got a lot of post moves. He's a strong defender. He can make shots outside, too. I'm excited to play with him."
Durr has scored as many as 18 points, grabbed as many as 13 rebounds. He started 85 of 87 games in three seasons at South Florida, with career averages of 6.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks. Last season he averaged 8.8 points and 7.9 rebounds and shot 79.0 percent from the free throw line.
He sees no reason why the steady progress that defined him won't continue.
"I got better every year (at South Florida). I want to get better at the things I have improved on, and prove myself in this conference."
What kind of impact could Durr, basically a double-double guy as a high school standout in Atlanta, Ga., have for the Hoosiers?
"As far as my skills, I bring a big guy who can score down low, rebound and play defense. That's what I think I will bring to the team."
Adds Woodson: "He is who he is. He bangs. That's what his main trait is.
"He's a little more competitive because he's a bigger guy who can bang and do things down low when he gets the ball."
That includes going against All-America forward Trayce Jackson-Davis, who needs all the physical practices he can get to prepare for what looms as a career season.
"It's phenomenal," Durr says about his practice matchups with Jackson-Davis. "You don't always get the chance to go against someone who is really good in practice every day.
"That being the case, we're both able to go hard every day and make each other better. That's something that the coaches wanted from the jump. We've done a good job on doing that."
Jackson-Davis wouldn't want it any other way.
"He also just brings a lot of physicality. He's Big Ten big. I noticed that from the get-go. He's able to space the floor, so I get to work on my defense, as well.
"He is a really great player. He is going to help us a lot. Playing against him, being able to work on my moves.
"Playing against someone that's an actual seven-footer, not having that last year, I really have to work on my jump hooks, all that stuff, getting the ball up, touch around the rim, not being able to just force things up. It's been good for both of us."
Durr, the 6-9 Jackson-Davis and the 6-8 Thompson represent one of the Big Ten's most formidable three-man front court rotations.
How formidable?
We won't know for certain until IU opens its season Nov. 9 at home against Eastern Michigan, but one thing is certain:
Durr will bring it.
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