Indiana University Athletics
DIPRIMIO: Guard Play Looms Large as IU Faces Rutgers
2/24/2021 6:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It's all about the guards. Archie Miller knows it. He's let the Indiana Hoosiers know it. A NCAA tourney bid might ride on it.
Knowing is one thing entering Wednesday night's game at Rutgers.
Doing is another.
"The biggest thing in this game is going to be our guard play," the IU coach said. "We have to play with 10 or less turnovers to have a chance."
IU (12-10 overall) averages 12.2 turnovers a game. It had 11 in last Saturday's loss to Michigan State, but seven in the second half, most due to poor Hoosier decisions rather than Spartan defensive nastiness.
That can't continue against Rutgers (12-9) or any Hoosier opponent the rest of the season, Miller said.
"In my opinion, turnovers is the name of the game."
Consistent guard play has been a season-long problem, although it mostly has missed Armaan Franklin, who is having a career year with his averages of 12.2 points and 4.4 rebounds.
Veterans Rob Phinisee and Aljami Durham have rotated between excellence and struggles. Case in point was their combined 0-for-10 shooting in last Saturday's loss to Michigan State. Add recent limited contributions from freshmen guards Khristian Lander, Trey Galloway and Anthony Leal, and you have a major source of backcourt concern given the importance of guards in 21st Century college basketball.
That can't continue, Miller said.
We can't turn the ball over on entries. We can't turn the ball over feeding the post. We're going to have to make some plays with penetration with our guards, which we weren't able to make in Game 1."
A month ago, Rutgers guards Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr. roughed up the Hoosiers in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, combining for 34 points and seven assists in a 74-70 Scarlet Knights victory.
"The physicality of their guards, their ability to disrupt, their ability to stay in front, their ability to blow through screens, was really a big problem," Miller said. "Our physicality on offense as well as defense was a problem."
A big concern is the formidable inside presence of Rutgers center Myles Johnson. He blocked five shots in the first meeting, which contributed to Trayce Jackson-Davis' 4-for-10 shooting. Johnson ranks second in the Big Ten in blocks (2.3 a game) and also averages 1.1 steals.
Nobody in the conference is as big a defensive force, Miller added.
"He should be the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He protects the rim, does an amazing job of creating turnovers with his ability to create turnovers with his ability to steal post feeds, deflect balls, block shots. He's a terrific one-on-one defender."
During his Monday night radio show, Miller talked about Rutgers' intense approach. He said they're the kind of team that would face you on concrete courts, a group that, "has an attitude about them, an edge about them."
"They jump on teams fast," Miller said. "They thrive on turnovers. They have great quickness. A big concern is them really pressing us, shell-shocking us so that we have to dig out of a big hole."
Because of poor recent shooting (contributing to three losses in the last four games), "they will try to drive the heck out of us," he added.
The postseason stakes are once again high. Indiana rates No. 32 in the highly regarded kenpom.com ratings. Syracuse is at No. 28. Both teams seek a strong regular season end to boost postseason prospects.
"We have to be more ready than we've ever been," Miller said on his coach's show. "Rutgers is a good team. If we do play well and win, then we have to do it again on Saturday (against No. 3 Michigan).
"If we find a way to put out a consistent 40 minutes, we can beat anybody."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It's all about the guards. Archie Miller knows it. He's let the Indiana Hoosiers know it. A NCAA tourney bid might ride on it.
Knowing is one thing entering Wednesday night's game at Rutgers.
Doing is another.
"The biggest thing in this game is going to be our guard play," the IU coach said. "We have to play with 10 or less turnovers to have a chance."
IU (12-10 overall) averages 12.2 turnovers a game. It had 11 in last Saturday's loss to Michigan State, but seven in the second half, most due to poor Hoosier decisions rather than Spartan defensive nastiness.
That can't continue against Rutgers (12-9) or any Hoosier opponent the rest of the season, Miller said.
"In my opinion, turnovers is the name of the game."
Consistent guard play has been a season-long problem, although it mostly has missed Armaan Franklin, who is having a career year with his averages of 12.2 points and 4.4 rebounds.
Veterans Rob Phinisee and Aljami Durham have rotated between excellence and struggles. Case in point was their combined 0-for-10 shooting in last Saturday's loss to Michigan State. Add recent limited contributions from freshmen guards Khristian Lander, Trey Galloway and Anthony Leal, and you have a major source of backcourt concern given the importance of guards in 21st Century college basketball.
That can't continue, Miller said.
We can't turn the ball over on entries. We can't turn the ball over feeding the post. We're going to have to make some plays with penetration with our guards, which we weren't able to make in Game 1."
A month ago, Rutgers guards Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr. roughed up the Hoosiers in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, combining for 34 points and seven assists in a 74-70 Scarlet Knights victory.
"The physicality of their guards, their ability to disrupt, their ability to stay in front, their ability to blow through screens, was really a big problem," Miller said. "Our physicality on offense as well as defense was a problem."
A big concern is the formidable inside presence of Rutgers center Myles Johnson. He blocked five shots in the first meeting, which contributed to Trayce Jackson-Davis' 4-for-10 shooting. Johnson ranks second in the Big Ten in blocks (2.3 a game) and also averages 1.1 steals.
Nobody in the conference is as big a defensive force, Miller added.
"He should be the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He protects the rim, does an amazing job of creating turnovers with his ability to create turnovers with his ability to steal post feeds, deflect balls, block shots. He's a terrific one-on-one defender."
During his Monday night radio show, Miller talked about Rutgers' intense approach. He said they're the kind of team that would face you on concrete courts, a group that, "has an attitude about them, an edge about them."
"They jump on teams fast," Miller said. "They thrive on turnovers. They have great quickness. A big concern is them really pressing us, shell-shocking us so that we have to dig out of a big hole."
Because of poor recent shooting (contributing to three losses in the last four games), "they will try to drive the heck out of us," he added.
The postseason stakes are once again high. Indiana rates No. 32 in the highly regarded kenpom.com ratings. Syracuse is at No. 28. Both teams seek a strong regular season end to boost postseason prospects.
"We have to be more ready than we've ever been," Miller said on his coach's show. "Rutgers is a good team. If we do play well and win, then we have to do it again on Saturday (against No. 3 Michigan).
"If we find a way to put out a consistent 40 minutes, we can beat anybody."
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