Indiana University Athletics
Bahama Bound -- Rob Phinisee Set to Play His Game
8/7/2021 11:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Overlook Rob Phinisee? Don't go there. This Indiana point guard is ready to deliver a senior season finale to remember, previous struggles be darned.
"Obviously, last year I didn't have the season I wanted to," Phinisee says. "I feel like a lot of people counted me out, forgot about how good I was."
Phinisee hasn't forgotten, and it starts with the one tangible every difference maker, no matter the sport, must have.
"Just being able to be confident, having the open floor, being able to play my game, really just show my talents like I did earlier in my career," he says via Friday's media opportunity.
Confidence has risen under new head coach Mike Woodson, who has pushed hard to restore the program to title-winning levels.
The upcoming Bahama trip provides a key early learning opportunity.
"The new coaching staff and everything, the new offense, just instilled the confidence for me," Phinisee says. "It helped me to continue to be a leader, continue to get better each day."
Specifically, he adds, "I feel like I have improved my jump shot. Just getting to the basket and finishing over guys. I feel like I've done that, too."
It helps to be fully healthy, something Phinisee struggled to achieve in previous years.
Woodson, the former Hoosier All-America with a long career of NBA coaching success, brings a new approach to offense, defense and motivation. Phinisee, with career averages of 7.1 points, 3.1 assists and 2.7 rebounds, is among the Hoosiers set to reap the benefits.
"I feel like Coach Woodson, just his style of play is a lot different," he says. "It's a lot more spread out, so I feel like I'm able to do more within the offense and create for others."
Adds Woodson: "I think Rob has improved. His confidence is a little bit better, than it was last year.
"I think Rob has stood out a little bit in terms of where he was a year ago, in terms of being more relaxed and comfortable and playing. I'm going to need him to stay there and continue to grow."
Phinisee was recruited, if not for greatness, certainly for excellence. Hoosier coaches beat out Purdue, among others, for his services, a huge recruiting coup given his Lafayette home town roots.
At times, he has shown elite play. Strong defense has had him consistently matched up with opponents' best backcourt player. And his three-point buzzer beaters took down Penn State last season and Butler as a freshman.
Still, consistency remains elusive. Last season he had career lows in overall (34.7) and three-point shooting (26.0).
If that changes this season, imagine the possibilities.
Woodson sure does.
"Rob has changed his game a little bit," he says. "I like what he's done from the time we started to where he is today. He's played pretty well on both ends of the ball which is kind of nice to see."
Beyond the basketball court, Phinisee has been reading a book, "Intentional Mindset: Developing Mental Toughness and a Killer Instinct."
It's helped, he says.
"That helps me with my mindset every day. I take it day by day. Wake up and set your goals to win each day."
Phinisee will get point guard help from sophomore Khristian Lander and Pitt transfer Xavier Johnson.
Lander, who skipped his high school senior season to join the Hoosiers last year, has gained much needed strength and maturity. He averaged 2.1 points with 30 assists last season.
In three years at Pitt, Johnson totaled 1,152 points, 415 assists and 311 rebounds. Last season, although not known as a strong outside shooter, he averaged 14.2 points, 5.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds.
"Bringing him in is really good for the team," Phinisee says. "I feel like it's going to push both of us. Just being able to guard him at practice, he's super dynamic, super quick. I feel like there's not a lot of Big Ten guards like him once we get to playing."
IU aims to return to NCAA tourney relevance for the first time since its Sweet 16 run in 2016, and it starts with elite point guard play.
"I'm trying to get Rob, Xavier and Khristian to learn how to be point guards and run the team when they got the ball in their hands," Woodson says.
"That position is important because a lot of times the ball will be in (their) hands. You need them to be able to make the right decisions."
Good decision making will be crucial in the Bahamas.
IU will play a pair of games against BC Mega, a Serbia pro team. They are set for Aug. 13 and 15 at the Atlantis Paradise Island.
BC Mega features 6-10 Nikola Jovic, projected as a 2022 NBA Draft lottery pick along with point guard Dayshon Smith, a former Dayton standout who averaged 13.8 points as a senior with 498 career assists.
BC Mega went 18-15 last season in the ABA League First Division.
"They're a pretty good team," Woodson says. "We'll be tested. I'm anxious to see where we are from a defensive standpoint."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Overlook Rob Phinisee? Don't go there. This Indiana point guard is ready to deliver a senior season finale to remember, previous struggles be darned.
"Obviously, last year I didn't have the season I wanted to," Phinisee says. "I feel like a lot of people counted me out, forgot about how good I was."
Phinisee hasn't forgotten, and it starts with the one tangible every difference maker, no matter the sport, must have.
"Just being able to be confident, having the open floor, being able to play my game, really just show my talents like I did earlier in my career," he says via Friday's media opportunity.
Confidence has risen under new head coach Mike Woodson, who has pushed hard to restore the program to title-winning levels.
The upcoming Bahama trip provides a key early learning opportunity.
"The new coaching staff and everything, the new offense, just instilled the confidence for me," Phinisee says. "It helped me to continue to be a leader, continue to get better each day."
Specifically, he adds, "I feel like I have improved my jump shot. Just getting to the basket and finishing over guys. I feel like I've done that, too."
It helps to be fully healthy, something Phinisee struggled to achieve in previous years.
Woodson, the former Hoosier All-America with a long career of NBA coaching success, brings a new approach to offense, defense and motivation. Phinisee, with career averages of 7.1 points, 3.1 assists and 2.7 rebounds, is among the Hoosiers set to reap the benefits.
"I feel like Coach Woodson, just his style of play is a lot different," he says. "It's a lot more spread out, so I feel like I'm able to do more within the offense and create for others."
Adds Woodson: "I think Rob has improved. His confidence is a little bit better, than it was last year.
"I think Rob has stood out a little bit in terms of where he was a year ago, in terms of being more relaxed and comfortable and playing. I'm going to need him to stay there and continue to grow."
Phinisee was recruited, if not for greatness, certainly for excellence. Hoosier coaches beat out Purdue, among others, for his services, a huge recruiting coup given his Lafayette home town roots.
At times, he has shown elite play. Strong defense has had him consistently matched up with opponents' best backcourt player. And his three-point buzzer beaters took down Penn State last season and Butler as a freshman.
Still, consistency remains elusive. Last season he had career lows in overall (34.7) and three-point shooting (26.0).
If that changes this season, imagine the possibilities.
Woodson sure does.
"Rob has changed his game a little bit," he says. "I like what he's done from the time we started to where he is today. He's played pretty well on both ends of the ball which is kind of nice to see."
Beyond the basketball court, Phinisee has been reading a book, "Intentional Mindset: Developing Mental Toughness and a Killer Instinct."
It's helped, he says.
"That helps me with my mindset every day. I take it day by day. Wake up and set your goals to win each day."
Phinisee will get point guard help from sophomore Khristian Lander and Pitt transfer Xavier Johnson.
Lander, who skipped his high school senior season to join the Hoosiers last year, has gained much needed strength and maturity. He averaged 2.1 points with 30 assists last season.
In three years at Pitt, Johnson totaled 1,152 points, 415 assists and 311 rebounds. Last season, although not known as a strong outside shooter, he averaged 14.2 points, 5.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds.
"Bringing him in is really good for the team," Phinisee says. "I feel like it's going to push both of us. Just being able to guard him at practice, he's super dynamic, super quick. I feel like there's not a lot of Big Ten guards like him once we get to playing."
IU aims to return to NCAA tourney relevance for the first time since its Sweet 16 run in 2016, and it starts with elite point guard play.
"I'm trying to get Rob, Xavier and Khristian to learn how to be point guards and run the team when they got the ball in their hands," Woodson says.
"That position is important because a lot of times the ball will be in (their) hands. You need them to be able to make the right decisions."
Good decision making will be crucial in the Bahamas.
IU will play a pair of games against BC Mega, a Serbia pro team. They are set for Aug. 13 and 15 at the Atlantis Paradise Island.
BC Mega features 6-10 Nikola Jovic, projected as a 2022 NBA Draft lottery pick along with point guard Dayshon Smith, a former Dayton standout who averaged 13.8 points as a senior with 498 career assists.
BC Mega went 18-15 last season in the ABA League First Division.
"They're a pretty good team," Woodson says. "We'll be tested. I'm anxious to see where we are from a defensive standpoint."
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