Woodson and The Art of ‘Next-Man-Up’

Saturday, January 29

College Park, Md.

2:30 PM

Indiana University

Maryland

1/29/2022 10:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana heads to Maryland, and this much we know:

Guard Rob Phinisee won't play.

Guard Khristian Lander might.

Guard Xavier Johnson will be one busy Hoosier.

Welcome to the grind-it-up world of Big Ten basketball, where nothing is sure but awaiting challenges.

IU has a big one Saturday afternoon.

Point guard is crucial for every team, especially one with Big Ten title aspirations, as the Hoosiers have. Johnson is IU's only healthy point guard, and given his full-throttle style of play, nothing is guaranteed except games and opportunities will keep coming.

First, the background.

Phinisee hurt his foot in Thursday night's first half against Penn State. Teammates helped him to the locker room, and he never returned.

Woodson quickly dashed thoughts of an early return during Friday morning's media access.

"He's not going to play (Saturday)," Woodson says. "It could possibly be day-to-day. We don't really know.

"We don't know the extent of it. He had plantar fasciitis. I wish I had him, but it's next man up."

That leads to the obvious question -- what's plantar fasciitis? Basically, it's an inflamed heel caused by a strain of the plantar fascia, a ligament that runs along the bottom of the foot.

As for Lander, he hasn't played since late December. He is apparently banged up and his availability for Maryland is uncertain.

"Khristian might be available with limited minutes," Woodson says. "If that's the case, he'll relieve (Johnson) some."

That leaves Johnson as the only true point guard on the roster. He will likely get major minutes on Saturday.

The silver lining -- he's played lights out the last three games, averaging 17.0 points and 4.7 rebounds. He's gone 5-for-9 on three pointers, and has 14 assists against five turnovers, plus five steals.

Against Penn State he had 19 points, six assists and four rebounds in 31 minutes.

Johnson might have to play more than that against Maryland, which doesn't bother Woodson.

"I don't go into a game worrying about minutes. I coach based on how guys are playing. It's a feel.

"If he's got to go 40 minutes, we'll play him 40 minutes."

If needed, Trey Galloway, Anthony Leal and even Jordan Geronimo could help at point guard.

"Everybody has to pitch in and do his part based on who's out," Woodson says. "It's just that simple."

Another possibility is freshman Tamar Bates, who is more of a shooting guard. He broke out of a long shooting slump by hitting a pair of three-pointers against Penn State.

"He played great the last game," Woodson says. "The last few games he's played well.

"The bottom line is, when you're shorthanded, guys who haven't gotten a lot of minutes, you've got to start thinking about minutes for those guys.

"Rob was playing 18 to 20 minutes, so (Geronimo) and Gallo and Anthony might get thrown in there. When your name is called, you've got to be ready. It's just that simple"

Adding to the challenge – Maryland's strength is at the guard position led by Eric Ayala (16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds) and Fatts Russell (12.4 points, 3.8 rebounds).

"All their guys who play are capable of beating you off the dribble," Woodson says. "It's a big dribble-drive team. A big isolation team. It's no surprise. We've got to defend off the dribble. We've got to do it for 40 minutes."

Indiana (15-5 overall, 6-4 in the Big Ten) has won three of four games, and five of six. It's looking for a big run to move into Big Ten title contention. It's sixth in the conference standings, 1.5 games behind leaders No. Wisconsin and No. 19 Illinois.

With Illinois, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Ohio State looming in the next few weeks, the Hoosiers need to rack up as many victories as they can.

"We're going to keep getting better," Johnson says.

IU has struggled from three-point range this season, but not against Penn State, when it was 10-for-13. Parker Stewart, Miller Kopp and Xavier Johnson all connected beyond the arc.

Can the Hoosiers sustain that accuracy?

Why not, Woodson asks.

"I've never told us not to shoot threes. We've got to shoot them when we're open. I thought Parker and Miller and X, everybody who shot them, they were in tune and knocked them down. We're going to need them to continue to do that because we need the three ball. Ain't no doubt about that. We can't go (5-for-19) like we did against Michigan."

Maryland (11-9) has won its last two game, upsetting Illinois and then beating Rutgers.

The Terrapins made a season-best 12 three-pointers to beat Rutgers.

Under interim coach Danny Manning, who took over early in the season after Mark Turgeon's resignation, Maryland has found itself. Besides Ayala and Russell, forward Donta Scott averages 12.3, 6.7.

"The road is what it is," Woodson says. "We're playing Maryland on the road. They're playing a lot better. They're playing great. You're going to have to commit for 40.

"We'll put a game plan together, and we've got to commit ourselves for 40 minutes to go down there and get a win. It's not going to be easy, but we're capable of winning on the road. We proved that in Nebraska."