Wednesday, March 2
Bloomington, Ind.
7:00 PM
Indiana University
vs
Rutgers
Phinisee Is Once Again, ‘Back in the Fire’
3/2/2022 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Rob Phinisee is back and you'd better believe Mike Woodson gives thanks.
"It's huge," Indiana's head coach says.
How huge? For one thing, IU is 13-5 with Phinisee in the lineup, 5-5 without.
For another, he takes some of the burden off Xavier Johnson, who over the last two games has been as good as any guard in the Big Ten.
Plus, it means Woodson has a proven defender and scorer at his disposal, and if the offensive consistency isn't always there, well, when it is, basketball life is win-the-lottery good.
See January's win over then No. 4 Purdue, when Phinisee lit up the Boilers for a career-high 20 points, as proof.
"We went through a stretch where we were close in games with Rob and X on the floor -- and winning, which was kind of nice," Woodson says. "But I haven't been able to get back to that here of late because Rob has been out.
"It frees X up a lot more because he knows now he can stay aggressive. We got away with it in the Maryland game. X picked up two fouls early. And we really had nowhere else to go."
Phinisee, who averages 5.3 points with a 34-22 assist-to-turnover ratio, missed a month with plantar fasciitis, which is basically a really sore foot that usually only heals with rest.
That's fine if you spend your days, say, crunching numbers at a desk. But if you're a Big Ten basketball player with visions of helping your team make the NCAA tourney, as Phinisee does, you need to run, cut and move at a high level.
Phinisee did for nine minutes at Minnesota on Sunday, totaling eight points while playing solid defense in his first game back. It is the start, the Hoosiers hope, of a difference-making March.
Was fatigue a problem?
"I can't tell if my stamina is back or not," he says. "In the nine minutes I played, I wasn't tired.
"That was a big confidence booster for me. I didn't do any practice or live action. I was just thrown into the fire. I thought I did a pretty good job. I felt better than expected.
"I'm working my way back. I'll be at full strength pretty soon. If the time comes (to play more), I'll be ready for it."
It could come Wednesday night against Rutgers, a huge game given both teams project as on the NCAA tourney bubble. A two-game winning streak has boosted IU to 18-10 overall, 9-9 in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights have lost three straight to fall to 16-12 and 10-8.
The Hoosiers, who haven't made the tourney since a 2016 Sweet 16 run, are well aware of the stakes.
"I've never been to the NCAA tourney," Phinisee says. "No one on the team has. We're locked in. We want to carry this two-game winning streak and keep winning."
Let others worry about ignoring postseason opportunity. IU embraces it.
"We send things in a group message as a motivational thing," Phinisee says. "We have to lock in if we want to make the tournament. Take it game by game. Every game matters. Focus in on the scout and lock in on what the coaches tell us to do."
This will be Senior Night, which means it could be Phinisee's last Indiana home game -- or not. Because of the pandemic, the senior has the option to return for a final season.
"I will talk to my family and the team," he says. "Right now, I'm focused on winning games."
Winning Wednesday night won't be easy given Rutgers' strong play this season, which includes victories over top-25 teams Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Illinois. The Scarlet Knights beat Indiana three times last season, including in the Big Ten tourney.
The Hoosiers remember.
"We want to get them back for that," Phinisee says. "We're looking forward to it. We want to get the win for Senior Night."
Doing that, Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during Monday night's radio show, starts with a message he's pushed all season.
"We have to commit ourselves and see what happens. I feel good that the players are in a better place than they were during that five-game losing streak."
A two-game winning streak that restored NCAA tourney hopes has a way of doing that.
"We're playing pretty good basketball," Woodson told Fischer. "We've always defended. That's our trademark going in, but we have to do it for 40 minutes because (Rutgers) can put up points and they play good defense themselves."
In the last three games, Johnson has played as if he's the Big Ten's best point guard. He's averaged 21.3 points and 6.0 assists. He's shot 58.3% from three-point range, and made 23-of-27 free throws.
"X has worked very hard," Woodson told Fischer. "He's putting in time before practice, after practice. It's nice to see it pay off."
Johnson has shaken off some poor performances and fierce fan criticism that might have broken less mentally tough players.
"He's been very coachable," Woodson told Fischer. "The thing about X is he's so competitive."
A pause.
"It's almost to a fault," he added with a laugh.
"I like that in him. Each time we play, he will compete, good or bad. You need players like that. It's nice that things are starting to fall in place for him. We're benefiting from it."
IU likely won't benefit from sophomore guard Trey Galloway, who remains sidelined with a groin injury.
"He just hasn't been able to do anything," Woodson says. "I can't tell you when the timetable is for him coming back.
"We came into the season thinking he was going to be a big part of our rotation. When we got him back, we were really excited, but now he's out again."
Rutgers would be a NCAA tourney lock if not for a three-game non-conference losing streak to DePaul, Lafayette and UMass.
The Scarlet Knights bounced back with a Big Ten-ACC Challenge victory over Clemson, and had one of the nation's most impressive stretches of the season when they beat Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Illinois to position themselves for a Big Ten title run.
A three-game losing streak ended those hopes, but Rutgers still brings impressive talent and defense.
It's led by forward Ron Harper Jr. (15.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and a 57 three-pointers), guard Geo Baker (12.2 points), 6-11 center Clifford Omoruyi (11.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 34 blocks), 6-6 guard Paul Mulcahy (9.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 146 assists) and guard Caleb McConnell (6.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 65 steals).
"Rutgers has played extremely well," Woodson told Fischer. "They have a nice mixture of players who play hard. If we don't play hard, it won't be a game. We have to compete with them for 40 minutes. They force you to play."
Woodson says Harper Jr. and Mulcahy are Rutgers "two main pieces." Race Thompson figures to get the main defensive assignment on Harper Jr.
"Mulcahy is a big point guard," Woodson says. He can get his shot any time he wants, and he gets the ball where it needs to go.
"Harper has had his way all season. When you slow him down, it puts you in a nice position to win. Race will have his hands full."
So will all the Hoosiers.
"At the end of the day, we know what's staring in our face," Woodson says. "We know that Rutgers is up next and we've got to win another game. It's just that simple.
"Rutgers is playing great basketball, so we got to come and commit to 40 minutes, and see if we can get another game.
"We're going to need everybody, man. Everybody's got to pitch in and do what they need to do."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Rob Phinisee is back and you'd better believe Mike Woodson gives thanks.
"It's huge," Indiana's head coach says.
How huge? For one thing, IU is 13-5 with Phinisee in the lineup, 5-5 without.
For another, he takes some of the burden off Xavier Johnson, who over the last two games has been as good as any guard in the Big Ten.
Plus, it means Woodson has a proven defender and scorer at his disposal, and if the offensive consistency isn't always there, well, when it is, basketball life is win-the-lottery good.
See January's win over then No. 4 Purdue, when Phinisee lit up the Boilers for a career-high 20 points, as proof.
"We went through a stretch where we were close in games with Rob and X on the floor -- and winning, which was kind of nice," Woodson says. "But I haven't been able to get back to that here of late because Rob has been out.
"It frees X up a lot more because he knows now he can stay aggressive. We got away with it in the Maryland game. X picked up two fouls early. And we really had nowhere else to go."
Phinisee, who averages 5.3 points with a 34-22 assist-to-turnover ratio, missed a month with plantar fasciitis, which is basically a really sore foot that usually only heals with rest.
That's fine if you spend your days, say, crunching numbers at a desk. But if you're a Big Ten basketball player with visions of helping your team make the NCAA tourney, as Phinisee does, you need to run, cut and move at a high level.
Phinisee did for nine minutes at Minnesota on Sunday, totaling eight points while playing solid defense in his first game back. It is the start, the Hoosiers hope, of a difference-making March.
Was fatigue a problem?
"I can't tell if my stamina is back or not," he says. "In the nine minutes I played, I wasn't tired.
"That was a big confidence booster for me. I didn't do any practice or live action. I was just thrown into the fire. I thought I did a pretty good job. I felt better than expected.
"I'm working my way back. I'll be at full strength pretty soon. If the time comes (to play more), I'll be ready for it."
It could come Wednesday night against Rutgers, a huge game given both teams project as on the NCAA tourney bubble. A two-game winning streak has boosted IU to 18-10 overall, 9-9 in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights have lost three straight to fall to 16-12 and 10-8.
The Hoosiers, who haven't made the tourney since a 2016 Sweet 16 run, are well aware of the stakes.
"I've never been to the NCAA tourney," Phinisee says. "No one on the team has. We're locked in. We want to carry this two-game winning streak and keep winning."
Let others worry about ignoring postseason opportunity. IU embraces it.
"We send things in a group message as a motivational thing," Phinisee says. "We have to lock in if we want to make the tournament. Take it game by game. Every game matters. Focus in on the scout and lock in on what the coaches tell us to do."
This will be Senior Night, which means it could be Phinisee's last Indiana home game -- or not. Because of the pandemic, the senior has the option to return for a final season.
"I will talk to my family and the team," he says. "Right now, I'm focused on winning games."
Winning Wednesday night won't be easy given Rutgers' strong play this season, which includes victories over top-25 teams Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Illinois. The Scarlet Knights beat Indiana three times last season, including in the Big Ten tourney.
The Hoosiers remember.
"We want to get them back for that," Phinisee says. "We're looking forward to it. We want to get the win for Senior Night."
Doing that, Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during Monday night's radio show, starts with a message he's pushed all season.
"We have to commit ourselves and see what happens. I feel good that the players are in a better place than they were during that five-game losing streak."
A two-game winning streak that restored NCAA tourney hopes has a way of doing that.
"We're playing pretty good basketball," Woodson told Fischer. "We've always defended. That's our trademark going in, but we have to do it for 40 minutes because (Rutgers) can put up points and they play good defense themselves."
In the last three games, Johnson has played as if he's the Big Ten's best point guard. He's averaged 21.3 points and 6.0 assists. He's shot 58.3% from three-point range, and made 23-of-27 free throws.
"X has worked very hard," Woodson told Fischer. "He's putting in time before practice, after practice. It's nice to see it pay off."
Johnson has shaken off some poor performances and fierce fan criticism that might have broken less mentally tough players.
"He's been very coachable," Woodson told Fischer. "The thing about X is he's so competitive."
A pause.
"It's almost to a fault," he added with a laugh.
"I like that in him. Each time we play, he will compete, good or bad. You need players like that. It's nice that things are starting to fall in place for him. We're benefiting from it."
IU likely won't benefit from sophomore guard Trey Galloway, who remains sidelined with a groin injury.
"He just hasn't been able to do anything," Woodson says. "I can't tell you when the timetable is for him coming back.
"We came into the season thinking he was going to be a big part of our rotation. When we got him back, we were really excited, but now he's out again."
Rutgers would be a NCAA tourney lock if not for a three-game non-conference losing streak to DePaul, Lafayette and UMass.
The Scarlet Knights bounced back with a Big Ten-ACC Challenge victory over Clemson, and had one of the nation's most impressive stretches of the season when they beat Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Illinois to position themselves for a Big Ten title run.
A three-game losing streak ended those hopes, but Rutgers still brings impressive talent and defense.
It's led by forward Ron Harper Jr. (15.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and a 57 three-pointers), guard Geo Baker (12.2 points), 6-11 center Clifford Omoruyi (11.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 34 blocks), 6-6 guard Paul Mulcahy (9.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 146 assists) and guard Caleb McConnell (6.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 65 steals).
"Rutgers has played extremely well," Woodson told Fischer. "They have a nice mixture of players who play hard. If we don't play hard, it won't be a game. We have to compete with them for 40 minutes. They force you to play."
Woodson says Harper Jr. and Mulcahy are Rutgers "two main pieces." Race Thompson figures to get the main defensive assignment on Harper Jr.
"Mulcahy is a big point guard," Woodson says. He can get his shot any time he wants, and he gets the ball where it needs to go.
"Harper has had his way all season. When you slow him down, it puts you in a nice position to win. Race will have his hands full."
So will all the Hoosiers.
"At the end of the day, we know what's staring in our face," Woodson says. "We know that Rutgers is up next and we've got to win another game. It's just that simple.
"Rutgers is playing great basketball, so we got to come and commit to 40 minutes, and see if we can get another game.
"We're going to need everybody, man. Everybody's got to pitch in and do what they need to do."
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