Hoosier State of Mind
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Indiana Basketball: The Potential of Indiana’s Backcourt Next Season

By Trevor Gersmehl

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 02: Devonte Green #11 of the Indiana Hoosiers drives past Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at Breslin Center on February 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 02: Devonte Green #11 of the Indiana Hoosiers drives past Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at Breslin Center on February 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 15: Rob Phinisee #10 of the Indiana Hoosiers hits the game-winning shot against the Butler Bulldogs in the second half of the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 15, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana won 71-68. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 15: Rob Phinisee #10 of the Indiana Hoosiers hits the game-winning shot against the Butler Bulldogs in the second half of the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 15, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana won 71-68. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Experience

Experience helps win college basketball games (thanks captain obvious). Having a backcourt comprised of two freshmen presents a lot of learning curves for the team, which we saw at times this season.

Phinisee played with more poise than a typical freshman this season, but both he and Langford made mistakes typical of rookies.

For Phinisee, though, his play was drastically effected by his concussion at the end of December, but we have seen that talent and confidence oozing out of the 6-foot-1 guard lately.

Averaging 6.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists this season, Phinisee’s play as of late has translated into 3.3 assists per game and just 1.0 turnovers over his last 12 games.

His increased level of play has proven to be one of the reasons for the recent success for the Hoosiers.

Another part of the new backcourt duo is Devonte Green.

In his last six games, Green has a 16 point per game average all while shooting 56.6 percent from the field and having a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Going to be a senior, and although he is notorious for the occasional head scratching decisions, he brings an element of experience and leadership to the court that Langford did not. He will have been in Archie Miller’s offense for three years starting next season, which means that he can bring experience that Langford cannot.

Though Green and Phinisee will be with the ball in their hands most of the time, another member of the backcourt, Al Durham, will play a pivotal role as well.

An inconsistent scorer this season, but always consistent with his effort, Durham has shown flashes of his scoring ability without Langford in the lineup.

Someone who will always play with great heart and emotion, he is another upperclassman that will be a terrific leader on this team next season.

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