Indiana Basketball: De’Ron Davis showed growth, potential for next year

It’s that time again where we take a look at the Indiana basketball roster and break down the season of each player. Today is De’Ron Davis.

Previous Reviews: Juwan Morgan | Zach McRoberts | Evan Fitzner

De’ron Davis came into this season having endured a tougher past year than any other Hoosier, spending his time rehabbing from a torn Achilles tendon in January, 2018.

The Achilles tear is thought by many to be the worst injury a basketball player can sustain in terms of recovery and future limitations.

However, after shaking off the rust in the first few games, Davis’ skill and size made him a key member for the Hoosiers during a tumultuous season. He couldn’t quite shake the injury bug fully though, missing five games with minor injuries like a sprained ankle and illness.

Overall, Davis has had a successful first couple of seasons, but is in store for a bigger senior year.

Let’s take a look at this past year for De’Ron Davis.

2018-2019 Season in Review

De’Ron Davis finished the season with 30 games played and three starts, averaging 5.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 13.7 minutes per game. He shot the ball at an extremely efficient 60 percent from the floor.

Davis’ numbers don’t reflect the impact he had on the Hoosiers this season. His leadership as a junior helped add stability to a young team, and his size at 6-foot-10, 255 pounds added physicality and a presence at the rim on defense. He also showcased his smooth jump hook and surprisingly exquisite passing vision for a big man.

Looking for any way to turn the tide after losing five of their last six in Big Ten play, Archie Miller inserted Davis into the starting lineup for three straight games against Minnesota, Purdue, and Iowa. In turn, Davis averaged 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 22 minutes.

De’Ron’s best game this season came at Assembly Hall against Iowa, when he tallied four points, four rebounds, and seven assists. He was wheeling and dealing against the Hawkeyes, finding open shooters and backdoor cutters with ease, all while asserting his much-needed physicality against their talented frontcourt.

He had better scoring and rebounding outings in other games, but I’m a sucker for passing big men, and Davis’ playmaking ability holds a great deal of importance for Indiana next season.

Davis was brought in by Tom Crean known as a very talented player. In 2016, he was the 51st best high school player in the country according to ESPN. Scouts raved about his athleticism and skill, which he has displayed in his career at IU despite missed time from the Achilles injury.

What’s Next?

De’Ron Davis is one of the most crucial players for Indiana next season. He and Devonte Green are the lone seniors on the roster, and their leadership is imperative for IU’s success.

In addition to leadership and experience, De’Ron’s size and skill under the rim will be helpful to ease the pain from the loss of Juwan Morgan, who dominated defenses from the low post on a nightly basis.

One of the more interesting storylines as we approach next season will be the on-court fit of incoming 5-star recruit Trayce Jackson-Davis and De’Ron Davis. Jackson-Davis is loaded with talent and athleticism, but neither he or De’Ron possess a three point shot.

This leaves Coach Miller with an interesting decision to make in terms of strategy. Does he play an old-school lineup with two non-shooting big men and sacrifice perimeter floor spacing for talent? Or does he put one of Jackson-Davis/De’Ron Davis on the bench to preserve the modern four-out one-in spacing that most teams use? It will be interesting to see what Miller does, and don’t be surprised if it changes midseason.

It would be helpful for Miller to observe the offensive style of the Denver Nuggets in the NBA, who also play with two talented bigs in Paul Millsap and Nikola Jokic. At first, the Nuggets experienced some issues incorporating Millsap, a newly acquired free agent and great low post player, into their heavy backdoor cutting and three-point shooting style. Having two big men crowding the lane takes away a lot of room for cutters to slash to the rim, and Nikola Jokic (much like De’Ron Davis) possesses an uncanny passing ability for finding said cutters. After one season, however, the Nuggets figured it out, and now boast the second best record in the Western Conference.

Next year is extremely important for the both the short-term and long-term success of the Indiana Men’s Basketball program.

De’Ron Davis finds himself in a crucial role only one season removed from a brutal injury. We’ll see if he can take the step from supporting cast to lead performer.

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