Indiana Basketball: Five bold predictions for next season

Indiana Will Miss The NCAA Tournament

It is entirely possible Indiana misses the tournament next year. The Hoosiers will boast some phenomenal depth, especially if they snag a graduate transfer like Joey Brunk or a high school recruit like Lester Quinones/Harlond Beverly. As of now (if everyone is healthy) the bench could have a lineup of Al Durham, Justin Smith/Jerome Hunter, Armaan Franklin and Race Thompson. Pair that with potential new additions in the coming weeks, and you’re looking at a stellar bench unit with major talent and experience.

The problem, however, lies in the fact that the Hoosiers have no apparent star in terms of talent. Incoming top-20 freshman Trayce Jackson-Davis will be a solid player and will be the featured talent on this team for (hopefully) years to come. But it’s just unfair to expect a freshman, no matter how talented, to be the best player on the team. The same things can be said about Jerome Hunter.

Devonte Green, Rob Phinisee, and De’ron Davis could all take the next step and be the alpha dog, but there isn’t a clear candidate among them. Green has the confidence, but often makes rash decisions and displays immaturity at times, like when he got suspended in the middle of last season. Phinisee has the floor general qualities in addition to some scoring ability, but is often passive in his shot selection. Davis is a great playmaker and low-post scorer, but he can be prone to injuries and at this point doesn’t look like a truly elite Big Ten player.

In order for this team to be successful, somebody needs to establish themselves as the best player and alpha dog. At this point, it’s a toss up for who that may be. If no one becomes that elite-level player the Hoosiers need, then it could result in another missed NCAA Tournament and more disappointment for an already tormented fan base.