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Indiana Basketball: 5 most important players for IU this season

By Ryan Sullivan

EAST LANSING, MI - FEBRUARY 02: De'Ron Davis #20 of the Indiana Hoosiers drives to the basket and draws a foul from Nick Ward #44 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: De'Ron Davis #20 of the Indiana Hoosiers drives to the basket and draws a foul from Nick Ward #44 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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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 02: De’Ron Davis #20 of the Indiana Hoosiers drives to the basket and draws a foul from Nick Ward #44 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: De’Ron Davis #20 of the Indiana Hoosiers drives to the basket and draws a foul from Nick Ward #44 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) /

The Indiana basketball program looks to head back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016 and need these five players to play big roles.

The Indiana Hoosiers Men’s Basketball program is entering its third season with head coach Archie Miller at the helm. In the previous two seasons, the Hoosiers have compiled a somewhat lackluster 35-31 record, and have failed to reach an NCAA Tournament, though they were noted as the “second team out” from the field of 68 a season ago.

Talent within the program had been a major question mark when Miller initially took the job. Since then, however, Miller and his staff have been able to bring in a couple of excellent recruiting classes–including two five-star recruits in Romeo Langford a season ago and Trayce Jackson-Davis in the latest recruiting cycle.

A dearth of talent is no longer an excuse or an issue for Indiana. The pieces are in place for a competitive team that should be competing for Big Ten titles and NCAA Tournament births year in and year out.

If Indiana wants to be a true threat in the Big Ten and to be playing in the NCAA Tournament come March, they’ll have to replace its two most important players from last season.

Senior Juwan Morgan was arguably the team’s most vital player, posting averages of 15 points, eight boards, and two assists as the offense ran through him for the majority of the season. Not only do the Hoosiers have a major hole to fill in the front-court, but their best back-court player and shot creator offensively, Romeo Langford, leaves a huge hole after being taken in the first round of the NBA draft by the Boston Celtics.

Rob Phinisee looks to be the staple member of the backcourt, and we saw how it impacted Indiana when he missed time with a concussion last season, but his role won’t be much different from a season ago, while other members of the roster will have increased importance.

That being said, here are five players with an increased role who will be most important heading into the 2019-20 season for Indiana.

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