Indiana Basketball: Fact or Fiction for the 2019-20 season
3. The shooting woes are in the past
The Hoosiers have yet to play in a real game, but we have two exhibition games to look at when evaluating their shooting. In the “secret” scrimmage against Marquette, Indiana shot 50 percent from three-point range on 10 attempts and shot 56 percent from the free-throw line on 43 attempts. Against Gannon University in an exhibition match on Tuesday, they shot 33 percent from three on 15 attempts, and 21-30 from the line for 70 percent.
Obviously, these numbers are quite contrary to one another, still leaving the question about the Hoosiers’ shooting woes.
Devonte Green, Rob Phinisee, and Al Durham all missed one or both of these games, obviously removing the main shooters on the team, but Indiana needs to rely on more than three guys to boost its’ perimeter shooting.
It’s safe to assume for now that shooting is an issue still being ironed out. One encouraging fact about the free throws, in particular, is the sheer number of volume in attempts, granted, you still need to hit them (although you’ll take 70 percent).
If this team underachievers this year, it will be because of lackluster shooting. It simply cannot happen. With the frontcourt being the emphasis on offense this year, the perimeter players need to be able to keep the defense honest from the outside to avoid double teams and clunky pacing.
The potential for Jackson-Davis, Joey Brunk, and De’Ron Davis to feast on the low block exists, but not if they are double-teamed every time they post up. We saw defenses disrespecting perimeter players time and time again last year, leaving their man completely in order to double the post or help on a drive with no consequences whatsoever.
Damezi Anderson can be a key player in this regard. He seems ready to play good minutes right away this season, and his shooting at small forward can give the offense spacing that Justin Smith simply can’t. Jerome Hunter could also contribute in this regard as well, although he understandably needs to shake off some rust after going 0-4 from deep in the exhibition vs. Gannon.
While there is hope for the Hoosiers to remedy their shooting woes, it is absolutely still something to be concerned about.