Hoosier State of Mind
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Indiana Basketball: Fact or Fiction for the 2019-20 season

By Trevor Gersmehl

BLOOMINGTON, IN - JANUARY 14: A rack of basketballs at the Indiana Hoosiers games against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Assembly Hall on January 14, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - JANUARY 14: A rack of basketballs at the Indiana Hoosiers games against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Assembly Hall on January 14, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 02: Head coach Mark Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers gives instructions to his players during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 02: Head coach Mark Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers gives instructions to his players during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 2, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

4. The offense will be much improved

Let me be the first to say, I am a fan of Archie Miller. I can also freely admit that last season’s offense was, quite frankly, atrocious. Teams could put 10 minutes of time in the film room and understand every action Indiana ran, and yet Miller rarely changed anything. It should be a consolation that this year’s offense could hardly be worse.

I do believe the offense will improve to some degree this season. The team should play as a more cohesive group, with less hero-ball and rash decision-making. There is more leadership on this team from top to bottom and there are several candidates for guys who could become breakout players this season. The number of isolations should go down significantly, making for a much more smoothly run offense.

Still, the grim reaper of poor shooting lurks over the shoulder of this team. If the two guys down low (whoever they may be) can’t operate because no one respects the perimeter players, it will be almost impossible to have a functioning offense. However, if Indiana can keep defenses honest from the three-point line, then good luck finding a lot of guys who can match the strength and skill of Indiana’s frontcourt.

Justin Smith could be a huge problem for this team. He is a major plus on defense, as he is able to guard almost anyone, which makes him very useful to a defense-loving coach such as Archie Miller. However, his lack of shooting leaves such a gigantic hole in the offense that it can sway the outcome of games.

It will be interesting to see how Miller incorporates him into the lineup to get the most out of the team on defense without sacrificing the offense.

Fact or Fiction: Fiction

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