Hoosier State of Mind
Fansided

Indiana Basketball: 3 Takeaways from win vs. Troy

By Trevor Gersmehl

BLOOMINGTON, IN - JANUARY 14: Archie Miller the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers gives instructions to his team against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Assembly Hall on January 14, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - JANUARY 14: Archie Miller the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers gives instructions to his team against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Assembly Hall on January 14, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Al Durham, Indiana Basketball
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 02: Aljami Durham #1 of the Indiana Hoosiers during a game against 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 offense looks elite, and it may be here to stay

The offense looks fantastic, and it is about what Indiana is not doing just as much as they are doing.

Devonte Green looked way more under control and mature in his first game this season, and the young players all look comfortable in the system. Justin Smith, another player who can sometimes try to do too much, has thrived by playing his role and staying within his capabilities, scoring most of his points off of back cuts and fast breaks.

The weaving halfcourt offense looked lackluster at best last season. It was insanely predictable, and any team that spent 10 minutes in the film room could get at least three turnovers watching it. Passes were telegraphed and scripted; things never felt natural and free-flowing.

This year, however, none of those things are true. The ball is moving well, everyone is getting touches, and the Hoosiers look like they’re having fun in the system instead of looking confined by it. The read-and-react situations in the offense have looked effortless.

More. Dawson Garcia Talks IU, Recruitment, and Timeline. light

A concern coming into the season was the shooting from beyond the arc and from the foul line. Those concerns have been tremendously eased at this point. Indiana shot 39 percent from three on 23 attempts, and 70 percent from the free throw line on 30 attempts. The Hoosiers imposed their will on Troy physically from the get-go, getting into the bonus just over five minutes into the first half. If they keep hitting free throws at this rate, going to the free throw line could become the identity of this offense going into Big Ten play.

Indiana will desperately need to keep up this type of three-point shooting come conference play. Though Indiana didn’t always handle the double team well in the post on Saturday, in order to avoid getting into those situations, they must keep defenses honest when they choose to cheat down into a post double-team. If Justin Smith can convert on a mere 35 percent of his spot-up threes, it will make all the difference in the world.

Home/Indiana Hoosiers