Indiana Basketball vs South Dakota State: Know your opponent, preview, prediction

The Indiana basketball program has its final tuneup with South Dakota State before welcoming in its first notable non-conference opponent next week.

With Thanksgiving past us, and many notable teams losing during feast week, Indiana basketball looks to move the calendar to December with an unblemished record.

The Hoosiers are still trying to get back to full health, something that sounds like a broken record again, but as Rob Phinisee missed last week’s game with something Archie Miller calls ‘multiple injuries’, health is a major concern moving forward, especially with the Indiana point guard.

South Dakota State has to be one of the most tested mid-majors at this point in the season though. With games against USC, Nebraska, and Arizona all on the road, the Jackrabbits won’t be scared by the Assembly Hall aura.

A program that took Arizona to the wire, losing by just seven, South Dakota State comes in led by two upperclassmen, but a nice mix of youth to the roster as well. Douglas Wilson (Jr.), and Brandon Key (Sr.) are the two players that make the team run. Wilson is a junior college transfer but has been an immediate impact player for the Jackrabbits. Averaging a team-high 17.8 points and 7.8 rebounds a game, he has three double-doubles on the season, including 14 rebounds against Nebraska. With Wilson on the inside, and a true inside game – only attempting three three’s on the season – Key is a 5-foot-10 guard who contributes more from the outside. Averaging 11.7 points and 4.4 assists per game, Key has had trouble with his shot over taller opponents in the power-5 group they have played this season however, shooting just 33.3 percent from the field in those three games.

Despite that duo combining for nearly 40 percent of the Jackrabbits scoring, 30 percent of the rebounds, and 50 percent of the team’s assists per game, don’t be fooled by the seemingly lack of production behind them.

Eric Henderson, in his first year as head coach, has 10 players who play more than 10 minutes a game and nine who average more than four points per game. Matt Dentlinger and Noah Freidel are two other names that are a major part of Henderson’s offense. Dentlinger is another banger inside, with just one three attempted on the season, and also has two double-doubles this year, while Freidal is a big guard, at 6-foot-4, who brings good size and shooting to the backcourt, shooting 38 percent from deep with six games of at least two made threes.

Key storylines

Indiana:

Will Rob Phinisee play, and will it be the first time Archie Miller has his full rotation? Can Justin Smith have a bounce back game after just three points in his last outing? Al Durham and Devonte Green are two players who can light up a defense, but will the offense start to run through Trayce Jackson-Davis? Can IU cut down on the turnovers from the 18 they had against Louisiana Tech?

South Dakota State

Douglas Wilson has gone up against size and length this season, but with Indiana’s depth up front, can he keep the Jackrabbits in the game? The Jackrabbits are shooting just 30 percent from three and 46 percent from the field, two percentages that need to be way higher if they want to pull off the upset. Averaging 42 rebounds a game as a team, the Jackrabbits need to keep the Hoosiers off of the offensive glass if they want a chance to keep it close.

Key Players

Indiana:

Al Durham (15.2 ppg, 3.2 apg, 45.5% 3pt), Trayce Jackson-Davis (15.0 ppg, 8.8 rpg), Justin Smith (13.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg), Devonte Green (12.7 ppg, 3.3 apg, 42.9% 3pt)

South Dakota State

Douglas Wilson (17.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg), Brandon Key (11.7 ppg, 4.4 apg), Matt Dentlinger (11.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Noah Freidal (8.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 38.1% 3 pt)

Prediction: Indiana 86, South Dakota State 70