Indiana Basketball: Lack of playmaker the silent killer for Hoosiers

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - DECEMBER 13: Archie Miller the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers gives instructions to his team against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Assembly Hall on December 13, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - DECEMBER 13: Archie Miller the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers gives instructions to his team against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Assembly Hall on December 13, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 10: Rob Phinisee #10 of the Indiana Hoosiers drives past Christian Vital #1 of the Connecticut Huskies during the second half of their game at Madison Square Garden on December 10, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 10: Rob Phinisee #10 of the Indiana Hoosiers drives past Christian Vital #1 of the Connecticut Huskies during the second half of their game at Madison Square Garden on December 10, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

Final Thoughts

Watch Indiana play and you’ll see this isn’t an isolated incident. The Hoosiers don’t have anybody who can make these types of plays for teammates with any semblance of what one would consider to be consistency.

Many offensive possessions look like they’re performed by a rec league team who just learned each other’s names before tip-off. There is no chemistry, no fluidity, and no familiarity with the offensive system. Players simply take turns on offense: Green holds the ball for 50 percent of one possession, then Jackson-Davis does the same thing the next possession, then Joey Brunk does the same thing the next, and so on and so forth.

This team also has the horrible habit of holding the ball until the very end of the shot clock on isolations before determining that they don’t have a good shot and passing out. The post players are especially guilty of this: backing down, pivoting and spinning for 5-7 seconds before just kicking out to a covered shooter with 3 seconds left on the shot clock. What is the receiver of that pass supposed to do with that little time?

Defenses also abandon the roller on Indiana’s pick and roll knowing the ball handler won’t even look at them. Dozens of points are left on the table from guards’ inability to turn their heads 15 degrees to the left or right and notice the wide open rim runner.

It is my opinion that the majority of offensive struggles for Indiana is caused by the fact that they have almost no one on the roster who can create for others. I’m inclined to think that opposing teams would agree with me simply by observing the ways that they defend Indiana.

The blueprint is simple: hedge hard on screens, leave shooters open and help on drives hard. Looking back at the film, Florida State didn’t do any of these things consistently against the Hoosiers. Many Big Ten teams that know Indiana, however, have it down to a science.

If Indiana had Yogi Ferrell, would teams be willing to let shooters stand in no man’s land and screeners dart to the rim so unimpeded? I doubt it.

Next. Hoosiers’ success in hands of backcourt. dark

Indiana’s fortunes look to be diminishing nearly every week. If they can’t start to put together meaningful offensive performances, Archie Miller’s seat will get hotter and hotter. I’m not of the belief that this team is incredibly talented, but they certainly aren’t getting even close to the most out of what they have.

If one of the guards could step up and begin making plays for others, it would go a long way in improving this Hoosier team which has been extremely disappointing to this point.