Hoosier State of Mind
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Indiana Basketball: 3 takeaways vs Ohio State

By Trevor Gersmehl

COLUMBUS, OHIO - FEBRUARY 01: Justin Smith #3 of the Indiana Hoosiers goes in for a layup during the first half of their game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena on February 01, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - FEBRUARY 01: Justin Smith #3 of the Indiana Hoosiers goes in for a layup during the first half of their game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena on February 01, 2020 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – JANUARY 26: Archie Miller the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers gives instructions to Devonte Green #11 during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Assembly Hall on January 26, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – JANUARY 26: Archie Miller the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers gives instructions to Devonte Green #11 during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Assembly Hall on January 26, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Devonte Green Needs To Be Better

I don’t like to be critical of players very often. I’d much prefer being positive and looking for the bright spots in how people can improve. I would also never say or write something that I wouldn’t tell a person to their face.

Green is an excellent shot-maker, but he does not play winning basketball, and it has been proven time and time again this season. He is an elite ball-stopper, meaning when an offense is flowing and moving the ball around, the ball hits his hands and all that stops. The defense sets back up and he is left to isolate his man one-on-one: his ideal situation, but the worst situation for the team’s success, a dichotomy that really hurts the Hoosiers.

Devonte Green is J.R. Smith reincarnated in the college game. He has one of the lowest basketball IQs I have ever seen for a player of his talent level. He cannot anticipate the way a defense will react in any way and he doesn’t make an effort to use his gift of scoring to create for others. He scored 13 points against Ohio State. However, aside from a halfcourt heave at the conclusion of the first half, all his points came under the six-minute mark, when the game was already over. He didn’t contribute to anything but his own stat line.

There’s always time for people to change, and I dearly hope Green begins to alter his playstyle to be more team-oriented. While at some points he may be able to hold his own, he rarely makes a situation better. I cannot recall a single time where Green came off the bench and made an undeniably positive impact on the game. The game against Maryland was close, but he ended up jacking up a few low percentage shots at the end that helped earn Indiana the loss.

Step one of righting the ship would be to take higher percentage shots. Even a layup can be a bad shot when the lane is crowded with three defenders and you charge in with reckless abandon. A stepback three is even more low percentage. If Green could play just a little more conservatively, it could go a long way. If he could channel his offensive aggressiveness into creating for others, it could change things for this offense.

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