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Indiana Basketball: Three most important players for Hoosiers’ success in tournament

By Adam Childs

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - MARCH 04: Justin Smith #3 of the Indiana Hoosiers steals the ball in the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first half at Assembly Hall on March 04, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - MARCH 04: Justin Smith #3 of the Indiana Hoosiers steals the ball in the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first half at Assembly Hall on March 04, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 04: Devonte Green #11 of the Indiana Hoosiers drives to the basket while being guarded by Marcus Carr #5 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Assembly Hall on March 04, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – MARCH 04: Devonte Green #11 of the Indiana Hoosiers drives to the basket while being guarded by Marcus Carr #5 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Assembly Hall on March 04, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

3. Devonte Green

It has been a very frustrating year for Green this year. The season started off with him being injured and unable to suit up. When he finally got on the court he came off the bench and showed flashes on where he left off in the 2018-19 season.

While he did get back into the starting lineup, he didn’t play well and went back to coming off the bench. He has shown he can get about as hot as anybody in the country like when he hit seven threes and scored 27 points in the Hoosiers upset win over Iowa. But he has also had trouble getting going as he has about as many single-digit scoring games as double-figure ones.

It has frustrated fans hoping good Devonte Green shows up and makes the Hoosier look like one of the better teams in the Big Ten. Green would probably be the first to express his frustration with his game also, but to his credit has continued to grind to try and help the Hoosiers compete in the Big Ten.

When Green gets hot, the Hoosiers are extremely tough to beat. So while Jackson-Davis is probably the most important player in the offense, Green might actually be the biggest key for any run the Hoosiers want to make.

The Hoosiers struggle with outside shooting and scoring slumps, but when Green gets going neither one of those is a factor. He like no other player on the Hoosiers can completely flip a game in IU’s favor. He is the one shooter that can get game-changing hot and carry the team.

The Hoosiers can win without Green playing well, they have already shown that, but to get that big upset or make a run he is the guy that needs to get going. Indiana is a long way from making a Final Four run, but it has happened many times in the past when a single player has gotten hot and carried his team to a championship (i.e. Shabazz Napier, UConn, and Kemba Walker also from UConn).

Next. Three improvements for Archie Miller next season. dark

There aren’t many people expecting the Hoosiers to make a run at either championship, but they definitely won’t if they can’t get Phinisee, Jackson-Davis, and Green going. If they somehow all click at the same time, Indiana could make some noise. If not and it might be thanks for showing up, here is your participation trophy. Let’s hope its the former.

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