Indiana Basketball: Hoosiers to be ‘top four team in Big Ten’ with Lander
By Alec Lasley
Indiana basketball is anxiously awaiting Khristian Lander’s decision on which class he will join and it will drastically change the outlook of the season.
Despite postseason play getting kicked off this week with conference tournaments and the Indiana basketball program trying to solidify its spot in the NCAA Tournament, it’s never too early to look ahead to next season.
The Hoosiers return all but two players, De’Ron Davis and Devonte Green, and bring in a very talented recruiting class as well.
One player that could be joining the 2020 class is Khristian Lander. The five-star Indiana commitment continues to push towards reclassifying and coming to Bloomington this summer. If so, it immediately jolts the Hoosiers’ potential for next year.
According to Rivals analyst Corey Evans, Lander will probably make the move to 2020 and would be a welcomed sight.
"“Indiana is going to lose Devonte Green to graduation after this season which makes it very important that the Hoosiers add a playmaker and scorer for next season. That is the type of role that Khristian Lander is perfectly suited for, which is just another reason why I believe he will be a member of IU’s roster next season…. The addition of Lander to what the Hoosiers are expected to return could equate to a potential top-four team in the Big Ten next year.”"
Despite an up-and-down year this season, one could make the argument that with just one consistent guard, the Hoosiers would have won at least two-three more games which would have totally changed the outlook and the feeling around the program as currently constructed.
With a dominant big man in Trayce Jackson-Davis and an experienced team from top-to-bottom, Lander would bring in the playmaking skillset that has been lacking at most times this season.
If Lander does choose to go the 2020 route, he wouldn’t necessarily have a huge impact when you look at his numbers, but his presence and skill would shine immediately.
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Adding depth at the point guard position is crucial for Indiana to take the next step as a program and Lander would provide exactly that.