Indiana Basketball: Al Durham’s scoring ability key for Hoosiers next year

The rising senior for Indiana basketball has shown his scoring ability throughout his career, but he must do it at a consistent level for the Hoosiers next year.

The backcourt for Indiana basketball showed its potential multiple times throughout the season, but it was the inconsistent play that gave fans headaches. Part of that was how dominant Trayce Jackson-Davis was at times, but also because of the lack of aggressiveness from the backcourt trio.

Al Durham has been part of that inconsistent backcourt throughout his career, not because of his inability to stay on the floor, but because of his ability to look like an All-Big Ten guard one night and then a disappearing act the next.

Before the season started, Durham was voted co-captain for the Hoosiers because of his ‘team-first’ mentality and the progress he has shown in his first two years. Year three, again, showed a lot of growth, both as a ball handler and as a shooter. One way it didn’t show much growth, however, was with his scoring and aggressive nature.

Indiana’s offense was a major disappointment last year, mainly due to the Hoosiers inability to create shots for themselves. Outside of Devonte Green, no player showed they were able to be instant offense…. outside of Durham at times.

Scoring outputs of 10+ points in 15 games proved Durham could be a threat on the offensive end as someone who could get his own shots. It was when he disappeared that was concerning, however. In 12 games Durham failed to score more than six points, and whether it be failing to convert or just flat-out not being aggressive, that can’t happen in 2020.

One sign of hope is how Al Durham has played when he hasn’t had a ball dominant guard on the floor. Looking back in the last two years, both Devonte Green and Romeo Langford needed the ball in their hands to be effective. For Durham, he has shown to be a better on-ball player than off ball. Last year, Devonte Green missed three games and in those outings, Durham averaged 16.7 points per game. Yes it’s a small sample size, but it’s proven even more when Romeo Langford was off of the floor two seasons ago. In the final three games of the year, Durham. posted 13.7 points per game on 13.7 shots per game.

Durham has great size and length on the perimeter that should translate into a double-digit scorer every game. His ability to shoot from three while getting to the line is a great combination. Durham has the skills, he just needs the mentality.

The Hoosiers will have Jackson-Davis on the inside, Rob Phinisee as the playmaker, but they need a scorer on the wing. Al Durham is that player and needs to become that threat if Indiana is to reach its full potential in 2020-21.