Hoosier State of Mind
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Indiana Basketball: IU has a misunderstood shooting problem

By Trevor Gersmehl

CHAMPAIGN, IL - MARCH 07: Rob Phinisee #10 of the Indiana Hoosiers shoots a free throw during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center on March 7, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - MARCH 07: Rob Phinisee #10 of the Indiana Hoosiers shoots a free throw during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center on March 7, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 08: Al Durham #1 of the Indiana Hoosiers takes a shot while being guarded by Sasha Stefanovic #55 of the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Assembly Hall on February 08, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 08: Al Durham #1 of the Indiana Hoosiers takes a shot while being guarded by Sasha Stefanovic #55 of the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Assembly Hall on February 08, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

The real problem behind Indiana Basketball’s shooting

The sentiment that Indiana’s players can’t shoot is maybe my biggest pet peeve as a Hoosier fan and analyst. Nearly every starting lineup the past two years has had some combination of these players:

Rob Phinisee
Devonte Green
Romeo Langford
Al Durham
Zach McRoberts
Justin Smith
Juwan Morgan
De’ron Davis
Trayce Jackson-Davis
Joey Brunk

Of the ten players listed, only three have averaged more than three 3-point attempts in a season: Devonte Green (2019 & 2020), Romeo Langford, and Al Durham (2019). Last season, IU attempted the lowest amount of threes as a team in the entire Big Ten.

In a modern basketball world dictated by advanced statistics, nearly every successful team has grown fond of smaller lineups favoring shooting over size. Indiana has resisted this trend.

While the frontcourt talent may be the strong point of the Hoosiers’ roster, the combination of players on the court is strategically ancient. Last season, Archie Miller started Justin Smith, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Joey Brunk nearly every single game together. Jackson-Davis and Brunk didn’t attempt a three on the season, and Justin Smith averaged 1.2 attempts per game at a 26% clip.

While this lineup provides great size and good defense, it never once provided a reliable offense. The only capable shooters on the floor — Phinisee, Durham, or perhaps Green — were paired with complete non-threats from outside.

When the defense only has to account for two shooters on the court at the same time, it makes your offense predictable and easy to guard. Defenders can sag off a matchup like Smith when he’s spotting up at the three-point line with little consequence. Smith’s man can lurk near the paint, joining his two teammates already guarding Indiana’s two big men.

From that point, there’s almost no reason to fear anything if you’re a defender. Let’s say Rob Phinisee is setting up the offense. Want to run a pick and roll? Sorry, there are two defenders already in the paint waiting to stop it – you can either take a very difficult layup or throw an interception to the rim runner. Well if the help defender is in the paint, then that leaves a Hoosier open for three, right? Nope. It’s Justin Smith who is open from three because Al Durham (the only other shooter) is practically being bear-hugged by his man. Smith catches the ball and holds it, too unconfident to shoot, and the defense resets and leaves IU with 15 seconds to try and get better luck on the same action.

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