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Indiana Basketball: “Roulette Questions” for upcoming season

By Trevor Gersmehl

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 21: Armaan Franklin #2 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after making the game winning shot against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 21, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 21: Armaan Franklin #2 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after making the game winning shot against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 21, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Indiana Basketball Roulette questions

Second option

A clear number two arises and helps shoulder the load and lead the team

OR

No one seizes the opportunity Trayce Jackson-Davis left to carry the team himself

A factor that ties into the questions on offense is who the second option will be. We know for certain that Trayce Jackson-Davis is going to be the leader in just about every statistical category for IU this season, but who will be his sidekick? When teams try to eliminate Jackson-Davis from the game, who will be the guy who keeps them honest, steps up, and puts the team on his back?

Al Durham is the odds-on favorite for this role, but there are other potential Robins for this team as well. Jerome Hunter and Khristian Lander both have the talent for it, but are they ready for that kind of responsibility? Rob Phinisee and Race Thompson have apparently taken strides this offseason. Maybe it is one of them.

The second option on the team can vary game by game, but not often. It cannot be a committee, it needs to be a consistent, reliable player. Someone may grab this opportunity and run with it, or maybe they all flounder and leave Jackson-Davis to carry the team on his own.

Khristian Lander’s role

Talent shines through and makes him a key contributor

OR

Inexperience and youth lead to freshman struggles

No one can deny Khristian Lander’s talent. He will be a very good college player eventually. We just don’t know when it will all click for him. It could be in one week, it could be the end of this season, or it could be in two years.

I doubt Lander starts at all this season. He may be talented, but he also just turned 18, is very skinny and missed a whole year of development and playing experience by jumping to college a year early.

Next. Indiana basketball recruiting: Four-star target Miller set to make decision. dark

It will be fun to watch the freshman grow throughout the year, but there is also a real possibility he struggles mightily for all the reasons I just listed. Conversely, a world could exist where Lander’s superior talent just cuts through all the inexperience and makes him an immediate contributor to the team.

Check back in for part two of the roulette questions next week.

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