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Indiana Basketball: 3 Areas to Improve in 2021

By Danny Friedman

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA, UNITED STATES - 2020/02/08: Former IU basketball player Mike Woodson (42) walks on the court of Assembly Hall as NCAA basketball coach. Bob Knight, who took the Indiana Hoosiers to three NCAA national titles, returns to Assembly Hall, Saturday, February 8, 2020 in Bloomington. Mike Woodson was named as the new IU basketball coach this Monday Mar 29th. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA, UNITED STATES - 2020/02/08: Former IU basketball player Mike Woodson (42) walks on the court of Assembly Hall as NCAA basketball coach. Bob Knight, who took the Indiana Hoosiers to three NCAA national titles, returns to Assembly Hall, Saturday, February 8, 2020 in Bloomington. Mike Woodson was named as the new IU basketball coach this Monday Mar 29th. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 02: Rob Phinisee #10 of the Indiana Hoosiers shoots the ball during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Assembly Hall on February 02, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 02: Rob Phinisee #10 of the Indiana Hoosiers shoots the ball during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Assembly Hall on February 02, 2021 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Indiana Needs to Hit More 3s Early and Often

Along with free throws, Indiana has also struggled with shooting three-pointers in recent seasons.

IU again ranked outside the top-10 in the Big 10 with a lowly 32.4% 3-point shooting average. The Hoosiers ranked 11th in 3PT %, tied for last in 3PT attempts, and were dead last in 3-pointers made per game with only 5.9 threes made per game.

Archie Miller’s squad didn’t shoot much differently from three in 2019 at 32.6%, only a 0.2% difference from 2020. IU was last in the conference in 3PT attempts and again last in threes made per game in 2019. Going back to 2018, Indiana didn’t fare any better. The Hoosiers were 12th in 3PT%, and 2nd last in both 3-pointers made and attempted.

Mike Woodson has gone out and found some new shooters to line up in Assembly Hall this season. Miller Kopp is transferring in from Northwestern where’s he made 36% of his 3 point tries in his three-year career. Xavier Johnson will join Kopp as well, coming from the way of the ACC with Pittsburgh where Johnson shot 34% from deep.

Indiana has to rank in the top-200 nationally in three-point percentage and threes made. The NCAA’s best teams include some of the nation’s best and most talented shooters. Indiana must improve this key facet of its offensive game to improve in the Big 10 this season.

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