Davis ready to see improvement in exhibition

Last Friday, the IU men's basketball team barely pulled off an overtime win in their first exhibition game against Athletes in Action. Their two-point victory, 70-68, didn't come easy.\n"We probably should have lost the game by 15," IU coach Mike Davis said. "I see that now watching the tape."\nTonight at 7 p.m., the Hoosiers will take on the Southeastern All-Stars to wrap up their exhibition campaign. It will be the first time IU plays the Southeastern All-Stars.\nDavis said part of the problem is the team's focus and the players are sometimes just going through the motions. \n"The team I saw on Friday night, I hadn't seen that team since last year," Davis said. "And that was a scary feeling."\nRunning the offense and setting screens will have a big impact on IU's game, as will finding players to rebound, Davis said. \nFreshman guard Roderick Wilmont said the team looked like they didn't know what they were doing in the last game and that there's no way they can come out tonight and play like they did last Friday.\n"Last Friday night we were out of sync," Wilmont said. "I think we're improving, but we've got to improve faster and step it up real fast."\nDavis wasn't impressed with two of IU's guards who played a total of 69 minutes and had two rebounds total.\n"We have to find some guys that want to rebound and just play," Davis said.\nPicking up eight rebounds and nine points Friday was sophomore forward Sean Kline. Kline was starting forward for the Hoosiers and played 32 minutes.\nKline said the team was not satisfied by any means after its win over AIA and that the team has come in early in the morning to work on the things that need to be improved.\n"I think we've taken the steps this week in practice to improve," Kline said. "And going into games like this, we have to look at executing because that's what we didn't do on Friday night."\nLeading the Hoosiers last Friday was sophomore guard Bracey Wright, who had 18 points. Making his collegiate debut, freshman forward Pat Ewing Jr. posted eight points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots.\nWilmont said Ewing brings a lot of energy to the team and that if he stays consistent, could be an even better player.\nDavis isn't the only one who's noticed how far behind the team is in practice and in games. Wilmont said the team has got to get it together before tonight's game and even more importantly, before the season opener against UNC-Greensboro Nov. 21.\n"That's our home opener," Wilmont said. "So we've got to get ready and get this show on the road."\n-- Contact staff writer Natalie A. Trout at natrout@indiana.edu.