Weight of Hoosier's offense on Strickland's shoulders

For the first time in Mike Davis' coaching tenure, he will have someone other than Tom Coverdale at point guard. That leaves sophomore guard Marshall Strickland running the point full time this year, which is something he said he is ready for.\n"It's a different role for me," Strickland said. "I'm not really used to having to get guys going. The personalities on our team take a lot of effort, and the leader has a big job to do. I've got to step up."\nStrickland played in 34 games last year and started 13. But while he did play in some big games, Coverdale was the primary point guard. Assistant coach John Treloar said he expects Strickland to get better and better as he gains experience.\n"Well, even though guys don't like to learn from the bench, I think that just having a chance to watch Coverdale, who had won a lot of ball games and done a really good job of running coach Davis' offense, (was useful)," Treloar said. "I just think having the chance to lead and direct was helpful for him."\nThis year's team only has two seniors. \nOne of which, A.J. Moye, is the team's vocal leader. Being vocal is a role the point guard must also take on, something Strickland is not used to.\n"That's one thing (coach Davis) has been really stressing out of me," Strickland said. "That's what I plan on having."\nFreshman guard Roderick Wilmont watched Strickland last season and this season. He knows that a vocal role isn't Strickland's style. But Wilmont said he has confidence Strickland will come around.\n"Marshall's our point guard," Wilmont said. "He's got to talk more and be vocal on the court. You know he's real quiet. But he's got to start talking. To go to the next level, he has to talk and show that he can lead this team. I think he's going to be alright. He's going to start stepping up here, and people will see that he's a true point guard."\nBesides being more vocal, Treloar said Strickland needs game experience. He said the team's tough preseason schedule will provide him with that. \n"He's going to play against a lot of good teams early in the season," Treloar said. "He's a very smart player. He's able to carry out the assignments that coach Davis gives him. I think with experience, he'll continue to get better and better."\nAs a redshirt last season, Wilmont had a chance to watch Coverdale and Strickland play. He has watched Strickland this year in practice and has seen changes in his game.\n"I can tell that he knows he has to run this team," Wilmont said. "He's more focused on trying to do the right things, and it's going to take time cause we're a very young team this year. Marshall's our point, and it starts with him and leads off to everybody else."\nDavis has said that IU's offense is behind schedule. Strickland said the offense will come along as he improves. He said he needs to step up and get guys to focus every time they are in the gym.\n"We're coming along," Strickland said. "We work hard, and that's what coach wants us to do. He believes in us, and we believe in ourselves and we think everything's going to fall into place."\n-- Contact Sports Editor Tyler V. Hoeppner at thoeppne@indiana.edu.