Column: 5 expectations for IU versus UIndy

1. Dominance in the post

UIndy’s top returning big man from last year, Wilbur O’Neal, is listed at just 6-foot-7.
The only taller Greyhound is 6-foot-9 Joe Daniels, who averaged 8.4 minutes of playing time last season, so the Hoosiers’ frontcourt should have its way Saturday on both sides of the floor.

The Hoosiers need to take advantage of their superior low-post play, win the rebounding battle, feed the ball into the paint often and force UIndy to rely on its guard play, rendering the Greyhounds one-dimensional.

Although freshman forward Cody Zeller will be the main attraction, senior forward Tom Pritchard, who is still not 100 percent, and junior Derek Elston should be in the mix, as well.

2. Quality play from reserves

Much like any other preseason in sports, exhibition games are an excellent opportunity to test the depth of a team.

Not only will substituting out starters decrease the likelihood of one getting hurt (see IU’s laundry list of injuries in the Tom Crean era), but it will give Crean a chance to test how his second-string players perform in a game situation.

The extent of freshmen Remy Abell and Austin Etherington’s potential is still a
mystery.

Senior guard Daniel Moore will play a key role this season as the likely backup to starting point guard Jordan Hulls. Quality minutes off the bench lead to well-rested players, which leads to better play down the stretch in games that come down to the wire.

The Hoosiers’ bench needs to prove that it can hold its own when called upon.

3. Smart play

For the first time in four years, IU will put an experienced team on the floor. Crean is fortunate enough to have four of his starters return, including juniors Christian Watford and Hulls and senior Verdell Jones.

In addition to leading the Hoosiers, these upperclassmen need to play the disciplined basketball expected of them, which means no careless turnovers or easily avoidable fouls.

Albeit against Division II Indianapolis, Crean’s squad needs to show on Saturday that when they are beaten this season, it won’t be because they beat themselves.

4. See IU run. IU runs fast. Run, IU, run!

Elston said Thursday that this year’s team likes to get out in transition and run.
Against UIndy, the Hoosiers should not only be better conditioned than their opponents, but also effective when on the fast break.

At the same media availability Thursday, Crean said his team’s offensive execution is still not where it needs to be.

If this is the case, I’m anxious to see where his players feel comfortable on the offensive end and in what situations they struggle. Will IU try to implement a heavy run-and-gun, up-tempo style system that Elston seemed so keen on, or will half-court sets that better incorporate the post be more prominent?

5. Win by double-digits

Yes, UIndy beat a ranked Tennessee team last year in Knoxville for a shocking upset en route to a 19-9 season. Yes, Butler lost to Division II Northern State on Wednesday 53-50.

But even with the looming threat of a meaningless loss, the Hoosiers should still handily beat UIndy by at least 10 points. The Greyhounds will be without top scorer Darius Adams, who exhausted his eligibility last season.

The UIndy guard averaged 23.2 points in his senior year, including 27 in the victory against Tennessee. That makes guard Adrian Moss the Greyhounds’ top returning scorer, whose average season point total of 12.3 lags far behind Adams.

The outcome of this game should not even come into question with less than five minutes left, but in the event it does, remember this exhibition game is more about learning than point margins.


­— azaleon@indiana.edu