Column: Breaking down Chicago State

IU begins its regular season Friday night against Chicago State, a deep, experienced team. While it should be an easy victory for the Hoosiers, the Cougars’ press should be a good test for IU.

Returning leading scorer

In his first season with Chicago State after transferring from Missouri State West Plains Community College, Quinton Pippen burst on to the scene at Chicago State.

The Hamburg, Ark., native averaged 10.4 points per game in 29 starts, while ranking second in the Great West Conference in steals per game with 1.9. And, yes, Pippen is the nephew of NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen.

Returning leading rebounder

A senior leader of a veteran Chicago State squad, 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward Matt Ross is the Cougars’ most potent threat on the glass, after averaging 6.3 boards per game last season. The Dixon, Ill., native will test IU on the block, particularly against freshman center Noah Vonleh and sophomore forward Hanner Mosquera-Perea.

What they do well

Chicago State is a deep, experienced team, boasting a total of nine seniors. While they’re not a legitimate contender for an NCAA Tournament berth, the Cougars are a feisty group hungry to prove itself in its first season in the Western Athletic Conference. It’s a dangerous combination for a group that, essentially, doesn’t have anything to lose playing on the home court of a team that began last season as the nation’s No. 1 team.

What needs work
While Chicago State does boast a plethora of experience, how well it meshes remains to be seen. The Cougars feature four upperclassmen in their first seasons at the school after transferring: Joshua Ramsey, Rahjan Muhammad, Jared Dimakos and Eddie Denard. Chicago State Coach Tracy Dildy will be tasked with striking a harmony between last season’s core and these new
members.

My take
The doubts surrounding this season’s IU squad are qualified; the Hoosiers lost 67 percent of their scoring from last season, and enter 2013-14 as a young, largely inexperienced team.

This evening’s contest is the Hoosiers’ first opportunity to silence the critics and prove that youth won’t be a crippling element.

However, a healthy amount of work needs to be done, particularly on the defensive end, where IU Coach Tom Crean’s team was suspect during the first half of a 79-39 exhibition victory against Hillsdale on Monday. Hillsdale Coach John Tharp emphatically told his team that IU “doesn’t know when to switch.”  

Prediction
IU will beat Chicago State 75-59.

­— ckillore@indiana.edu