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(05/04/18 7:24am)
This Thursday, Archie Miller landed a commitment from a player he so desperately needed. No, it wasn’t Romeo Langford. It was 6-10 Saint Mary’s graduate transfer Evan Fitzner.
What makes Fitzner a necessary commitment is the blatant role that he can fill for Indiana. Fitzner might be the perfect Max Bielfeldt 2.0.
What Bielfeldt did that helped cement a Big Ten Title in 2016 was bring veteran frontcourt depth and spread the floor. Last season, we saw an Indiana offense shoot a measly 32.2-percent from three-point range. With that poor shooting stroke, defenses were easily able to condense the court and focus on Juwan Morgan in the post. Now, Fitzner and Indiana’s freshman class have a chance to change that.
Fitzner is a career 41.5-percent 3-point shooter and that’s the first thing that pops out in his scouting report. With that in mind, what makes him effective is his ability to create thanks to this three-point ability.
Shot Creation
Fitzner is not a three-point specialist. He can shoot the ball well from deep, but he's not reliant upon it. If you watch the video above, you can see he's very comfortable putting the ball on the floor. In addition, a great deal of his drives to the basket come from cuts to the basket off of post give-and-go's. This versatility as a scorer should help to fight off defenders that are overly dedicated to defending the three.
Mid-range Shooting
Like Max Bielfeldt, Fitzner's true comfort zone is at the top of the key. On a great deal of possessions, Fitzner will set up right at the corner of the free throw line and let it fly. With this in mind, he is a perfect fit to help Indiana break zones and grab easy buckets.
Three-Point Shooting
It's the main selling point with Fitzner, and it's warranted. In his career, he has knocked down 126 long range shots and that should help to spread the floor moving forward. With this shooting forte, Fitzner fits the mold of the ideal stretch four that can come off the bench for Indiana and get hot when you need him.
In addition to these three main skills, the man is simply fundamentally sound. He rarely makes mistakes and his effort is reminiscent of soon to be teammate Zach McRoberts. If Fitzner can bring it on the defensive end and continue on with the effort he has already displayed in the past, he will fit perfectly in Archie's system. As Bielfeldt did for Thomas Bryant, Fitzner could be the ideal player to alleviate stress for De'Ron Davis.
(05/01/18 7:00am)
Romeo Langford is an Indiana Hoosier and there is no denying how important of a commitment that is for the program.
He has the potential to completely change the face of Indiana Basketball not only on the court but also off of it. With that in mind, it's important to not get too carried away with Langford's value to the team next year. That statement comes as result of a recruiting class that is much more talented than just the aforementioned Romeo Langford.
Langford will not be the only incoming freshman planning to make an impact in Bloomington come October. This can't be forgotten as Archie Miller and the Indiana Hoosiers seem destined for a top-4 finish in the Big Ten next season.
The biggest component behind that assertion is the understanding that the rest of the incoming class is perfectly suited to solve Indiana's three biggest issues as a team. The rest of Indiana's incoming talent solves the Hoosiers' need for a point guard, lack of three-point shooting, and their weakness at the free throw line.
Jerome Hunter
Over a month ago we sat down with Indiana's top recruit not named Romeo and discussed what drives his passion for basketball. For Hunter, it all seems to come down to getting to the NBA. This was Archie's main selling point to him during the recruitment process and looking at his skill-set, it's hard not to see where Hunter is coming from.
As the 54th best player in the country according to 247Sports, Hunter was the main focal point to the Pickerington North basketball team. Hunter averaged nearly a double-double in his senior season and refined his three-point shot throughout the year. What Hunter brings to Indiana is a level of unprecedented versatility.
As a 6'8" guard, he began his career as a center. Over time he transitioned to a forward and finally finished out as a two-guard. This left Hunter with a wide variety of skills including post moves and dribble moves. With his great length and range, it wouldn't be surprising to potentially see Hunter crack the starting lineup at some point next season.
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/978258174225641472[/embed]
Rob Phinisee
Rob Phinisee is Archie's point guard.
There is no better way to describe the West Lafayette native that consistently scored in bunches during his high school career. As the 125th best player in the nation according to 247Sports, will bring ball security, defensive effort, and an underappreciated scoring ability to Bloomington.
Phinisee will not only solve Indiana's point guard issue, but he also is a great free throw shooter that can serve as a calming force for Indiana fans.
Damezi Anderson
Anderson is another in-state recruit that will solve another vital issue for Miller's offense. Anderson is the 114th best player in the nation according to 247Sports and he is a lethal shooter. Shooting over 40-percent from three-point range in high school, Anderson will add a crucial resource that this currently lacks.
Jake Forrester
At the end of March we spoke with Jake Forrester about his aspirations at Indiana. Quite simply, Forrester wants to win a national championship. After playing with arguably the most talented High School starting lineup ever assembled, Forrester brings a unique level of experience to Indiana's roster.
As a stretch four, Forrester has spent a great deal of time working on his three-point game and he expects make an early impact.
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/979362747136860160[/embed]
Race Thompson
Lastly you have Race Thompson who technically isn't a part of Indiana's 2019 recruiting class. After redshirting this past season, the Minnesota native should be treated as such, since the forward has yet to have an opportunity to make an impact.
In his final season in high school, Thompson shot 38.5-percent from the field, 45-percent from the 3-point line, and also attempted a school record 101 free throws. In addition, it's quite clear that his redshirt year did him quite well...
[embed]https://twitter.com/ClifMarshall/status/971549800968736770[/embed]
Every player in the upcoming recruiting class has a chance to make a real impact on Indiana next year. It wouldn't be surprising to see Rob Phinisee or Jerome Hunter crack the starting lineup at some point next season simply based on talent and need. In addition with Langford most likely to be a one-and-done type talent, it increases the importance of the rest of this class. Prior to Langford's commitment, this class was considered to be a top-25 class. With everyone other than Langford looking appearing to be three to four year guys in college basketball, they will all have the opportunity to develop under Archie Miller. This past season, we saw exactly what that could mean as individuals such as Juwan Morgan and Zach McRoberts developed as the year went along.
The skills of each of these individuals suit a program in transition and when put all together they can do much more than many recruiting rankings even expect from them. Add Langford and this could be a ranked basketball team before the season even starts.
Without Langford, Indiana would still be adding a load of talent to its roster. Now with him, the program has a clear chance to do something special. It's an idea that will get overshadowed in the upcoming weeks, but really shouldn't.
(04/30/18 11:34pm)
Romeo Langford’s commitment to Indiana University is more about the future of the program than it is the now.
It’s a complicated sentiment that could ultimately shape the future of Indiana Basketball for years to come.
Langford is an incredible talent. He has the potential to become an All-Big Ten player, the ability to make Indiana nationally competitive, and the skill to be the one of the best players in the nation from the moment he steps on campus.
With that all in mind, Langford’s value to the program is much greater in the years following 2019.
With his talent, it's almost a forgone conclusion that Langford is a one-and-done college basketball player. Even with that understanding, Indiana's achievements in the years 2020, 2021, and 2022 will all come as a result of Langford's commitment.
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/961244785695711233[/embed]
"Indiana needs that first guy to take the step under Arch and I think Langford is the guy," said Jeff Goodman of ESPN. "Kinda like Cody Zeller...you got Cody and then it was like 'Okay, it's cool to go to Indiana."
After the hiring of Archie Miller, I wrote a column stating that Miller needed to make Indiana Basketball cool again. The column itself was satirical and outrageous, but the main idea wasn't wrong. Archie Miller needed to make top talent interested in Indiana Basketball again. With one commitment, Romeo Langford has done that for him.
Langford has opened the door to Indiana Basketball for talent not only in the state of Indiana, but across the nation. His commitment has potentially changed the face of the program forever.
It feels absurd typing that out about an 18-year-old kid, but it's true. There is a reason that every Indiana Basketball fan on earth has been holding his or her breath for the past year waiting on Langford's decision. It's not just Langford's talent level. It's Langford's status as something more than just a basketball player.
Langford's commitment has opened the door to a recruiting class that could be even better next year.
"Indiana needs that first guy to take the step under Arch and I think Langford is the guy," said Jeff Goodman of ESPN. "Kinda like Cody Zeller...you got Cody and then it was like 'Okay, it's cool to go to Indiana."
Next year, Archie Miller has the potential to bring in Trendon Watford, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Keion Brooks. According to 247Sports the trio are considered to be the 11th, 23rd, and 28th best recruits in the nation.
Trendon Watford is the younger brother of Indiana Basketball legend Christian Watford. The Watford family currently resides in Birmingham, Alabama and for that reason it appears like his commitment will come down to Indiana and Alabama.
Trayce Jackson-Davis is a late-blooming center from Center Grove, Indiana that has skyrocketed up recruiting rankings has he has continued to develop. Jackson-Davis has seemingly been seen in Bloomington too many times to count on one hand.
Keion Brooks is an athletic small forward from Fort Wayne, Indiana and his commitment seems to be coming down to Indiana and Michigan State.
The three of them aren't the only recruits looking at Indiana, but they're clearly the most vital. The trio themselves represent a continuation of the concept of keeping to in-state talent at home with two of them being from the state and one having Indiana ties that are too strong to ignore. Langford's commitment doesn't confirm that three of them will be coming to Bloomington, but what it does is completely change Archie's approach to recruiting them.
Langford's commitment has made it cool for Jackson-Davis and Brooks to stay in state.
Langford's commitment has made it cool for Watford to come on over to Indiana all the way from Alabama.
Langford's commitment has knocked down the first domino in a chain of events that could become a cycle of continued success at Indiana for years to come. That's why he matters so much.
Sometimes it only takes one. One kid who can represent so much for so many people.
When Archie Miller first took the job at Indiana, he consistently repeated the phrase "inside out." Miller had a plan to recruit talent starting from within the state of Indiana before expanding outward to the rest of the country. Miller said he and his staff would “dedicate ourselves to the high school coaches in this state, the high school talent in this state, the grassroots programs in this state.”
“They must feel like they’re being dominated by Indiana University,” Miller said. “You’re not going to get every player. You understand that. But if we want them, we should have a great chance of getting them because of the commitment level that we’re putting forth 24 hours a day at home.”
With every syllable, Miller seemed to be pointing everything he had at Langford. He is quite simply the biggest recruit you could ever land from "inside" Indiana and now it’s up to Miller to capitalize on what that truly means.
For now, all we know is that Indiana Basketball fans are in for a wild ride. With Langford as the driving force behind it all, it's time to buckle your seat belt for what is to come moving forward.
(04/13/18 12:07am)
Brandon Dawkins is the future of Indiana Football. As a recently committed Grad Transfer from Arizona, Dawkins has big plans for his future at Indiana and we sat down and discussed them all.
(04/11/18 3:27am)
At 21-years-old, Lilly King has done the unthinkable in the pool. In her short swimming career, King has brought in gold medals and earned the title of fastest in the world. Watch our interview to see her talk about all of her accomplishments and what continues to keep her motivated heading into the 2020 Olympics.
(03/29/18 8:27am)
Jake Forrester is set to join Indiana Basketball in the Summer, and when he does, it’s clear he’s ready to make an impact. We spoke with Forrester about his unique high school experience, playing with Cam Reddish and Mo Bamba, and his aspirations at Indiana. Forrester told us about how he chose Indiana to win a National Championship, and we also had some fun diving into what makes him who he is off the court. Check out our conversation in this special Indiana Men’s Basketball Podcast.
(03/26/18 5:43am)
Pickerington High School North's Jerome Hunter is set to join Indiana Basketball next year as the top recruit in Archie Miller's first recruiting class. Hunter is a versatile 6'8" small forward that has made his goals very clear. He wants to make the NBA. Back at Dayton, Archie Miller was the first head coach to give him an offer. What he told Hunter was exactly what he needed to hear. "I'm going to get you to the NBA." It's a sentiment that never left when Archie Miller took the head coaching job at Indiana. Now, it's a sentiment that will fuel Indiana Basketball for the years to come. Check out our full conversation with Jerome here.
(03/21/18 8:09pm)
Madison Norris is the best defensive end in the state of Indiana. After breaking his leg in three places his senior year, every school gave up on him. Every school except for Indiana. Now, Tom Allen will be getting a stud on defense ready to prove his doubters wrong. This speedy Hoosier holds state records for track and field and is ready to blow by Big Ten offensive lineman. Norris is ready to become a force on defense. Check out his story.
(03/18/18 10:15pm)
Indiana's season will continue on in the WNIT thanks to a performance that could truly be defined by dominance and control.
After opening to a sloppy start pushed by six Hoosier turnovers, Indiana led Milwaukee 16-to-15 at the end of the first quarter. From there, Indiana seemed to come to the realization that it was just that much more talented.
With the 5:32 left in the second quarter, this game ended. Amanda Cahill knocked down a pivital momentum shifting three to give the Hoosiers at 26-to-21 point lead. After that, the Hoosiers never looked back winning 74-54.
What helped to setup that momentum shift was a unprecedented scenario for Indiana. It came down to the defensive effort of Bre Wickware and Keyanna Warthen who replaced Jaelynn Penn and Bendu Yeaney early in the second quarter due to foul trouble.
"I have to give our bench credit," IU coach Teri Moren said. "Those guys did a tremendous job. They gave us some great minutes."
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/975473500457709569[/embed]
Cahill's three and the Hoosiers defensive effort helped to ignite a 17-0 run in which the Hoosiers displayed a competitive advantage in almost every facet of the game of basketball. That 17-0 run helped drive Indiana to outscore Milwaukee 26-to-9 in the second quarter and rattle them moving forward as Indiana easily coasted its way through the rest of the game.
What stood out for the Hoosiers was the fact that it wasn't just one or two players leading the show. As the tendency has been all
season, Indiana justifiably has relied upon the play of Tyra Buss, Cahill, and Penn. Sunday it was everyone.
With five players in double-digits and eight players with over 12 minutes on the floor, Indiana put together a well rounded performance that will push the Hoosiers confidently into the third round of the Women's NIT. As a team, the Hoosiers shot 50-percent from the field and 50-percent from behind the arc. Defensively, Indiana held Milwaukee to 34-percent from the field and forced 24 turnovers.
Jaelynn Penn's impressive 7-for-12 shooting carried her to 16 points along with seven rebounds and three assists. Buss and Cahill combined for 29 points on the day, but the duo never needed to be the stars.
Kym Royster dominated on the boards and fell one rebound shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Indiana's win against Milwaukee will set up a matchup on Thursday in Bloomington against in-state rival Purdue. This third round game will have a little extra energy for Indiana.
"Obviously, we're well versed with Purdue," Moren said. "Playing them amps us up, but what amps us up more is being at home."
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/975471629307400193[/embed]
(03/13/18 6:22am)
At this very moment, Archie Miller currently sits with two empty scholarship spots heading into the 2018 season.
What happens with those scholarships is up in the air and it's hard to really have many answers. The only thing we truly do know is that those two spots could truly make or break this Indiana Basketball team next year.
Every roster spot has a value and your goal as a basketball coach is to maximize that value in whatever way possible. Wasting a spot can be detrimental and he perfect example of that idea sits directly in Indiana's locker room.
Before heading into the 2017 season, Archie Miller had one scholarship to play with. Instead of wasting it, Miller chose to wisely offer it to top prospect in the class of 2018. In an ingenious move towards value maximization, Indiana added Race Thompson to the roster and allowed him spend the year as a redshirt. Now he looks like this...
(03/06/18 7:30pm)
Having a nuanced opinion on anything in sports is probably one of the more difficult things anyone can try to do in this sphere.
I’ve said it before and I’m not going to stray from that opinion, but the Big Ten Tournament should never be played at Madison Square Garden. A midwestern conference should never feel the need to abandon its fans and create a truncated schedule for an arena too far for at least 11 fanbases to even consider driving.
It should never happen, but after experiencing the event first hand and talking to the players actually competing on this stage, I can at least now say…I get it.
“All you want to do when you grow up is play at Madison Square Garden,” Iowa guard Jordan Bohannon said. “Think about all the people that played here before and are currently playing here.”
It’s a sentiment that remains consistent with almost every player you talk to. For the fans, bringing this tournament to New York was a mockery. For the players, you created a moment. A moment that many won’t forget, no matter how extensive of a physical struggle it took to get there.
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”It's great,” Michigan guard Zavier Simpson said after Michigan’s first game of the tournament. “The atmosphere is great out there. Just glad to be able to play in an arena like this. Just happy we can get our first victory here. And hopefully we can continue. But as far as playing here, it's an amazing feeling.”
“It's incredible,” Michigan forward Duncan Robinson said. “Being an East Coast kid growing up, this is the mecca of it all. I feel very fortunate to be here, and specifically with this team.”
“Experience playing here is second to none,” Michigan guard Charles Matthews said. “This is every childhood dream, to be able to say that they played in the Garden.”
“We definitely love playing here,” Penn State guard Tony Carr said. “Madison Square Garden is a great gym. It's every child's dream to play here. And just for us to be playing a Big Ten Tournament for a great university like Penn State is great.”
“It's always great to play in New York,” Penn State guard Shep Garner said. “I love playing here. Madison Square Garden is a great arena. A lot of history here. So it's always good to get a win here.”
“It was great playing at home, especially for the seniors,” Rutgers guard Corey Sanders said. “They get to come, the parents get to come and stuff and see them play. We had a lot of people come from different places. Deshawn's family came, my family came. Just to have people that support you like that, especially in the New York area, we've got a lot of alumni. Just to have the fans come out there and be behind us, just a great feeling, and it helps us get more amped up for the game and try to win.”
“We're definitely excited we get to play here for a championship at the mecca of basketball,” Michigan State forward Miles Bridges said. “We had to get some first-game jitters out of the way. But I feel like once we got that out of the way we got comfortable and we got going.”
“It was an amazing experience, just being in such a legendary place and playing in front of all those fans, a lot of Spartan Nation out there that came and supported us,” Michigan State guard Cassius Winston said. “ It was great playing out there.”
“It has been great to cement a legacy here at MSG,” Purdue forward Vince Edwards said.
“Madison Square Garden is one of the best arenas in basketball, so it’s always great to be able to play here,” Purdue center Matt Haarms said. “We’ve had some really good crowds, so it has been really exciting and really fun to be playing here. It was really fun to see the Penn State fans go against the Purdue fans. It just gives us that much more energy.”
“You know, all-time greats have played in this gym,” Purdue guard Nojel Eastern said. “The focus just to be able to play on this court, it’s just amazing…it’s a blessing. You have to just come out and take in every bit”
“It’s funny because I was actually born in New York, so this was a dream come true really,” Indiana guard Al Durham said. “Most of my family is from here, so playing in the garden is something they dreamed of. It felt good to play here and get one under my belt.”
“I was looking around and I was like, where’s all this noise coming from?” Michigan forward Isaiah Livers said. “Then I looked up and saw decks on decks on decks. You had people all the way up there wearing their Maize shirts just yelling, so it was hype. I loved it. A lot of energy. You have no choice but to feed off it. You’re in a loud crowd and everyone’s cheering for you, you’re going to do nothing else but play your best.”
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The theme is consistent throughout. Every player that was asked about their experience at the garden had the same light in their eyes as the last. Taking the time to appreciate that and also disliking the tournament's location can be congruent thoughts. The two ideas aren't in any way exclusive to each other and that is important.
It's hard to argue that this Big Ten Tournament wasn't special in some form or another. It was special for the players and it was even special for the coaches on the sidelines.
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"I love Madison Square Garden," Rutgers Head Coach Steve Pikiell said. "There's no better place. There's no better venue. So it's great to be here in this venue. I've always loved it. Loved it as a player, Big East, and every time I come here and play, it's just great...I don't worry about what other people think. It's a great venue here, maybe the best venue in the world. People love New York. It's great to spread the great word of what a great league it is with great coaches to the biggest media market in the world. So this is great for the league. And I think a lot of people are learning how good and exciting basketball is played in this league and how many good, quality teams there are from 1 to 14. So I'm hoping they're getting a great feel for that."
"I played in some quarterfinal games here with West Virginia, but I don't think I've ever been in a quarterfinal game that was as loud as that game today," Michigan Head Coach John Beilein said. "That was an exciting atmosphere to be in. And it's really -- I don't think -- we had to sacrifice a lot to put ourselves in this position to be in the Garden. I think when it's all said and done, we'll all say it was worth it. If you witness these games we're having right now and how New York loves basketball, they love college basketball. Something that I mentioned several times, March in New York is just -- I don't know why it's a really favorite time of mine...For us it was like a no-brainer, even though we knew that it was going to be a bit more difficult schedule."
"I think everybody knows from a coaching standpoint this was a tough year the way everything was condensed," Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo said. "But as I said, once you got to Madison Square Garden, the thrill of playing in an arena like this was special.... So I guess for me I appreciate being in Madison Square Garden and for only the second time in this rivalry did we get to play each other in the Big Ten Tournament. We did not play good enough to win; they did. Credit goes to them. But the memory and the -- of playing here I think will be important to our guys as they go through life."
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After laying out every statement made this weekend by players and coaches, it's hard to not feel this odd level of confusion about how you feel. That's okay. It's the beauty of nuance. Things can be good and bad and now that we are beyond the event itself, there little need to dissect the negatives. The Big Ten took advantage of an opportunity that they most likely won't have in the foreseeable future.
Players such as Al Durham and Mike Williams got to live out a life long dream and play in front of loads of family. Jordan Bohannon and Nojel Eastern got to play on the same court as NBA legends. Miles Bridges and Tony Carr got to play on a court and visualize what their future may hold in the NBA. Programs like Rutgers and Michigan got to take advantage of their huge New York based alumni and play off of a raucous crowd in one of the most famous arenas known to man.
And the product wasn't terrible either.
10 of the 13 games of this tournament were decided by single digits, the best of the Big Ten emerged and displayed their NBA potential, as Tony Carr became the first point guard in Big Ten history to score 25 points in multiple tournament games, and the nearly impossible became possible as Rutgers became the first 14 seed to make the tournament quarterfinals.
This tournament was good and there is no denying it. With that said, this tournament could have been great and I'd still have the same takeaway.
Congrats, you gave players their moment. You gave coaches their moment. You even gave fans an interesting moment. Now get off your high horse and never do this again.
(03/02/18 9:30pm)
Anything can still happen in New York, right?
With our free time here at the Big Ten Tournament we caught up with Barstool Founder Dave Portnoy and one half of the "Pardon My Take" podcast Big Cat. We talked about the Big Ten Tournament, Tom Crean, and the future of Barstool as a whole.
(03/02/18 6:09pm)
Indiana started its season with 69 points and ended it with the same exact output on the scoreboard.
Indiana opened its season losing to a lesser opponent and ended it with the same exact result.
It’s a tale that surprisingly survived the test of time. It’s also a tale that doesn’t tell the entirety of the story. It does however, tell a great deal of it.
“Just think we weren't as sharp as we needed to be down the stretch,” Robert Johnson said. “And we never really got over that hump where we strung stops together and buckets with those.”
Indiana has made great strides towards progress this season in ways that seemed unimaginable after its first 69-point performance. Defensively, the Hoosiers learned a completely new system and grew as they went on. Indiana took a system that seemed almost foreign from the onset and made it second nature.
Individually, the Hoosiers found growth from players that looked abysmal from the get-go. Juwan Morgan became a leader among men in the Big Ten, Zach McRoberts became a pesky defensive superstar, and every single member of the freshman class that saw legitimate playing time in-turn saw legitimate growth and improvement. This team grew and grew in a unique nature resembling one big odd social experiment. And yet, it was never enough to get them over the hump.
There comes a point when you have to question what that growth all season long really meant. If the results are the same, does it all really matter? It’s a question I don’t truly have the answer to, at least for now.
What I do know, is that this performance held in an isolated state was unacceptable. It was a performance that was just as acceptable as Indiana’s loss to Indiana State to start the season. It wasn’t.
“They took things away from us,” Archie Miller said. “And we really just at the end of the day didn't have an answer for guarding the ball…late in the game, and as we tried to play and we needed to run offense, they eliminated what I thought was our ability to run through Juwan. And after that, our guards -- and we needed to be able to make some plays for others and that wasn't happening.”
As vast of an improvement as we saw from Indiana’s team this year, the problem was the same from the onset to the finale. Indiana was a team too deathly reliant upon Juwan Morgan and lacked the guard play to ever be competitive. It’s indicative of a roster that never had a chance, no matter the improvement. It’s a microcosm of issues that need a solution as soon as seemingly feasible.
“I thought just the tougher team won tonight, and at this time of year you don't expect to have that happen,” Miller said.
Being out fought by the worst team in the Big Ten is something you don’t expect from this team and it’s something that can’t ever occur in the future.
“Hopefully, this will never happen again,” Justin Smith said.
Indiana’s loss to Rutgers was inexcusable, but also not the end of the world. This team was never expected to do much more if they beat Rutgers in the first place. There were no expectations of beating Purdue in the next round and there were certainly no preparations for winning the Big Ten Tournament at all. So, in the grand scheme of things, this brutal loss should become merely a memento to hold onto in the future.
This season was never going to be anything special, and it will always be important to remember that. Indiana fans should expect more on a given night than they got on Thursday and they should expect more from the seasons ahead, but they couldn’t have expected glory in Archie Miller’s first season.
What can be expected and required is a program that builds on the growth of the individuals from this season. The effort and drive of the players on this team cannot be wasted.
“They gave everything they had all season long through a lot of ups and downs,” Miller said. “Saw a lot of guys grow throughout the course of the year and do some things that a lot of people probably didn't anticipate. From that standpoint I'm proud of them.”
In a season that ended just how it started, it’s okay to be at a loss for words. It’s okay to seek meaning from the various experiences you had throughout the year. Just know that meaning isn’t going to come to fruition for a little while now. For Indiana, that meaning has to be vital.
(03/02/18 12:17am)
Anything can happen in New York, right?
We caught up with BTN Broadcaster Brian Anderson after he completed work for the day at the Big Ten Tournament. We talked about everything from the direction of Indiana Basketball to the path he took to become a national broadcaster. We did it all...in eight blocks.
(02/27/18 6:18am)
Juwan Morgan has been undoubtedly the biggest bright spot of this Indiana Basketball season. His development from being a mere role player into one the most important players in the Big Ten has been unprecedented. He's increased his points per game from 7.7 to 16.6 and improved almost every facet of his game. Morgan has done that while also establishing himself as a leader on this Indiana roster that truly needed one.
What has pushed Morgan to this elite status is his wide skill set. Morgan does it all for the Hoosiers, and that's because he can. He fights like a monster for rebounds, forcefully wills in buckets from the post, and he even utilizes his ball handling skills consistently on the perimeter. It all comes together to define an individual that is remarkably talented and versatile.
It also doesn't tell the entire story.
Good college basketball players have physical attributes that allow them to compete with the individuals around you. Great college basketball players bring intangibles that raise them above their competition.
“Mental is to the physical as four is to one.”
It's a sentiment that pushes the best in basketball and it's a sentiment that defines Juwan Morgan.
Morgan's success at Indiana is pushed more by the extent of his mentality than it's his physical skills. A mentality that pushes itself even beyond the court. A mentality that makes him great at more than just basketball. A mentality that makes him the best Instagram user in the Big Ten.
It's a label I don't choose to simply throw out there aimlessly without much thought. There's a lot that goes into this prestigious title. Instagram commenting is a complicated art form. After extensive research, I have determined that it's an art form that Juwan Morgan has ultimately mastered. Here's why:
Supportive
As a leader for Indiana, it's important that he supports his teammates in any way he can. That includes Instagram. Here we see a fine example of Morgan showing support for Zach McRoberts, a new member of the Instagram community.
In this next example, we see Morgan use the very popular technique of establishing a nickname. Referring to Freddie McSwain Jr. as "McDunkthatball" helps to establish camaraderie between the two. In addition, Morgan takes this opportunity to look out for McSwain's safety. Jumping that high in the air can be dangerous, and Morgan clearly cares about McSwain's health.
Once again, Morgan is found here looking out for McSwain's safety. With some support from former teammate OG Anunoby, the two establish the importance of stretching before dunking early in the morning.
Finally, we take a look at a pivotal comment from OG Anunoby. Anunoby's concern for the rules of society help to establish a precedent that Morgan has clearly followed.
Helpful
He might not be a point guard, but Morgan has assisted his teammates left and right on Instagram. Here it's clear that Morgan is simply concerned for the aesthetic of his freshman teammate Justin Smith. In today's society, clothing can provide us with plenty of room for social commentary. Morgan simply doesn't want his teammate to face mockery for wearing a shirt that doesn't fit him properly.
This comment from simply makes sure that Robert Johnson focuses on ball movement. Morgan is always going to make the extra pass to find the open man on offense.
Here Morgan is just looking out for teammate Johnny Jager by providing him a proper warning. Morgan wants to make sure Jager doesn't engage in "nonsense" moving forward, as it is important to stay focused during the season.
Lastly, Morgan is seen trying to make sure his teammate is fully aware of a normal family construct.
Confident
Confidence is key for an elite college basketball player. If you want to be the best, you have to believe you're the best. In this example, Morgan clearly expresses his confidence in his athletic ability, ensuring his teammate that he isn't more athletic.
The following example is presented without comment.
Consistent
Consistency is crucial in college basketball, especially in the Big Ten. You can never have an off night on the floor if you want to be one of the best. Through Instagram we're able to see that Morgan has established a very consistent response to a certain individual's pictures. Morgan provides only a slight variation based on the image.
These are all just a few examples of what makes Morgan such an impressive Instagram user. He is an artist among a world filled with social media nomads and with that in mind, it's only justified to call him the Big Ten's Instagram User of the Year.
(02/26/18 8:34am)
Jessica Gaudreault is currently third all-time in Indiana University Women's Water Polo history in saves and shots faced. It's an impressive feat that really doesn't come close to explaining her story. On her road to success with Indiana, Gaudreault took two year off campus to compete with the Canadian Women's Water Polo National Team and she has put herself on the map as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Watch our sit-down conversation to hear the entirety of her story as she discusses past success and future goals for this Indiana University Water Polo Program.
(02/24/18 6:14am)
Senior Night Speeches:
Archie Miller:
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/967254161296371712[/embed]
Tim Priller:
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/967260383244423169[/embed]
Freddie McSwain Jr.:
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/967261598883762177[/embed]
Josh Newkirk:
[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.thehoosiernetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Newkirk-1.mp4"][/video]
Robert Johnson:
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/967264161452437504[/embed]
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/967267712929009664[/embed]
Collin Hartman:
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/967270047218532352[/embed]
Notable Post Game Reactions:
Archie Miller:
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/967277593195175937[/embed]
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/967279050099224576[/embed]
[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.thehoosiernetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Arch-zach.mp4"][/video]
Robert Johnson:
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/967261590553800704[/embed]
Juwan Morgan:
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/967260271982120960[/embed]
(02/23/18 7:12pm)
When Archie Miller arrived at Indiana, he didn't know what he would be getting from this roster.
With a roster of individuals sold on the ideals of a different era, it wouldn't have been surprising if Miller's approach had fallen to the wayside. Instead, Miller found himself a group of seniors that were set to define the future of his program.
"Your seniors can go a lot of different ways when there's change, especially when there's a lot of ups and downs in a season," Miller said.
What Miller got from this unique and dynamic group of seniors was quite simply and unprecedented amount of "Buy-in." It's a sentiment that Miller has harped upon all season long, and yet, it's a sentiment that we truly won't grow to appreciate until years after this initial season.
The reason behind statement is the understanding that this senior class defied the odds and came together to establish a precedent for success moving forward. This class let Archie be Archie and allowed the newest man on campus to begin shaping his program and his system.
Without a doubt, that development took time.
When the Hoosiers left Assembly Hall on November 10, it seemed impossible. After giving up 90 points to Indiana State, it seemed impossible to ever expect this team to leave its old tendencies and adapt to the defensive mindset of the pack line defense. Now, behind the lead of its seniors, Indiana Basketball has established a spring board to prosperity.
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The best example of this vital "Buy-in" comes from senior Collin Hartman. Hartman uniquely returned to Indiana as a redshirt senior after memorably going through senior night festivities at the end of last season. He seemingly ended his career and established his future by proposing to his girlfriend in front of a sold-out Assembly Hall crowd.
With everything pointing towards his future away from campus, Hartman returned to have potentially the worst statistical season of his career. Even with that it mind, it has also been his most important.
"He's a leader," Miller said. "I think he's probably -- deep down inside, he'd say to himself, I'm a shell of probably what I was at one point in my career, and the injuries certainly played a big role, not in his inconsistency but his inability to really get in rhythm...He's given us another guy that really has been about the right things all the time...He's been a guy that just has not had that opportunity to really get in great rhythm...But I'm glad he came back. He's been awesome to be around. He's been awesome for our staff to have a guy that's a little bit older, a little bit more mature help our young guys. So he's been good."
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/966778135567007744[/embed]
It's a frustrating sentiment to express, but for Archie Miller, it has always been about more than Hartman's performances on the court. What has made Hartman so crucial has been his mentality. It's a mentality fueled by growing up Indiana, playing basketball in a state that lives basketball. It's a mentality that every Hoosier basketball player has to embody in order to succeed.
"I think that what I'll cherish most is obviously the relationships, but also being from Indiana, wearing Indiana across your chest, it brings a lot of pride, and it humbles me to see how much it impacts people's lives, how ingrained people are into basketball," Hartman said. "It's their culture, it's their lifestyle, and I think having the impact that we do and the influence that we do and being able to represent not just the University, not just the program, but you're representing people's lifestyle, and it's humbling and it's an experience that not a lot of people get to feel."
What's remarkable about Hartman's thought process is his ability to push beyond the health related adversity and still work to make the individuals around him better.
"It actually started a lot with my faith, my religion and just staying focused and focusing on what matters and controlling what you can control," Hartman said. "I surround myself with a lot of good guys, all these guys here at the table and the program and good people outside the program. So it's just -- you have to be the kind of guy that's going to uplift everybody around you, even if you're not feeling the best or you're not in the best state of mind. Just kind of stay focused on that."
All of it has come together to embody who Collin Hartman is and what he means to Indiana Basketball. Over seven years ago, Hartman committed to Tom Crean and the direction he planned to take the program. Now almost miraculously, Hartman finds himself at the forefront of Archie Miller's ideas for greatness.
"It's been a long, long time ago since I've been around the program," Hartman said. "Obviously I committed sophomore year, so that was a long time ago. But I just want to say for the record, Josh Newkirk is older than me. I've always got to throw that out there. But yeah, it's been a long time. It's been a great road. I don't know if there's very many people that have been a part of the program longer than I have, from my commitment to graduation. I'd like to maybe claim that. I don't know if that's a thing, but I'm going to claim it."
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/966769136784302081[/embed]
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With all that Hartman has represented for this program, he isn't the only one that has pushed beyond their past to establish this work ethic based precedent. As Hartman defines what it means to be a vocal leaders, his counterpart Robert Johnson has been the perfect soft spoken compliment.
"Probably can't put it into words, just how much he has given to our staff," Miller said of Johnson. "It hasn't been just like one day or one week. It's been literally the first second we arrived on campus until today, he has been all in, and he's worked extremely hard not only individually on his own game, but he's really just done an amazing job of giving everything he has to our process. Regardless of how this season finishes up, he individually from a statistical standpoint, I don't know if guys will look at it, but what he's meant to the program in terms of giving us an opportunity to build, to compete, to be able to get better all season long...He'll go down as one of the guys -- hopefully as we build season upon season that you look back on and say he gave us a chance."
[embed]https://twitter.com/TheHoosierNet/status/966775767517552640[/embed]
Johnson's quiet demeanor defined his career. From the moment he got on campus, he had expectations and criticisms that have been almost completly unwarranted. As Indiana fans have seen him face a new role every season, individuals have expected him to become this scoring phenom. With that expectation went without was an understanding for how underappreciated Johnson's biggest asset actually was. Johnson, quiet in the face of it all, has simply worked hard and become one of the best perimeter defenders in the conference.
"I think I just want to be remembered as a guy who despite whatever circumstances that I came across, I tried to do my best to give the team everything I had and to help the team win in any way I could," Johnson said.
Johnson, subdued and hard working in nature, fits Archie Miller's coaching style like a glove. It also adds the unique dynamic that is this senior class. Hartman is a seven year Hoosier, Johnson is a four year silent assassin and they're far from the most unique in this class.
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Josh Newkirk, went from scoring 16 points for Pittsburgh at Assembly Hall to giving a senior speech in the same location three years later.
"Coming from Pittsburgh to here, I never would have imagined that," Newkirk said. "It's been a long journey. To finally be here, after five years, I don't know, it's surreal."
Then there is Freddie McSwain Jr., a raw talent who played football until 11th grade and transferred to Indiana from Neosho County Community College. As clear as raw abilities were, it was his unprecedented work ethic that has allowed him to blossom into a clear role under Miller.
"Oh, he's come a long way," Miller said. "I think Freddie is a guy that's always had pride in himself as a player and wants more opportunities. With injuries, he's got his opportunities, and I think when we've sort of evolved here over the last I would say seven, eight games, when we've needed energy, when we've needed rebounding, when we've needed a guy to come in here and give that to us, he did it."
It has been his development as one of the top-10 offensive rebounders in the nation according to KenPom that has shown everyone at this program that if you put your mind to it, you can continue to develop even in your final year.
**************
And then their is the greatest enigma in college basketball. Tim Priller.
"My four years have been great," Priller said. "The fan thing is pretty cool and all that, but I really just want to be remembered as a great guy with a great attitude that tried to help my team in any way possible and just do whatever I can to help us win games."
Priller is an individual who has played 71 career minutes of must watch basketball and ignited a fan base during all of it.
"It doesn't bother me, but every time it happens, these guys, they want to look at me and smirk at me and stuff, and I try not to laugh," Priller said.
It all comes together to create a group that should never be forgotten. It can be remembered for its oddities, but it also has to be remembered for its precedent. It will never be called the most talented group, but the precedent for success that they have established will payoff in the long-run for Indiana and Archie Miller in a way that no one could have expected.
This senior class could have easily given up from the onset. Set in their ways and sold on different ideals, they didn't have to "Buy-in."
They didn't have to "Buy-in," but the fact that they did should cement them in the history books.
"Something for me that I'll cherish is the impact that we've had on other people's lives," Johnson said. "And I think being here is a special place. You get to inspire a lot of people that you don't come across every day, and for me, I think that's been special."
(02/21/18 11:10pm)
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I have dreamed of working a basketball game at Madison Square Garden since I was six-years-old. Realistically, I had the dream of playing in the garden as well, but even six-year-old me had a proper understanding for my own physical limitations. Either way, I knew from the moment I first entered that historic building that it was the place where dreams were made of.
Growing up in New York, Madison Square Garden was always known as "The Mecca." The Garden defined everything about New York basketball and it will always be one of the most important sites in sports. The events that have transpired there have been miraculous and incredible. The aura of it all is enough to give you chills. To me, and many others from the East Coast, Madison Square Garden is the pinnacle.
With that said, nobody from the Midwest should really care.
Over the past decade, the Big Ten's attempt to expand and grow through the East Coast market has been evident and acknowledged. No move has made that attempt to expand more evident than the conference's decision to add Maryland and Rutgers to its competitive pool. Its a move that in its own right has received criticism, but ultimately, it's a move that was at least understandable.
There is financial logic to expansion and that is not what I'm here to question. Where the logic falters is when that thirst for expansion pushes you to completly alter the way in which you schedule, defy the basic needs of a student athlete, and place a regular season ending tournament a week early in a location that requires 12 out of 14 teams and fan-bases to travel by plane to attend.
The Big Ten Tournament quite clearly should not be held at Madison Square Garden. There was never a justified argument to put it there, and now the basic concept of supply and demand can show you that.
As of February 21st, any individual can now buy a ticket to attend the entirety of the Big Ten Tournament on Stubhub for $155. In a 13 game tournament, that means an individual can attend every game of the tournament at mere value of $11.90 per game.
In comparison, that is $60 less than the price to attend the entire Big 12 conference tournament, a tournament that only consists of nine games. If you look at the rest of the power five conferences and include the Big East, the Big Ten looks futile.
According to Stubhub:
It costs $155 to attend all 13 games of the Big 10 tournament at a rate of $11.90 per game
It costs $225 to attend all 13 games of the ACC tournament at a rate of $17.30 per game
It costs $215 to attend all nine games of the Big 12 tournament at a rate of $23.89 per game
It costs $380 to attend all 11 games of the Pac 12 tournament at a rate of $34.55 per game
It costs $374 to attend all 13 games of the SEC tournament at a rate of $28.77 per game
It costs $240 to attend all nine games of the Big East tournament at a rate of $26.67 per game
[/vc_column_text][vc_line_chart style="modern" x_values="Big Ten; ACC; Big 12; Pac 12; SEC; Big East" values="%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Price%20to%20Attend%20Entire%20Tournament%20%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%22155%3B%20225%3B%20215%3B%20380%3B%20374%3B%20240%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22blue%22%7D%5D" title="Conference Tournament Prices (Cheapest Seat)"][vc_line_chart style="modern" x_values="Big Ten; ACC; Big 12; Pac 12; SEC; Big East" values="%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Price%20Per%20Game%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2211.9%3B%2017.3%3B%2023.89%3B%2034.55%3B%2028.77%3B%2026.67%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22pink%22%7D%5D" title="Conference Tournament Per Game Prices (Cheapest Seat)"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
The value proposition here is nothing but atrocious. With only a week until the Big Ten tournament, these prices may even continue to plummet as they have over the past week. It's a value proposition that doesn't speak to the competitiveness of the games, rather it speaks directly to the relative location of the fans that would want to watch them.
Most New Yorkers don't care about Big Ten basketball. That's not much of a stretch. Before attending Indiana University, I didn't care about Big Ten basketball. I cared about Big East basketball. I grew up watching Kemba Walker and Johnny Flynn dominate the East Coast and create indescribable moments at "The Mecca." I grew up how I should have grown up, caring about the teams relative to my location.
This is how the Big Ten works too. The last time the Big Ten tournament was located in the Midwest was in 2016. In 2016, it cost $275 to attend the entire tournament in Indianapolis. That's $120 more to attend games because the demand was just that much higher. Indiana basketball fans didn't need to plan a full weekend itinerary to watch their favorite basketball team. Fans just needed to get in a car.
Just compare the Big Ten Tournament to everything else going on at Madison Square Garden. It doesn't take much investigating to realize what New Yorkers actually care about.
According to Stubhub:
It costs $49 to attend the Big Ten Tournament Championship game
It costs $80 to attend the Seton Hall vs. St. Johns game
It costs $172 to attend the Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks game
It costs $90 to attend the Minnesota Wild vs. New York Rangers game
It costs $79 to attend a Billy Joel concert
[/vc_column_text][vc_line_chart style="modern" x_values="Big Ten Championship Game; Seton Hall vs. St. Johns; Celtics vs. Knicks; Wild vs. Rangers; Billy Joel Concert" values="%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Price%20of%20Cheapest%20Seat%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2249%3B%2080%3B%20172%3B%2090%3B%2064%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%7D%5D" title="Upcoming Madison Square Garden Prices (Cheapest Seat)"][/vc_column][/vc_row]
St. Johns is the worst team in the Big East.
The Knicks have seemingly no chance at the NBA playoffs and their best healthy player might be Michael Beasley.
I swear, Billy Joel performs in New York every two weeks.
I'm all for attending basketball games for cheap. As a college student, I'm always "Ballin' on a budget." With that said, a dollar value establishes the amount in which people are willing to pay to attend an event. The Big Ten's weak attempt to replicate the success of the Big East tournament from over a decade ago clearly appears to be falling on its face and a basic dollar sign can tell you that. The Big Ten tournament shouldn't be in New York and hopefully it never will be again.
(02/10/18 5:54pm)
Zach McRoberts is 22nd in the nation in steal percentage at 4.1%. His effort has made him one of the most important players on Indiana's roster. Here we have two straight minutes of McRoberts out hustling everyone on the floor. #iubb Story➡️https://t.co/3j0E5wKD0Z pic.twitter.com/skNYxgCFer