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(08/24/18 6:17pm)
Indiana sophomore running back Morgan Ellison has been indefinitely suspended from all football-related activities, according to a program release on Friday afternoon. Ellison, the Hoosiers' leading rusher from 2017, ran for 704 yards and six touchdowns for Indiana in 11 games as a freshman.
In its release, IU did not give reason for Ellison's indefinite suspension.
Ellison emerged onto the scene in his first year despite a crowded backfield. He was named the Big Ten freshman of the week twice, as well as IU's Offensive Newcomer of the Year. And after Indiana announced Peyton Ramsey as its 2018 starting quarterback on Thursday, Ellison figured to be the starting running back for the Hoosiers in a rotation compromised of Mike Majette, Cole Gest, Ricky Brookins, and possibly freshmen Ronnie Walker Jr. and Stevie Scott.
Fortunately for the Hoosiers, IU is fairly deep at running back. Majette has played 25 games in his IU career, but the senior tailback has struggled to stay healthy. He missed seven games last season. Gest, meanwhile, showed flashes of promise in 2017. The 5-foot-8, 194 lb. sophomore is extremely productive in the passing game. Brookins only rushed 11 times despite appearing in 12 games as a redshirt senior last season -- but he's been with the program since 2014 and provides experience at the position.
As far as freshmen are concerned, Walker chose Indiana over Michigan State and Virginia. He was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 21 running back in his class and enrolled early for spring practice. Scott, meanwhile, has been praised throughout the summer by Indiana's staff. He was a former Rutgers commit before flipping to Indiana for signing day. Scott is a sturdy back at 6-foot-2, 236 lbs. We compiled our 2018 IU Running Backs Preview back in early July.
Also included in IU's Friday release was the one game suspension of redshirt freshman linebacker Mo Burnam, for undisclosed reasons. Burnam will miss Indiana's opener against Florida International in Miami on September 1st, but will be eligible to play the home opener against Virginia the following week.
*This story will be updated*
(08/23/18 11:34pm)
BLOOMINGTON -- In what had been a long and puzzling quarterback competition, there is now clarity. Indiana has chosen Peyton Ramsey as its starting quarterback to begin 2018.
It is a decision that is safe. It is also rather smart. Ramsey is the only quarterback on Tom Allen’s roster with experience in Bloomington. He was thrown into the fire in 2017 as a redshirt freshman and played valiantly despite battling through injuries and a rather odd competition with Richard Lagow. The Hoosiers rode the hot hand, and there wasn’t much rhythm at quarterback for the majority of the year.
Choosing Ramsey to start Week 1 in Miami against Florida International may not be the flashiest pick, or even the decision resulting in the highest upside. After all, Michael Penix is a former Tennessee commit that tossed 61 touchdowns to six interceptions at Tampa Bay Tech. And Brandon Dawkins was, at least on the ground, a proven commodity at Arizona before injuries and Heisman candidate Khalil Tate prematurely ended his career in Tucson.
But in terms of winning games in 2018, it appears Ramsey is the most logical option. At media availability on Thursday morning, Allen shared the three characteristics that IU’s staff was looking for in its starting quarterback:
“There’s three things that our staff wants from this position,” Allen said. “A quarterback that protects the football in his decision-making, the ability to move the team down the field consistently, and a young man that the team believes in.”
Ramsey checks all three boxes, with ease. His accuracy might be his best quality, completing 65.4 percent of his passes as a redshirt freshman in 2017 -- good for 13th nationally, second in the Big Ten, and first in IU single-season history. Ramsey can move the ball down the field in a variety of ways: through efficient routes, read options, and scampers following a flushed pocket. While he may not possess the arm strength of a Penix, or a Dawkins, Ramsey is arguably more versatile, and certainly more safe. And lastly, there’s his leadership and belief amongst his teammates. And while that didn’t necessarily show on the field last season as a freshman, Ramsey was the top vote-getter for IU’s leadership council, and has been consistently praised by Allen for his leadership.
“He’s a competitor,” Allen said of Ramsey. “He’s not a real emotional guy, even when I told him, he didn’t fist pump or anything. He was pretty calm. I think competition makes everyone better. He knew that he had to improve, and he worked his tail off all summer long knowing that Michael Penix was chasing him, and knowing that we were bringing in Brandon Dawkins with a lot of experience.”
There are things Ramsey cannot do. Or, at least, did not do last season. His longest completion of 2017 was 45 yards against a lowly Charleston Southern team (long of 34 vs. Big Ten opponents). He averaged just over nine yards per completion, compared to Dawkins’ 13.8 as a junior at Arizona. Defenses last season were aware that Ramsey rarely stretched the field, and defended accordingly.
But Ramsey has worked on his arm strength this offseason, and with nine games under his belt from last year, there is indeed a level of upside heading into 2018. Indiana likely doesn’t win against Virginia without Peyton Ramsey, and maybe had a better chance against Maryland had he avoided injury. There’s a layer of trust, efficiency, and instinct about Ramsey that makes him a worthy choice. And, he’s a redshirt sophomore. There is ample time for him to continue his development.
It is rather interesting to examine the roles of Penix and Dawkins now that Indiana has decided its starting quarterback. Both are complicated. Dawkins transferred here to play. He’s an experienced player with one last chance at college football. While Dawkins’ addition was probably just another layer of competition for Penix and Ramsey, his name alone could have satisfied the quarterback competition at some places. But not at Indiana, and that’s because of the improvement Ramsey showed during spring and summer camp. Allen and the Hoosiers are extremely high on Ramsey’s toughness, another factor in the decision.
Thus, it appears Dawkins will settle for a possible package in offensive coordinator Mike DeBord’s offense. It’s a wrinkle that could work to perfection, given his proven explosiveness in run-pass options and on the ground. He arrived mid-summer after graduating from Arizona and starting classes at Indiana, appearing to shake off rust and embrace the challenge of learning a new offense. There are also concerns with Dawkins’ accuracy, throwing 15 touchdowns to 12 interceptions at Arizona.
“I see that. I do,” Allen said of a Dawkins package. “We talked about it with him yesterday. It’s not a rotational type thing, but I could see a package for him in the future. We’ll see how that plays out. But yeah, he’s got some things to bring to the table that puts pressure on the defense, for sure.
IU’s depth chart is not finalized, but if Ramsey either struggles mightily or becomes injured, it could be Dawkins who replaces him. It could also be Penix, although there’s a complication with that: the new redshirt rule. The plan is for all three quarterbacks to play. But if Penix plays four games or less this season, he retains his redshirt for 2019. That rule, however frustrating for Penix, may limit his usage depending on Allen’s strategy. Penix has the arm strength of a star, but as Allen said, he’s young.
The Hoosiers begin September 1st with three games that, in all actuality, should be wins. Although on the road, FIU is an inferior opponent and defeated twice by Kevin Wilson in recent memory. Although a power conference opponent, Virginia was handled by Indiana in Charlottesville last season and picked to finish 13th in the ACC Preseason Media Poll. And then there’s Ball State at home, a program Indiana can’t afford to struggle with as Michigan State comes to Bloomington the following week. Allen chose Ramsey as the best chance for Indiana to start 3-0.
(08/22/18 8:38pm)
There are clear preseason strengths on this Indiana team. Strengths that rival even the Big Ten’s most dominant programs. One of which is receiver, another strength likely being offensive line. But the Hoosiers’ secondary takes the cake as far as preseason expectations are concerned. Injuries absolutely decimated this position group a year ago: Husky Marcelino Ball was lost for the season after three games and received a medical redshirt. Cornerback A’Shon Riggins was only healthy for six. Even Rashard Fant missed a game at defensive back..
While Fant’s gone to graduation, Ball returns as a redshirt sophomore and Riggins is set for his junior season. There’s more coming back, of course. Senior safety Jonathan Crawford has played in all 38 games since his 2015 freshman season -- while redshirt junior Andre Brown Jr. will work alongside Riggins at cornerback, having started ten games there a year ago.
This is a defense that was the nation’s 26th-best in defensive S&P+, despite a rather underwhelming 5-7 campaign in 2017. Takeaways were Tom Allen’s focus last year, and will likely continue again after the Hoosiers averaged just 1.2 takeaways a game -- good for 99th in the country. Fant was a shutdown corner, but not necessarily the biggest interception threat. Despite being a top-20 defense in sacks, the Hoosiers totaled five picks all season. The Big Ten average was 11.4, and Indiana finished last.
In short, Indiana’s 2017 secondary defense was sound, disciplined, and effective. But it didn’t produce many game-changing plays. There are valid reasons for this, of course, as takeaways or not, IU’s defense almost always did its job. But the Hoosiers have questions at linebacker and graduate 64 percent of its sacks from 2017. And with only three interceptions coming from IU’s secondary last year, the Hoosiers very well might need more explosive plays from the likes of Ball, Riggins, Brown, and Crawford in 2018.
There’s reason for optimism in that department, though. As alluded to earlier, Ball and Riggins barely even had the chance to make explosive plays due to serious injuries. Ball is an explosive player, there’s a reason he made 247Sports’ True Freshman All-American team in 2016, and growing optimism that he’ll shoot up NFL draft boards in due time. The Georgia native snagged two interceptions as a freshman, and was seemingly always near the ball. Allen must be ecstatic imagining a full season of Marcelino Ball as a redshirt sophomore -- because a healthy Ball at Husky changes the entire dynamic of Indiana’s ability to put its offense back on the field.
Crawford enters his senior season as the current IU leader in tackles (209), pass breakups (16), interceptions (eight), fumble recoveries (five), forced fumbles (two), and more. He had a very solid junior season, but only produced a single takeaway -- picking off Penn State’s Trace McSorley to get IU back in the game, temporarily. In the takeaway department, it’s likely smart to label Crawford’s junior season as an outlier. The 6-foot-2 Florida native led the Hoosiers in interceptions as a freshman and sophomore, and has the speed, instinct, and sheer athletic ability to lead IU yet again in that department.
There will be times this season when Rashard Fant’s shutdown ability will be sorely missed. Fant did that for years, almost always against the opposition’s top wideout despite a likely height mismatch. But Riggins and Brown are well equipt to fill Fant’s shoes, if not more. Brown’s been an interesting story in Bloomington -- suffering season-ending injuries in both his freshman and sophomore seasons, but played pretty valiantly as a sophomore last year. He’s arguably the most crucial member of IU’s secondary, as despite a small sample size (20 games), Brown’s still on the hunt for his first interception. There’s more to life as a cornerback than interceptions, of course. But it’s likely something the Hoosiers will need to help its offense out. Riggins, meanwhile, is experienced as you can be as a junior cornerback in the Big Ten. The 6-foot Ohio native started as a freshman and figured to be an explosive threat last season, but injuries derailed half his season. There’s a lot to like with Brown and Riggins, as long as both stay healthy.
And lastly, this position group features serious depth. Redshirt freshman Bryant Fitzgerald is poised for a breakout first season at free safety/husky and Allen pegs him as the Hoosiers’ next secondary star. Junior safety Khalil Bryant has played in 22 games thus far and should fill a valuable depth role in 2018. And at cornerback, sophomore Raheem Layne will play right behind Riggins and Brown, after being named IU’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year and playing in all 12 games as a freshman. Redshirt freshman Juwan Burgess and converted wideout Isaac James are also in the mix, especially if IU suffers injuries similar to last season.
(08/09/18 4:01pm)
Hello, again. For those stumbling upon The Hoosier Network for the first time, welcome to our home. And for those returning, welcome back. It’s suddenly August, and with nearly three weeks until Indiana travels south to Florida International on September 1st, it’s only right to introduce ourselves and communicate our coverage plans.
This season will be a conversation, and unlike many outlets across the country, it won’t be one-sided. It’s year two under Tom Allen and much has changed from the first. Longtime leaders Tegray Scales, Rashard Fant, and Simmie Cobbs have departed. Impressive recruiting classes have replaced them, at least on paper. There’s a three-horse race at quarterback. Oh, and Memorial Stadium has concluded its makeover. Indiana’s 2018 team has an ambitious ceiling, and a modest floor. Is this the year IU finishes games in Ann Arbor, Columbus, or at home against Penn State, Michigan State, and Iowa? Whatever happens, it will surely be a fun ride. And we’re eager to take you with us.
It’s not about us. We want this thing to be about you -- with conversation and dialogue through comments, emails, podcasts, live Q/A’s, and Twitter responses. We’ll be there, live, from start to finish -- in Miami to open the regular season, and back in Bloomington to finish it up. Let’s experience this season together, right here at The Hoosier Network:
Teddy Bailey (@ByTeddyBailey)
As a senior from Philadelphia, this is my fourth and final year covering Indiana Football. I’ve been proud to call Bloomington as a temporary home since then -- it’s truly the best place to attend college. That being said, it’s my last ride here and I’m looking forward to leading this coverage team. I started with the award-winning Indiana Daily Student as a freshman Sports Editor in 2015 and worked under Zach Osterman at the Indianapolis Star for the past two years. Back at home, I interned with the Philadelphia Inquirer to help cover the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, rebuilding Philadelphia Phillies, and much more. Along with Josh, Zain, and Eddie, I founded The Hoosier Network last winter for one reason: to be different. And that’s exactly what our coverage this season will be.
It will be different. It will be new. But most importantly, it will be thorough. You won’t just learn who these players are -- but what made them the way they are. Bloomington’s known as a basketball town. But this place knows its football, too. There’s no need to regurgitate the box score, y’all watch the games! We’ll be here to take you through the moments that matter. Whether it’s the 2018 Hoosiers or the best cheesesteak in Philadelphia (it’s Dalessandro’s) you can find me on Twitter @ByTeddyBailey, or via email, eebailey@iu.edu.
Ben Portnoy (@BPortnoy15)
¿Que pasó? I’m back baby! Hey there everyone, I’m a senior from Winnetka, IL. I return to Indiana after a semester-long jaunt to Seville, Spain where I spent this past spring. While across the pond I picked up a few things: fútbol is the correct terminology for soccer and Euroleague basketball is among the wildest environments you’ll ever see.
Now to the more serious stuff. I’ve covered the Indiana Football program since the spring of 2017 for The Journal Gazette in Ft. Wayne, IN. This past summer, I was a reporting intern for The Sports Capitol, an entirely online, subscription-based site dedicated to covering all the latest happenings in the Washington, D.C. sports scene. I chronicled the Washington Capitals' Stanley Cup run, the MLB All-Star Game and Home Run Derby hosted by the Nationals, Redskins training camp and virtually anything else happening in the nation’s capital.
Previously, I wrote for the bilingual magazine Más+Menos in Seville, where I reported in Spanish and English. Prior to that, I covered the Swimming and Diving beat for the Indiana Daily Student and worked as a staff writer for the Bethesda Big Train, a summer-collegiate baseball team based in the D.C. area.
Here at the Hoosier Network, we have an awesome lineup of analysis, podcasts and features coming your way. Thanks for joining us. You’re in for a hell of a ride.
Connor Hines (@ConnorHines17)
After just one year in Bloomington, I’m ecstatic to be joining The Hoosier Network’s 2018 Indiana Football coverage team. As a freshman, I broadcasted the Hoosiers for WIUX 99.1 FM and Big Ten Network Student U productions -- as well as IU Student Television’s Indiana Softball Beat Reporter.
I’m a long way from my hometown of San Diego, California -- where I interned at San Diego’s Mighty 1090, the flagship AM sports radio station in town. The Hoosier Network has allowed me to translate my broadcasting experience as a freshman into words. While Teddy and Ben have been around Indiana Football for years now, I’ll be offering a newfound perspective of Year Two under Tom Allen as head coach. There’s a lot to learn, and I’ve loved every minute of getting started. Between analytical podcasts twice a week, in-depth feature stories, and all the news you’d ever need … you’ll be covered right here at The Hoosier Network. Catch you during the season, @ConnorHines17, or in person.
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The Hoosier Network is always more than just three. Senior phenom and co-founder Eddie Cotton will be providing highlight analysis and storytelling videos throughout the IU Football season. As he focuses on Indiana Soccer’s quest for a ninth national championship, co-founder Josh Eastern will be assisting behind the scenes of the HN’s Indiana Football Podcast, among other written opportunities. Mark Timko will again be taking photo for us throughout the season, and we'll rely on his work each and every day. And lastly, we have a wealth of young talent between the likes of Austin Render and Jacob Vinson to complete our coverage and lead in the future.
See y’all soon.
--Teddy Bailey
Co-Founder, The Hoosier Network
(07/24/18 4:19pm)
* With almost five weeks remaining before Indiana opens its 2018 season at Florida International, The Hoosier Network will be releasing its position previews on a weekly basis until kickoff. *
Week 1: Quarterbacks
Week 2: Running Backs
Week 3: Dawkins Q&A
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6-foot-3 receiver Simmie Cobbs is gone to the NFL, and so are his brilliant one-handed snags and redzone presence. But in 2018, the Hoosiers return quite a lot of talent at the receiver position. Among others of note is redshirt junior Nick Westbrook -- who continues his way back following a season-ending ACL injury suffered on the opening kickoff against Ohio State last season.
Westbrook is a good place to start, considering the sure-handed 6-foot-3 wideout caught 54 passes for 995 yards as a sophomore in 2016 -- along with being named to the Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List. Westbrook was Indiana’s leading receiver two years ago, and will be the Hoosiers’ primary deep threat for the program’s laundry list of quarterback options. The strongest part of Westbrook’s game are his route-running and pure catching abilities, two characteristics welcomed by any quarterback. ACL injuries generally have different impacts, however, and Westbrook’s recovery has been well-documented in the offseason. Westbrook was not dressed for Indiana’s Spring Game and wore a blue non-contact jersey during spring practice. With legitimate questions at both quarterback and tight end, Westbrook is one of Indiana’s most crucial players for success. His number will likely be called early and often, starting September 1st against Florida International in Miami.
It wasn’t just Westbrook that suffered a season-ending injury in 2017. Indiana’s receiving corps was battered a year ago -- as Donovan Hale missed the final nine games with an unspecified injury and J-Shun Harris tore his ACL for a third time against Maryland. At 6-4, Hale is talented enough to complement Westbrook as one of the Big Ten’s best outside wideout combinations. In fact, Hale technically started Week 1 against Ohio State last season over Westbrook. It’s just that Hale has been a bit of an enigma so far in Bloomington, mostly due to various injuries and inconsistent playing time. Is this the year he breaks out as a reliable weapon on the other side as Westbrook? For offensive coordinator Mike DeBord, it would be quite ideal. Hale is a certified deep threat, that can create separation and use his height in 50-50, jump-ball situations.
Indiana’s 2018 roster boasts a few strengths that rival even the Big Ten’s most dominant programs: one is the Hoosiers’ secondary, and another will likely be at slot receiver. 6-foot Luke Timian is back for his senior season after inheriting the position from cornerstone Mitchell Paige. Behind Cobbs, Timian was the most reliable receiver for the Hoosiers last season -- snagging 68 passes for 589 yards and a pair of touchdowns. While mostly a slot receiver that runs a deadly slant route, Timian is versatile enough to lineup on the outside as well. He will accompany sophomore wideout Whop Philyor quite well in 2018, one of the emerging players for Indiana as a true freshman. Philyor is a weapon for DeBord who can beat defenders over the middle or take handoffs out of the backfield -- as seen for a touchdown against Maryland last season. He tallied 33 catches (third on the team) for 335 yards and three touchdowns in 2017. Against the Terrapins, Philyor caught 13 passes for 127 yards. Only one Big Ten receiver caught more passes in a single game than Philyor, so keep an eye out for how the 5-foot-11 receiver is utilized this season. Lastly in terms of slot receivers, we’ll see how J-Shun Harris is employed past punt returns for his final campaign. Before yet another ACL tear, he only caught three passes for 14 yards a year ago.
There is serious depth and incoming talent for receivers coach Grant Heard and the 2018 Hoosiers. Injuries are quite frequent at the wideout position, so pocket three names: Ty Fryfogle, Chris Gajack, and Jacolby Hewitt. At 6-foot-2, Fryfogle saw time in eight games as a freshman last season, and Indiana was confident enough in the Mississippi native to burn his redshirt. While a walk-on, Gajack appeared in eight games and even started against Wisconsin last season. He’ll be a junior in 2018. And then there’s Hewitt, an incoming freshman who enrolled early for spring practices. Allen and the Hoosiers are very high on Hewitt, a 6-foot-1 who ESPN ranked as the No. 29 recruit in Tennessee. It would be rather surprising to see a redshirt year for him.
When DeBord was hired as offensive coordinator last offseason, instant speculation was directed towards Indiana’s tight ends. After all, DeBord has always promoted the usage of the position, and doubles as tight ends coach for Allen’s program. A year ago, Ian Thomas emerged as the current NFL talent known today -- grabbing 25 passes for 376 yards and five touchdowns. Thomas will play on Sundays for the Panthers in the fall, so who’s left? 6-foot-2 senior Ryan Watercutter will likely start at tight end after hauling in 12 passes for 69 yards behind Thomas last season. There’s questions elsewhere, though. 6-foot-4 Peyton Hendershot appeared in four games as a freshman before a season-ending injury and subsequent medical redshirt. The Hoosiers love his potential, and he’ll compete for playing time with 6-foot-5 junior Austin Dorris and 6-foot-3 sophomore Shaun Bonner -- who have only played on special teams thus far for Indiana.
News & Notes from Big Ten Media Day
Linebacker T.D. Roof will be eligible for the Hoosiers in 2018, Allen announced at Big Ten Media Day on Tuesday. The Georgia Tech transfer was originally slated to sit-out this coming season due to NCAA transfer rules, but his early transfer has allowed Indiana to play him now. The news is significant for a linebacker corps that lost Tegray Scales and Chris Covington to the NFL. Only seniors Dameon Willis and Mike McGinnis had recorded snaps at linebacker for Indiana. Roof meanwhile, played in all 11 games for the Yellow Jackets as a freshman -- recording 17 tackles and a pair of sacks.
Indiana's 2018 roster was updated for the summer on Tuesday. Arizona grad transfer quarterback Brandon Dawkins will wear #13, his number for the Wildcats. Syracuse grad transfer defensive lineman Kayton Samuels will wear #52, his number for the Orange. Both have the ability to produce right away for the Hoosiers at positions of need. Lastly, Allen announced linebacker Kiante Walton (medical) and defensive back LaDamion Hunt (personal) are no longer with the program. Walton forced a fumble against Virginia last season but was plagued by regular injury. Hunt appeared in seven games last season, primarily on special teams and made a pair of tackles.
(07/19/18 8:34pm)
As July quickly nears its end, Indiana's quarterback competition is also accelerating towards the finish. Indiana graduate transfer Brandon Dawkins figures to be the favorite -- but he'll have to beat incumbent Peyton Ramsey and heralded true freshman Michael Penix Jr. Regardless of how the dominoes fall under center, Dawkins will be an importance piece for the Hoosiers in 2018. He hasn't been in Bloomington for more than two months, however -- so we caught up with Justin Spears of The Arizona Daily Star to discuss Dawkins' career at Arizona and his ability at quarterback:
Hoosier Network: From an Arizona perspective, how would you summarize Dawkins' career in Tucson? In the big picture, it seemed rather volatile, with a constant competition between Dawkins, Tate, and Solomon until there was one man standing.
Justin Spears: It was one helluva rollercoaster ride. Brandon Dawkins’ size and ability to run the football gave Arizona some pep to its step at first, because after the original starting quarterback, Anu Solomon, battled several injuries over the course of a year, Dawkins was slotted in as the guy for UA. Dawkins first came on the scene, in 2015 when Arizona trailed Arizona State 31-10 on the road. Solomon was out with a concussion and second-stringer Jerrard Randall couldn’t move the ball past the 50-yard line. Dawkins carried UA to within one touchdown while throwing 301 yards, but ultimately fell after he threw back-to-back interceptions late in the fourth quarter. That’s kind of how Dawkins’ career has been in Tucson. It’s close, but it’s not all put together. He struggled passing the ball and often missed reads, but he flashed potential to be a great quarterback if he just polished a few tools to his game. And even when Khalil Tate took over as the starter, Dawkins maintained the comedic and charismatic personality. Nobody enjoyed being Arizona’s quarterback more than Dawkins. His personality, leadership in the locker room and style of play should be interesting to see in the Big Ten.
HN: Dawkins appeared in 22 games over the course of three seasons at Arizona. The Wildcats went 17-21 in those three seasons. What was the general fan opinion of Dawkins at quarterback, when he was healthy and starting?
JS: A solid chunk of fans always had hope for him. When he first took over the starting job, students in the Zona Zoo (UA’s student section) were spotted wearing shirts that had “I Feel Like BDawks” shirts with the font as an off-the-wall olde english, mimicking Kanye West’s “I Feel Like Pablo” shirts. But attendance at Arizona Stadium during the Dawkins era was at an all-time low, and that’s not just on him. The announced attendance would be 45,000, but in reality, it was 20,000, if that. Arizona wasn’t winning, and when you’re not winning in Tucson, fans don’t want to wait up for an 8 p.m. kickoff to watch their team lose. Late kickoffs, a hungry fan base and a mediocre football team is a bad mix.
HN: Obviously, Dawkins is known for his ability to stretch the defense with his running ability. How much do his legs change the capabilities of an offense, and in your mind, where does he rank among dual-threat quarterbacks that you've seen?
JS: It wasn’t surprising that Dawkins went to Indiana. He’s going to play in a conference known for its great rushing offenses. Two words that will make Dawkins a lethal quarterback at IU: zone read. If the Hoosiers have a sound and healthy offensive line as well as productive running backs, Dawkins’ ability to either pull or give the ball in zone read situations is what made him the starter at Arizona in the first place. In terms of dual-threat quarterbacks that I’ve seen? That’s tough. In terms of quarterbacks that I’ve seen play for or against Arizona, here’s a list of dual-threat quarterbacks that are better than Dawkins: Marcus Mariota, Khalil Tate and Trevon Cherry (Grambling State).
HN: With such a focus of zone reads at Arizona, there have been questions with his presence in the pocket. How is Dawkins' arm, not only in the pocket but on the run?
JS: He’s most dangerous when he rolls to his right. In the pocket, he’s inconsistent. Like I said in the first note, there would be times where a tight end or some receiver would be wide open 40 yards down the field, but Dawkins would miss the read and try to create with his feet. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a cannon, though. Dawkins has arm strength, he just has to improve on accuracy.
HN: Eventually, Dawkins loses the Arizona job to a potential Heisman candidate in Khalil Tate. At Indiana, even as the favorite, he'll have to win the job against the incumbent and a heralded freshman. How was Dawkins as a competitor, and what do you expect from him in his final year of eligibility?
JS: Dawkins’ coach at Arizona, Rich Rodriguez, always said Dawkins was the better quarterback during the summer when him and Tate battled for the job. Tate is projected to be mentioned in the same sentence as Heisman Trophy so if Dawkins appeared to be the better quarterback during preseason camp, then maybe he’ll do it again. The only knock on Tate during the competition was that he was young and Dawkins has experience. Expect to see that again at Indiana.
* With seven weeks remaining before Indiana opens its 2018 season at Florida International, The Hoosier Network will be releasing its position previews on a weekly basis every Friday until kickoff. *
Week 1: Quarterbacks
Week 2: Running Backs
(07/02/18 10:51pm)
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Indiana announced the hire of Wright State's Jeff Mercer on Monday. (IU Athletics)[/caption]
A mere week after Chris Lemonis' departed Bloomington to take the Mississippi State job, Indiana has found its next head baseball coach. On Monday, IU Athletic Director Fred Glass officially announced Jeff Mercer as the 25th coach in program history, per release. The 32-year old Mercer had compiled an impressive 77-38 record in two seasons at Wright State -- leading the Raiders to their first-ever national ranking in 2018, as well as an NCAA Tournament appearance this past season.
"I have loved baseball and the state of Indiana my whole life and it is an honor to be the head baseball coach of the state's flagship institution," said Mercer in a release. "With the talent that the Midwest is producing, top notch facilities, the commitment of the school, and our ability to recruit and develop players at the highest level, the sky is the limit for IU baseball. I cannot wait to get to work."
The departure of Lemonis, after four seasons, was rather disheartening in terms of the program's future -- as another successful coach had left Bloomington for a job at a bigger program. As the Hoosiers continue to build a program that rivals its SEC counterparts, the hire of Mercer, on paper, certainly makes sense.
For starters, Mercer hails from the state of Indiana -- growing up in nearby Bargersville before playing collegiately at Dayton and Wright State, respectively. As custom in Glass' recent hires, Mercer has a level of familiarity in Midwest baseball that will likely benefit the program in recruiting. According to the press release on Monday, both IU catcher Ryan Fineman and starting pitcher Pauly Milto have already spoke with Mercer:
"After talking with Coach Mercer, you immediately know what he stands for, and that is winning," Fineman said. "He is going to come to our program and develop us into winners on and off the field."
"After speaking with Coach Mercer, it became very obvious that our program will be in great hands," said Milto. "His confidence, experience, competitive mentality, and strong urge to win proved to me that we will be successful next year. I'm excited not only for this upcoming season, but for the future of Indiana University baseball as I believe Coach Mercer is here to stay and take this baseball program to the next level."
At Wright State, Mercer was named the 2018 Horizon League Coach of the Year and developed twelve of his players into Major League Baseball draft selections. The Raiders defeated six ranked opponents in his two years' at the helm. IU's press release writes that Mercer is "known for his strength as a recruiter and talent developer as well as his innovative use of advanced analytics."
According to Big Ten baseball reporter Chris Webb of 10innings.com, Mercer has described Indiana as "his lifelong dream job. The Yankees could call and he's saying no. Bloomington is where he wants to be for 25+ years."
Under Mercer, the Hoosiers will work to build upon the momentum established by Tracy Smith (Arizona State) and Lemonis (Mississippi State.) Indiana leads the Big Ten in wins and NCAA tournament appearances since 2008. IU has not appeared in an NCAA Super Regional or College World Series since 2013, in Smith's final season. The Hoosiers graduated seven players from their 2017 team -- including four draft selections. Junior third baseman Luke Miller and junior pitcher Tim Herrin both chose to sign and forego their senior seasons.
"Predictably, we had very strong interest in this position," said Glass. "Jeff Mercer quickly rose to the top of an impressive field. I have no doubt that he is the right person to build on the success of Indiana baseball, including taking us back to Omaha."
(06/29/18 10:19pm)
* With nine weeks remaining before Indiana opens its 2018 season at Florida International, The Hoosier Network will be releasing its position previews on a weekly basis every Friday until kickoff. *
When Peyton Ramsey was summoned last season and played valiantly in nine games as a freshman, it figured to be his job to lose with Richard Lagow graduating from the program. Ramsey was essentially thrown into the fire, possibly too early, but impressed with his decision-making ability and dual-threat capabilities regardless.
And then head coach Tom Allen and the Hoosiers received a late commitment from 3-star dual-threat quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Penix chose Indiana over Florida State, enrolled early, and displayed his arm strength and poise during the Spring Game.
Ramsey and Penix both expected a battle, between each other, for Indiana’s starting quarterback opening. Instead, Arizona graduate transfer Brandon Dawkins committed to Indiana for his final season of eligibility, and there are now three horses in the race.
Brandon Dawkins, Gr. 6-3, 210 lbs.
Dawkins is the favorite to take the first snap on September 1st at Florida International in Miami. Graduate transfers, especially at the quarterback position, rarely transfer only to backup. The Hoosiers worked hard to secure the commitment of Dawkins, who picked Bloomington over the likes of Chip Kelly and UCLA, Lane Kiffin and Florida Atlantic, and Nebraska’s Scott Frost. It’s pure speculation that Dawkins is the favorite. But his experience as a starter for a program such as Arizona, coupled with proven dual-threat versatility, is a match made in heaven for Mike DeBord’s offensive vision.
At Arizona, Dawkins appeared in 20 games for one of the nation’s top programs. He was Arizona’s starter for 10 of 12 games in 2016 after Anu Solomon suffered a knee injury. This past season, Dawkins won the starting job over Khalil Tate (and Solomon, who transferred), and played in the Wildcats’ first five games before sustaining an injury of his own. In his career, Dawkins has thrown for 2,353 yards, 15 touchdowns, and an alarming 12 interceptions. He is more than his arm. The 6-foot-3 California native has rushed for 1,481 yards and 18 touchdowns — including a 79-yard sprint against eventual CFP Semifinalist Washington.
The question surrounding Dawkins is his ability to quickly adjust to a new offense. The 6-foot-3 quarterback was not able to practice at Indiana until June, following his Arizona graduation and the start of IU summer classes. He is familiar with both quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan and offensive coordinator Mike DeBord. If Dawkins starts for the Hoosiers, there will likely be an extra emphasis on allowing the quarterback to run. Indiana’s vision at quarterback has always been dual-threat, but with Lagow, it just wasn’t feasible. Earlier this month at media availability, Dawkins was asked about the transition:
“The biggest contrast is some of the reads we have on offense,” Dawkins said. “Having a pure progression offense, that’s not what we did at Arizona. It was a lot more run-pass and obviously we’re going to incorporate that because that plays to my skillset, the ability to run and pass.”
While there may be concerns with Dawkins’ capabilities in the pocket, his ability to throw on the run certainly helps keep the defense guessing. As seen in his sophomore highlight video from Arizona, Dawkins is explosive from the second he receives the ball.
“I describe myself as a dual-threat quarterback,” Dawkins said on the HN's IUFB Podcast in April. “I have the ability to push the ball downfield, as well as being able to stretch the defense with my legs to add an extra threat to our offense. We have great running backs, receiving corps, and offensive line. But my legs can put more points on the board and get the ball downfield.”
If Dawkins can adjust to DeBord’s offense and remain healthy, the Hoosiers will likely receive a level of consistency unknown to the position since Nate Sudfeld was IU’s gunslinger. The Hoosiers led the Big Ten in pass attempts last season under Lagow and Ramsey, yet 12th in rushing offense. If Dawkins starts, those two statistics will surely change.
Peyton Ramsey, R-So. 6-2, 211 lbs.
As shown last season in Bloomington, the quarterback position is often compromised with injuries and questions. Even if Dawkins is named the starter prior to Indiana’s season opener, Ramsey will certainly be showcased in DeBord’s offense. To what extent, is unknown. But the Hoosiers remain very high on Ramsey’s ability to run their offense, and his potential moving forward.
A year ago, Ramsey won the job from Lagow because of his efficiency. The Cincinnati native completed 65.4 percent of his passes, throwing for 1,252 yards, ten touchdowns, and five interceptions in nine games. While Ramsey did not possess the arm strength of Lagow, he was historically accurate -- as 134-of-205 is an IU single-season record, and good enough for second in the Big Ten last season. Without Ramsey, the Hoosiers may have lost at Virginia last year. And with a healthy Ramsey, Indiana may have been able to escape Maryland with a victory. The Hoosiers’ quarterback in 2017 was often decided by health and momentum, and IU benefited from times when Ramsey held both.
All three players have welcomed the competition in the quarterback room. Dawkins has been competing for playing time since he stepped foot at Arizona. Ramsey spent an entire season going back-and-forth with Lagow. And by enrolling early, Penix has only helped his chances and thrown his hat in the ring. IU head coach Tom Allen has said repeatedly that the Hoosiers’ quarterback competition will be a fair fight.
“When you have talent in the room and other guys that are going to push you, it’s helpful for everybody,” Ramsey said at the Spring Game. “Not only for me, but the whole offense as well.”
It was rather challenging for the Hoosiers to play both Lagow and Ramsey, given their incredibly different skillsets. It was always the plan for Ramsey to play, but his four starts gave offensive coordinator Mike DeBord a significant challenge. The playbook was altered, but it was impossible to rewrite IU’s offensive scheme when Lagow was either injured or struggling. Nonetheless, Ramsey was exceptional on the run -- scampering for 327 yards and a pair of touchdowns in nine games.
The intrigue with Ramsey, likewise with Penix, is his potential. As a freshman, thrown into the fire with an offense structured for Lagow, Ramsey was valiant. He gave the Hoosiers a chance to win, more or less, in every game he played. In his third year at Indiana, Ramsey will be the most familiar quarterback on the roster to both DeBord, Sheridan, and Allen. He could be the safest play for the Hoosiers in 2018 -- and whether he starts or not, he will surely play.
Michael Penix Jr., Fr. 6-3, 198 lbs.
After Lagow graduated and Penix enrolled early, there was a legitimate possibility of Indiana starting its first true freshman at quarterback in memory. After all, Penix’s combination of arm strength and desire to compete have impressed Indiana’s staff thus far. It’s tough to assume Penix would start over a proven quarterback with 22 starts in a PAC-12 offense, or the incumbent in Ramsey. The question, now, turns to utilizing Penix in a way that benefirs the Hoosiers long-term. If Dawkins wins the job and remains healthy, there is a chance Penix could redshirt his freshman year and retain his eligibility for next season.
With Ramsey, and at times, Dawkins, the question is surrounding the arm. Ramsey is accurate, but his longest completion last season was 45 yards -- and relied heavily on quick slants to move the offense. Dawkins has strength, but accuracy has been questioned after he threw six interceptions in ten games during 2016, including three against Utah. Arm strength is not an issue with Penix, even as a true freshman. The left-handed gunslinger can flatout throw -- across-field, downfield, and on the move.
At Indiana’s Spring Game in April, Penix displayed in a very small sample size why he was a fringe 4-star prospect from Florida in high school: poise. It was a rapid recruiting process for Penix, who decommitted from Tennessee in December and decided between Indiana and Florida State, among others, a week later. In two seasons at Tampa Bay Tech, Penix threw for 4,423 yards and 61 touchdowns -- to only six interceptions. He can escape the pocket with ease, along with executing options from the gun.
On paper, Penix is the quarterback that Allen has been envisioning since he took over for Kevin Wilson at Indiana. Despite enrolling early with the hope of playing as a true freshman, Penix would certainly benefit from a year of adding strength and progressing as a college quarterback. But as we saw last season, Indiana’s heralded freshman could be only an injury away from taking a snap.
(04/11/18 2:38pm)
It appears Indiana has found its quarterback for the 2018 season.
On late Tuesday evening, former Arizona QB Brandon Dawkins announced his commitment to Indiana as a grad transfer and was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. Dawkins, also considering the likes of Chip Kelly and UCLA, Lane Kiffin/FAU, and Nebraska’s Scott Frost, will play his final season for Tom Allen and the Hoosiers -- eligible immediately following his graduation from Arizona in May.
"I didn't see a better fit for me," Dawkins told ESPN. " I could have committed there two weeks ago. There were other schools, but at the end of the day, Indiana definitely showed that they're interested and they wanted me, they made that clear and apparent. I really respect that about them. They weren't going to dance around. They genuinely wanted me."
The news isn’t necessarily shocking. With two young quarterbacks on his roster, Allen has reiterated IU’s presence in the grad transfer quarterback market this offseason, but that market was slim. The Hoosiers have dipped into the transfer pool before, adding QB Richard Lagow from junior-college to succeed current Philadelphia Eagle Nate Sudfeld for two seasons.
This move is different. On the surface, Dawkins provides Indiana with experience and versatility that had been lacking on the current roster. Certainly nothing is a given, but Dawkins’ commitment will likely continue the development of rising sophomore Peyton Ramsey and heralded freshman Michael Penix. Ramsey was summoned last season and played valiantly in nine games. Penix chose IU over Florida State, among others, and is impressing with arm strength and poise as an early enrollee. The options are endless, now, but this move allows for Penix to potentially redshirt behind Dawkins and begin his collegiate career following a full offseason.
At Arizona, Dawkins appeared in 20 games for one of the nation’s top programs. He was Arizona’s starter for 10 of 12 games in 2016 after Anu Solomon suffered a knee injury. This past season, Dawkins won the starting job over Khalil Tate (and Solomon, who transferred), and played in the Wildcats’ first five games before sustaining an injury of his own. In his career, Dawkins has thrown for 2,353 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He is more than his arm. The 6-foot-3 California native has rushed for 1,481 yards and 18 touchdowns -- including a 79-yard sprint against eventual CFP Semifinalist Washington.
With that, Dawkins provides offensive coordinator Mike DeBord with a bevy of options. A year ago, Indiana’s offense was ran in similar format with both Ramsey and Lagow. They were very different quarterbacks. With Dawkins, that will no longer be the case. DeBord, and Indiana, can now mold its offensive scheme to fit Dawkins’ height, speed, and maturity. If he adapts well, the former 4-star recruit may transform the offense with confident play-calling.
"Coach DeBord, some of the quarterbacks he's had, Tom Brady, Brian Griese, just to name a few," Dawkins said to ESPN. "Everything's there from a mental standpoint. I know I'm not going to be able to walk in and start, but i'm fired up to get in a new competition with a new group of guys. I'm fired up to learn a new offense and go win some games."
Dawkins is correct. He isn’t guaranteed to start. The Hoosiers are very high on Ramsey, a homegrown talent who took advantage of an adverse situation last fall. And they are high on Penix, too, as an exciting prospect who certainly has a future in Bloomington. Saturday’s Spring Game will offer insight, albeit limited, on the development of both. But given Dawkins’ track record and grad transfer status, it’s likely now his job to lose.
(03/23/18 3:34am)
In sports, the difficulty of beating a team three times, in one season, is often documented.
In the WNIT’s third round Thursday night, Indiana had very little trouble in accomplishing that -- let alone against its rival. Backed with stifling defense and Assembly Hall’s largest crowd since 2012, Indiana finished off a wire-to-wire victory over Purdue, 73-51.
“I hate to say it’s just another game,” Moren said. “Because it is an in-state rivalry with Purdue. We’re probably going to look back and have a lot of really great memories and Purdue is just going to be one of those that gets mentioned.”
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The WNIT is not where Teri Moren and Indiana expected to be. The Hoosiers returned its best duo in school history, with Tyra Buss and Amanda Cahill returning for their senior seasons. Moren secured the program’s highest-rated recruit in history, with Jaelynn Penn. But the WNIT is where they are now -- and three games through, it appears Moren’s team is setting its sights on a championship run. After all, these are the final games of the illustrious careers of Buss and Cahill.
The crowd was fitting for the moment, with an announced crowd of 5,564 on Thursday night. Because of Moren and Fred Glass’ commitment to hosting WNIT games, the Hoosiers will be at home Sunday against the winner of Kansas State/UC Davis in the quarterfinals. Indiana has dominated its WNIT run -- all three games have been decided by more than 20 points.
On Thursday night, for the third time in this campaign, there was no question who the better team was. Indiana outscored Purdue on turnovers, 24-8. IU’s offense was able to consistently attack inside, routing the Boilermakers 42-28 in the paint. Buss went for a relatively effortless 24 points, six assists, and four rebounds. Penn splashed a pair of 3-pointers to continue her effective role as a contributing scoring threat.
“It’s a six-game series and this was step three,” Buss said of the WNIT. “It just so happened we were playing Purdue again. We’ve played them two times so we just were really familiar with them.”
The quarterfinal round was where Indiana saw its season end a year ago, against Villanova. These postseason games are precious, not just for IU’s senior duo, but for the development of its rising freshmen in Penn, Bendu Yeaney, Linsey Marchese, and Keyanna Warthen. And beating Purdue for a third time -- in the rivalry’s first-ever postseason meeting? Clearly there is much to play for here.
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As aforementioned, Indiana will play next at 2 p.m. Sunday in the WNIT quarterfinals, or Elite Eight. The program has reached 20 wins for its third consecutive season, dating back to a historic NCAA Tournament appearance (and victory) in 2015-16. The WNIT is not where Indiana would prefer to be. But it’s giving the program’s best duo an opportunity to claim a championship right at home.
“That was an amazing crowd,” Buss said. “We hope they keep coming back and giving us their support as long as we keep playing. They just gave us an extreme amount of energy. It was really electric and it just made it really fun to play in there.”
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(03/03/18 3:41am)
INDIANAPOLIS -- Every season is different. Two years ago, Teri Moren’s Indiana team came out of nowhere -- roaring to a 12-6 Big Ten record with strong non-conference victories to boot, winning a NCAA Tournament game for the first time in 33 years. Last season carried the same promise, except IU was abruptly eliminated by Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament and settled for an WNIT run.
This season, believe it or not, has its own story. An uninspiring early season effort somehow led to an eight-game winning streak down the stretch. And Moren was reluctant to admit it, but the Hoosiers ran out of gas in a 67-54 loss to No. 17 in the Big Ten quarterfinals. After all, Indiana was fresh off a four-overtime thriller against Michigan State to keep its NCAA hopes alive.
And so every year, the question is asked: how does Indiana’s resume compare to years past, and what would the argument be for the Hoosiers (17-14) to dance once more in the NCAA Tournament?
“I think the biggest thing is you look at our strength of schedule, and it's eighth,” Moren argued. “But we have at least five top-50 wins, and this is a really good league, and it probably doesn't get the respect that it deserves, and that's always disappointing. And so I do think there's an argument there for Indiana.”
(02/18/18 12:11am)
Since the beginning of his first season, Indiana head coach Archie Miller has stressed the importance of guard play. Which makes sense, given Miller’s collegiate career as a guard at NC State.
Collectively this season, Indiana’s guards have been remarkably inconsistent. In particular games, though, they have excelled. And when Indiana’s guards excel, the Hoosiers are always competitive -- and generally victorious.
For Indiana (16-12, 9-7 B1G) that was the case in Saturday afternoon’s thrilling 84-82 win at Iowa (12-17, 3-13). Robert Johnson, playing his last games in an IU uniform, scored a career-high 29 points on an unconscious nine 3-pointers -- tying the school record. Devonte Green, after a quiet game against Illinois, rattled off 18 much-needed points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting from the floor.
“I’m biased,” Miller said postgame. “I’m a guard. But guards win, man.”
Saturday was certainly not Juwan Morgan’s most explosive game (12 points, 5-of-9) -- but it was an example of the Hoosiers winning without their best player at his best. Given Indiana’s newfound chances of postseason play, that characteristic will surely benefit down the stretch.
"I didn't realize he made nine threes,” Miller said of Johnson. “I realize that he made some, but I wasn't up to speed on exactly how many. I've been waiting for him to step up and have one of these nights. You have to give his teammates credit.. We had 23 assists and only 10 turnovers and probably most of the turnovers happened in the last seven minutes."
It should not be forgotten the importance of Freddie McSwain in the late stages of Saturday’s thrilling road game against Iowa. Hawkeye sophomore Tyler Cook bullied the Hoosiers to the tune of 28 points and 10 rebounds -- but it was McSwain that put an end to Cook’s late-game heroics. The 6-foot-6 senior also finished a beautiful feed from Green to put the Hoosiers up 84-82 with 48 seconds remaining.
"I think the big thing about Freddy is he's giving us consistent effort,” Miller said. “He's another guy that can rebound. We got manhandled on the glass, especially in the second half. He was able to help us defensively. Being able to get a little bit of space, he got a nice little break when Devonte made a heck of a pass to him on the roll late in the game."
After such a tumultuous, confusing middle stretch of the season, the Hoosiers are now playing their best basketball of the season. Four straight wins have suddenly thrusted Indiana into postseason pictures -- whether that’s a potential No. 6 seed in the Big Ten tournament, or invitations to the NCAA or NIT postseason.
The Hoosiers have a daunting final two games, which begins at Nebraska (20-11, 11-4) on Tuesday and culminates at home against No. 8 Ohio State (22-6, 13-2) next Friday. Indiana will likely not be favored in either, albeit possibly against a Buckeye team fuming from a 23-point loss to Penn State.
It goes without saying, if Archie Miller’s Hoosiers want to earn an at-large bid in this year’s NCAA tournament -- they’ll need wins in both. From there, Indiana would be 18-12 (11-7) and likely still need three wins, at least, for an appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game. Remember, the Big Ten is at its weakest in recent memory.
Regardless of its postseason chances, it is remarkable to see the Hoosiers surge at the finish. Given lousy losses to Indiana State and Fort Wayne early in the season, a first-year head coach, and season-ending injury to a vital post presence -- Indiana is still hanging around. And most importantly, its players are maturing in multiple capacities.
“Even through ups and downs,” Miller said. “I think they’ve seen improvement in each other. Winning becomes contagious. It’s hard to do, it’s hard to get wins like this, and I’m happy for them.”
(02/16/18 5:09pm)
Today’s the day, folks. At noon Friday, 17th-ranked Indiana begins its 2018 campaign against Oklahoma in Myrtle Beach, which should have better weather than Bloomington. The Hoosiers will play four games, in four days, before heading even further south to Florida. Lucky them.
But before all of that, there is still one preview remaining on The Hoosier Network: Indiana’s outfield. In case you’re just catching up, the Hoosiers have graduated the services of Alex Krupa and current White Sox minor-leaguer Craig Dedelow.
In this season’s outfield, three return for skipper Chris Lemonis. Those names are familiar, in Logan Sowers, Laren Eustace, and utility man Chris Lowe. Meanwhile, a trio of new faces will join the ranks -- most notably junior-college transfer Logan Kaletha.
Returnees:
Sowers is expected to stay in right field for the Hoosiers in 2018, his position for all 59 starts a season ago. Now a senior, it’s remarkable to see the consistent progress of Sowers -- raising his average to a steady .291, including a source of power in 13 home runs, 43 runs batted in, and slugging percentage of .536.
If Indiana competes for a Big Ten title and College World Series appearance this season, it will likely have to do with its 6-foot-5 slugger. Along with Matt Lloyd, Sowers is the motor to Lemonis’ lineup.
Joining Sowers as a familiar face for IU fans is Eustace -- and noticeable, too. The 5-foot-9 Eustace returns for his senior season after hitting .237 in only 59 at-bats last year. Compared to 105 AB’s as a sophomore, Eustace saw his playing time drop. In an outfield with Sowers and Dedelow, at-bats are hard to come by.
But in 2018, expect Eustace to take on the biggest role of his career -- primarily in center. Eustace might not be Indiana’s most potent hitter, but he can find his way on base. The Batavia, Ill. native held a .378 on-base percentage a season ago.
Lowe only made seven at-bats for the Hoosiers a season ago in that crowded outfield, but as a senior, his bench role may have the potential of expanding. In 45 career at-bats, the Californian is hitting .311. In last season’s regional loss to Kentucky, Lowe drove in a run.
Without the likes of Krupa and Dedelow, outfield depth and bench production is more useful in 2018.
Newcomers:
Let’s start with Kaletha, who has been labeled as a “hit-machine” by Lemonis this offseason. The junior comes to Bloomington from John A. Logan College in Illinois. Kaletha spent three years there, playing in two. His JUCO numbers are eye-opening, hitting .354 in 52 games last season -- slugging six homers en route to 59 runs batted in.
There’s more too -- Kaletha can run on the base paths. In two seasons, the 6-foot Michigan City native swiped 43 stolen bases. Expect Kaletha to be a consistent part of Indiana’s outfield from the start -- albeit after all, it’s still February and he hasn’t played a Division-1 game yet. His presence has provided a major focal point for the Hoosiers this season.
In addition to Kaletha, Indiana also added a pair of listed freshmen outfielders in anticipation for the 2018 campaign. Both hail from Indiana -- as Elijah Dunham played at F.J. Reitz in Evansville, hitting .386 as a senior and ranked the No. 6 player from Indiana by Prep Baseball Report.
Dunham was an all-state honorable mention last season and stole 26 bags in the process. Then there’s Sam Crail, from Sheridan -- where he was a .547 career hitter to go along with seven home runs (three of which in the same game). Crail was rated as the 18th-best player from Indiana in the 2018 class.
(02/15/18 6:24am)
Though certainly not the most rhythmic of games, Indiana outlasted Illinois, 78-68 at Assembly Hall. Wednesday night was, in essence, a mirror of the Hoosiers’ stunning loss in Champaign on January 24th.
And yet again, the Hoosiers committed 18 turnovers against the Illini -- displaying similar problems against Illinois’ disruptive pressure on defense. 47 combined fouls and 59 free-throws separated Indiana and Illinois from a relatively merciful conclusion, but improved free-throw shooting and depth carried the Hoosiers to victory.
“Their style, you don’t see it very often,” Archie Miller said. “It’s a very disruptive half-court, man-to-man. When you can’t make a pass, you’ve got to have guys that can make some plays … Both games kind of played out the same way, except I thought we were better on the glass tonight and made our free throws.”
In the words of Miller postgame, the Hoosiers will take it. Wednesday night’s win improves Indiana’s record to 15-12 overall, and 8-7 in Big Ten play. At the very worst, the Hoosiers have guaranteed a Thursday game in the 2018 Big Ten Tournament -- and a .500 record for Miller’s first campaign in Bloomington. A Penn State loss on Thursday would push the Hoosiers into sixth place.
Miller is starting to see something different about his inherited Indiana players. Months after challenging his team’s toughness following embarrassing losses to Indiana State and Fort Wayne, confidence and intelligence have ensued across the board. Miller said postgame that he believes this is the best Indiana has been playing all season.
“I just think in general we’re more confident,” Miller said. “Guys understand right now what we’re asking them to do in terms of the passing, the reads, the looks that guys are getting.”
On a night where offensive outbursts were quite simply hard to come by, Miller’s bench stepped up. Five players finished in double-figures scoring, the most unlikely players coming from freshmen Al Durham (14 points) and Justin Smith (13 points). Durham’s 14 points were the most in a Big Ten game this season, while Smith’s output was his most since that infamous 20-point performance on January 6th against Minnesota.
Junior forward Juwan Morgan was his usual self, the glue that quite literally buoys the Hoosiers through dry spells and mental lapses. Morgan finished with 14 points and ten rebounds, including five blocks and four steals. But the most promising performance of Indiana’s ugly win came from senior point guard Josh Newkirk. Responding to a newfound rotation that has favored sophomore Devonte Green, Newkirk delivered a nifty drive to the basket to put Indiana up, 69-60 with 3:23 remaining. He finished with 11 points on an efficient 4-of-6 shooting.
“It's good,” Newkirk said of the depth. “Everybody contributed. Coming off the bench, people giving us spark. So I mean it's fun to see everybody score, everybody contribute.”
Three regular season games remain, and the ceiling for this Indiana team remains to be seen. In a weak and clouded Big Ten, anything is possible. Should the Hoosiers win out, hypothetically including a pair of impressive wins at Nebraska and home against first-place Ohio State, the Big Ten Tournament would become significantly more interesting.
Hypothetically, Indiana would then be an 18-12 (11-7 Big Ten) team -- with ugly losses and a disrespected conference on its blemished resume. But lots can, and will happen before then. Indiana has a road test against a poor Iowa (3-12) side on Saturday afternoon, and that’s all Josh Newkirk is focused on as he plays the final three regular season games of his career.
"We take it one game at a time," Newkirk said. "We're focused on Iowa."
(02/14/18 2:41pm)
As with the majority of positions throughout College Baseball, roster turnaround has also changed the depth at catcher for Indiana. A familiar face, however, will play behind the plate when the Hoosiers open their 2018 campaign on Friday against Oklahoma. With Jake Matheny transferring to Missouri after one season with the club, junior Ryan Fineman will certainly be head coach Chris Lemonis’ starting catcher beginning this weekend.
Joining Fineman at the catcher position will be a pair of newcomers in true freshman Drew Ashley and highly-touted transfer Wyatt Cross. Let’s take a look at all three, and what to expect from the Hoosiers’ backstops:
Ryan Fineman, Jr. -- 2017 stats: 52 games/45 starts, .239/.291/.313, 2 HR, 17 RBI
It’s somewhat surprising to see Fineman listed only as a junior -- after all, the 6-foot catcher has started an impressive 95 games through two seasons in Bloomington. Offensively speaking, Fineman took a step back following his All-Big Ten Freshman season. With 14 extra at-bats as a freshman, the Westlake, Ca. native saw his average drop nearly 30 points (from .268 to .239 between the two seasons. Fineman also walked less (19 to 9), and struck out at a higher clip (14% to 19%).
With the Hoosiers returning power hitters in Matt Lloyd (utility) and Logan Sowers (right field), as well as on-base productivity in sophomore Matt Gorski (first base), Lemonis’ lineup is in good hands. Fineman is exceptional behind the plate, proving as a reliable target for Indiana’s ever-important pitching staff and defense. Make no mistake, Fineman is certainly no slouch behind the plate and can provide at the bottom of Lemonis’ order -- and a few less hits surely shouldn’t alter Indiana’s offensive production.
While Matheny was also used as a designated hitter, his depth was a valuable asset for the Hoosiers -- and now gone. Fineman is slated, and primed for a bounce-back junior campaign as a seasoned veteran to bolster Lemonis’ bottom-half of the order.
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Wyatt Cross, Jr. -- 2017 stats (San Jacinto College): 41 games, 21 hits, 6 HR, 16 RBI
Cross could make an early impact in his first season at Indiana, either sharing time with Fineman at catcher or finding other ways in the lineup. Drafted by the Rockies out of high school, Cross was ranked as a top-40 recruit nationally by Perfect Game, and 74th by Baseball America. The 6-foot-3, Colorado native played his freshman season at North Carolina -- but was used sparingly, appearing in just 15 games and collecting a double, two RBI’s, two runs, and three walks for the Tar Heels. From Chapel Hill, Cross transferred to highly-regarded San Jacinto College in Houston, where the likes of Roger Clemens and Andy Pettite, among others, have played. Cross hit .256 in just 86 at-bats, including six home runs and 16 runs batted in.
On the surface, Cross has the ability to provide this Indiana lineup with power from the bench, if not more. He could certainly find ways to earn at-bats, having played first base at San Jacinto last season. With Matheny having left, Cross will at least function as an experienced backup behind Fineman -- with high-level baseball under his belt.
Drew Ashley, Fr. -- 2017 stats: N/A (High School)
Expectedly behind Fineman and Cross, will be true freshman Drew Ashley. The state of Indiana’s 3rd-ranked catching recruit by Perfect Game will play as the Hoosiers’ third catcher in 2018. Doubling as a pitcher for Reitz Memorial in Evansville, Ashley hit .432 in his career -- with a .538 on-base percentage in 106 games during high school to garner first team All-State honors in 2017. Ashley’s high school pitching record shows only a 1.13 ERA, in 142.2 innings pitched, including a no-hitter.
Having both parents attending IU, Ashley chose the Hoosiers over the likes of Purdue, Tennessee, and Xavier out of high school. Ashley is listed as a catcher, and provides depth and future development for the Hoosiers at catcher.
(02/10/18 4:27am)
Rewind two weeks, when Devonte Green was merely an afterthought in Indiana's admirable loss to No. 3 Purdue. After all, the sensational 6-foot-3 sophomore guard played only four minutes, a career-low, in arguably the Hoosiers' biggest game of Archie Miller's first season in Bloomington.
It was no secret that Miller, and Indiana fans alike, were frustrated with Green's decision-making on the offensive end of the floor. Defensively sound, yes. But offensively destructive, as well.
As much of an afterthought as he was, following a game in which Purdue's Isaac Haas scored an easy 26 points, the aura of Devonte Green remained. You should know what I mean by that -- his frequently untapped potential. Throughout Green's relegation to the end of Miller's bench, his dazzling skillset was put on hold.
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As evident by his 19 points, seven assists, and four rebounds to pace Indiana past Minnesota 80-56 Friday night, Green's recent trend of consistency has elevated Indiana's offense to newfound promise. Green's first half, fueled by 17 points on just 4-of-5 shooting, was highlighted by a one-handed, full-court pass to an in-stride Juwan Morgan.
"It's not always a home run," Miller said of Green. "You can go for the single every once in a while, and I think he started to go for the singles... and then every once in a while, you're going to see him make a couple plays that a lot of people can't make because he's really talented."
In short, there are things Green can do that many Big Ten guards simply cannot fathom. And there are things Green can do, that Indiana has desperately needed in order to function offensively. Green shot 4-of-6 from 3-point range on Friday night, wisely choosing his open looks and shooting accordingly. His seven assists, compared to three turnovers, aided a well-balanced Indiana scoring effort; five players finished with at least eight points for the Hoosiers.
The latter statistic -- Green's facilitation, might just be the most important -- at least in the eyes of Miller.
"To me right now, he's playing as good as we've had a guard play all season just in terms of the ability to make plays," Miller said. "We haven't been a team that really has been a sharing team. It's more pound and ground. Now I think you're seeing the ball move a little bit more, and he's a guy that I think can see the game a little bit, couple steps ahead."
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Friday's blowout win against Minnesota marked the third consecutive game in which Green has logged at least 30 minutes of Miller's precious playing time, including his second straight start. Green's sudden trend in playing time has to do with his everyday approach and decision-making. In the past three games, Green has 17 assists to five turnovers and has benefited from developing a rhythm as a starter.
"In his mind, I think he started to see to himself that this way wasn't working," Miller said. "At the end of the day, he started to come with a little bit more humbleness in practice, a little bit more approach that we liked. And with that approach, he got opportunity. Once he got his opportunity, he took advantage of it."
For the soft-spoken Green, the attribution to his late-season resurgence goes to simplifying his play, and merely "seeing what's there and making that play."
As eluded to in Miller's baseball reference, there are indeed singles and home runs, in which Green can do both -- whether hitting the wide-open three, or making an unbelievable pass through traffic. Regardless of the difficulty, Indiana's offense is certainly welcoming the resurgence of Devonte Green's aura.
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(02/10/18 2:29am)
A few days off from a road win against Rutgers, the Hoosiers capitalized against another inferior opponent -- routing Minnesota 80-56 on Friday night at Assembly Hall. Indiana improved to 14-12 overall, and an even 7-7 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers are now tied with Penn State for 6th in the conference -- and two games out of fourth place. Indiana hosts Illinois on Wednesday.
Here's our Rapid Reaction:
Oh my, Devonte Green
It's safe to say that Devonte Green played his best game in an Indiana uniform Friday night against Minnesota. In the first-half alone, Green tallied 17 points on 4-of-5 shooting -- including multiple eyebrow-raising assists and a full-court, one-handed pass to Juwan Morgan in stride. Green finished with 19 points in a more passive role down the stretch, including seven assists. It wasn't necessarily Green's scoring that impressed, it was his craftiness and intelligence. Green's decision-making was the sharpest we have seen in his two seasons at IU -- and the decision to insert Green back into the starting lineup has paid dividends.
One must have wondered if Green would use his strong performance vs. Rutgers to jumpstart a resilient ending to his sophomore campaign -- and it certainly appears that way. In the past two games, Green has been the clear choice at point guard over senior Josh Newkirk. Green will almost certainly start his third consecutive game on Wednesday vs. Illinois.
For technical interests, it's a bit wild that Green fell short of his career-high of 20 in points, which was set a few games ago against Ohio State. But, as said earlier, Green seemed more interested in facilitating than scoring in the second-half. He took two shots in the second half.
Start to Finish
Avoiding cliches at all cost here, but it really was a complete performance by Indiana. More importantly, however, it was a *second-straight* complete performance by Indiana. After dealing with opponents of Michigan State, Purdue, and Ohio State in the past few weeks -- it was interesting to see how the Hoosiers would handle a string of so-called inferior opponents. Two games through, and Indiana has dealt with them accordingly. The trend will continue against a 2-10 Illinois team on Wednesday, a team gifted with a victory in Champaign a few weeks ago.
It's no secret that insanely, outrageously short turnarounds have plagued this Indiana club, especially in a stretch featuring three of the best teams the country has to offer. With four days in between Rutgers and Minnesota, the Hoosiers surely benefited from legitimate practice and rest. IU faces Illinois in five days.
For those looking for grievances, Indiana again struggled from the free-throw line -- shooting 14-of-23 as a team.
Cold Like Minnesota
Whoa boy, Minnesota is not a good basketball team. There are many reasons why the Gophers have dropped seven consecutive games -- one of those is being 1-10 since Reggie Lynch was suspended. Minnesota came out flat, trailing the Hoosiers 20-8 before eventually clawing back for a ten-point deficit at halftime. But the game was honestly never in serious doubt, and you've got to wonder who will finish last in the Big Ten this season. The Gophers, once picked as a possible tournament team, are tied for the lead with 11 L's.
(02/06/18 2:11am)
On Monday against Rutgers, Indiana took care of business -- defeating the Scarlet Knights 65-43 to improve to 13-12 overall, and a 6-7 record in the conference. The Hoosiers are back in action Friday night at home against Minnesota, with a few days of much-needed rest in between.
Here's our Rapid Reaction:
The Hoosiers Travel:
Well, that was a wire-to-wire win on the road. Indiana collected its first victory away from Assembly Hall since defeating Minnesota on January 6th -- when the Hoosiers began a three-game winning streak. The Hoosiers made the trip on Monday, handling Rutgers from the tipoff -- including a 17-3 start to the game. Juwan Morgan, per usual, was instrumental in fending off any possibility of a Rutgers comeback. Morgan tallied a game-high 24 points, as well as corralling eight rebounds on just 10-of-14 shooting from the field.
The Hoosiers took care of business against a significantly inferior team -- and arguably the Big Ten's worst. That being said, IU left an opportunity in Champaign against a then-winless Illini side, so Monday's win is reassuring in that regard.
Devonte Green Starts:
For the first game since November 24th against Eastern Michigan, Devonte Green started for Archie Miller. Green, making his sixth start of the season, impressed with a line of nine points and three assists on an efficient 4-of-7 shooting from the floor. Green's three assists were all jaw-dropping plays, finding Juwan Morgan twice on bullet passes down low. As said many times before, Green appears to be a different player when benefiting from the rhythm and consistency that comes from substantial playing time.
Meanwhile, senior point guard Josh Newkirk was virtually invisible for the Hoosiers on Monday in Piscataway. Newkirk tallied only one point, shooting 0-of-4 from the floor and collecting three assists. The playing time between Green and Newkirk has been a storyline all season for the Hoosiers -- and after Monday's win, it appears to continue Friday against Minnesota.
Rutgers Shoots 25 Percent:
The headline says it all. Rutgers' offense was reminiscent of Indiana's offensive woes in the past two weeks -- as the Scarlet Knights only amounted to shooting a putrid 13-of-54 from the floor. Despite a 31-point performance from Corey Sanders against Purdue, Rutgers has struggled to find open looks for points. Its backcourt of Sanders and freshman phenom Geo Baker combined for only 19 points .... on 5-of-22 shooting.
As aforementioned, the Hoosiers took care of business, and advantage, against an inferior opponent. Nonetheless, the Scarlet Knights' defense rank respectably in the Big Ten -- and Indiana's nine 3-pointers were the second-most made all season (12 vs. Eastern Michigan.)
(01/29/18 2:03am)
Even before Indiana’s eventual 74-67 defeat at the hands of No. 3 Purdue Sunday afternoon at Assembly Hall, IU head coach Archie Miller knew the dilemma he would face.
A ‘pick your poison’ of sorts, as the conundrum goes. Focus your defensive attention on 7-foot-2 center Isaac Haas, or stay disciplined on the perimeter against the nation’s best 3-point shooting team.
With intermittent effectiveness, those available methods were chosen interchangeably Sunday against the Boilermakers. but one constant remained: Haas, who scored a career-high 26 points to pace Purdue (21-2, 10-0 Big Ten).
"We just knew that if we could just wall up between him and the basket and try to get as many as we can rebounded, and then we just tightened up as far as everywhere else," Morgan said. "That's what we tried to do.
Indiana (12-10, 5-5) benefited from an uncharacteristically poor shooting performance from Purdue, who only connected on 5-of-18 3-pointers -- including an 0-of-6 start to jumpstart IU’s momentum in the first half. But life was made difficult for Purdue’s sharpshooters of Carsen Edwards, Dakota Mathias, and others. Vincent Edwards, a 48 percent 3-point shooter, finished 0-of-6.
"From a three-point perspective,” Miller said. “They had been shooting the ball at an unbelievable level that at some level you would hope the numbers would come back. They missed some good ones. But I thought for the most part our guys did a good job of being on shooters and challenging shots when we could.
But an outmatched Juwan Morgan (6-foot-8), Justin Smith (6-foot-7), or Freddie McSwain (6-foot-6) -- struggled mightily to keep Haas (7-foot-2) in between them and the basket. Purdue’s senior center shot 10-of-17, converting all six of his free throws in the process. The Hoosiers double-teamed Haas at times to no avail, succumbing to open 3-point looks from Purdue’s backcourt.
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In other instances, Haas completely blew past whoever the Hoosiers put against him. Consistent entry passes from Purdue’s backcourt allowed Haas to turn, or spin, and find himself a point-blank opportunity.
“At times, we had to stay in between him and the basket and make him earn tough baskets at times when we trapped,” Miller said. “But when we post trapped tonight, it really cost us. I mean it really cost us. Our perimeter guys were completely non-existent on post traps. I think they scored probably nine points on us.”
For how undersized Indiana was against its in-state rival, Haas’ 26 points almost seemed low -- given how impressive the Hoosiers were at altering Purdue’s offense. Against Iowa, Haas took only one shot in 18 minutes -- but the Boilermakers made 20 3-pointers to set the Big Ten record. Against the Hoosiers, it was made the other way around.
“I think it’s a decision you have to make,” Purdue head coach Matt Painter said. “They had McSwain on him some and tried to mix guys up. The number one thing they want to do is keep Morgan in the game, but I thought he did a really good job. You’re giving up five or six inches and you can’t let him get deep.”
For the most part, Miller and the Hoosiers felt postgame that IU gave Purdue all it could handle. There is certainly not any moral victories coming from the first-year head coach, but Indiana played Purdue’s “Catch-22” as well as any this season. As Miller said Friday before facing the Boilermakers, there’s a reason Purdue has won ten straight to open the Big Ten season.
“They're Purdue,” Miller said Saturday. ”They play tough-minded basketball. You have both ends of the floor you're worried about.”
(01/28/18 10:37pm)
In the annual rivalry game against Purdue, Indiana played toe-to-toe with the nation's 3rd-ranked team -- eventually falling in defeat, 74-67 on Sunday afternoon at Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers fall to 12-10, and 5-5 in the Big Ten. IU faces Ohio State on the road Tuesday night.
Here's our Rapid Reaction:
Isaac Haas: Career-High 26 Points
Despite an impressive defensive effort, collectively, by Indiana -- the struggles of guarding Purdue's 7-foot-2 center Issac Haas were real. Averaging over 14 points per game for the Boilermakers, Haas finished with 26 on 10-of-17 shooting on Sunday afternoon. Although Purdue uncharacteristically struggled from 3-point range, Haas was Matt Painter's consistent source of offense. At 7-foot-2, Haas held multiple inches in advantage against the 6-foot-7 Juwan Morgan or counterpart Freddie McSwain Jr. The Hoosiers attempted double-teaming Haas, only to allow open looks from outside by the Boilermakers.
Generally, Indiana made Haas earn his baskets. The senior center made IU look foolish at many times Sunday, spinning his way to point-blank looks. When matters became more difficult, Haas shot 6-of-6 from the free-throw line to convert the old-fashioned way. Entering this game, there was little doubt Indiana would be able to contain Haas but instead control the controllable, which is what happened. Unfortunately for the Hoosiers, Haas took care of IU down the stretch -- scoring four points against Juwan Morgan to give Purdue a 69-64 lead with 1:22 remaining.
The Emergence of Robert Johnson:
At times during his junior and now senior seasons, Robert Johnson has looked a lesser form of the player that shot 45 percent from 3-point range as a sophomore alongside Yogi Ferrell and others. Through the past few games, with the exception of Illinois, Johnson's play has been the contrary. The senior guard, playing against Purdue for his final time, was the backcourt player Indiana needed Sunday -- shooting 8-of-16 for 21 points while also corralling six rebounds.
In the losing effort, many of Johnson's shots came at crucial moments or with impressive difficulty. The only blemish on Johnson's line came in the first-half with three missed free throws to halt the Hoosier lead. Other than that, however, Archie Miller's Hoosiers benefited from confident, poised guard play by a senior. Without Johnson's emergence Sunday, the Hoosiers would not have been able to make it a close game.
Defensive Execution:
Entering Sunday as the nation's best 3-point shooting team (44.2 percent), Purdue struggled mightily against Indiana at Assembly Hall Sunday afternoon. The Boilermakers began with an 0-for-6 start from beyond the arc -- finishing just 5-of-18 (27.8 percent) and relying on the services of 7-foot-2 center Isaac Haas to keep Purdue in the lead.
Again, Indiana controlled the controllable -- Carsen Edwards shot just 3-of-10 from the floor. Vincent Edwards was a lowly 0-of-6 from 3-point range. Things were made extremely difficult for Purdue, and defensive energy and execution was the reason for that.