I’m Ready…Finally!

After a long, busy, and tiresome summer at work I finally have the time to sit down and do what I love to do, and that is talk and write about Indiana Basketball. Even though I simply do not have the time to do so in the summer months that doesn't mean I don’t follow both the current roster and their reported progress, but also recruiting.

By all accounts the current roster is more than capable of being a team that is better than their predicted finish in the Big10. Are there question marks? Sure. But from the outside looking in there also appear to be some answers on this roster as well. Staying healthy will obviously be paramount to their success, but that goes for every team as they head into a new season.

One of those questions is that there doesn’t appear to be a lights out shooter on the roster. But I believe there are some very capable shooters in Al Durham, Devonte Green, Robert Phinisee, Damezi Anderson, and Armaan Franklin. The usual offseason improvement by the returning players should help with a balanced scoring attack. Another question is the lack of a second true point guard to back up Phinisee. While that is somewhat of a concern, there does seem to be enough average to above average ball handlers to spell Phinisee, or possibly play along side him at times.

The front court could be a strength for the Hoosiers for a change. A healthy De’Ron Davis and Race Thompson in the rotation with newcomers Joey Brunk and Trayce Jackson-Davis appears, on paper at least, to be a formidable front court to due battle in the rough and tumble Big10. Throw in Justin Smith and Jerome Hunter, both who could play the 3 or the 4 spot at times, and what was one of the weaknesses last year, could just as easily be it’s biggest strength this year.

There was no doubt that the health of last years team, as well as a lot of minutes being played by underclassmen played a huge part in the lack of success. But when you consider that apparently Indiana missed the NCAA tourney for failing to secure only ONE more win, it excites me for the future. Older and healthier could be just what the Hoosiers need to continue building this program back to prominence.

I’m excited every year for Indiana Basketball to start, but I’m more excited this year than I have been in quite some time. There is some toughness on this team. This group could be VERY good defensively. They seem to truly enjoy playing together. Having each others back, being tough minded, and being ornery on the defensive end has won a lot of teams a lot of ballgames over the years, and those things could try well be Indiana’s identity going forward.

When you look at the toughness of the two soon to be signed recruits, Anthony Leal & Trey Galloway, you can’t help but think that last statement is looking truer all of the time. Coach Miller knows what he wants in a player and has recruited accordingly. He’s missed on a few, but what he’s building and who he’s got in the fold to continue building it takes me back to Indiana’s glory days. Out smarting, out hustling, and out defending teams put the Hoosiers in the win column a lot of times in all my years as a fan, and I think that trend is about to return.

The wait to find out is almost over, and all of these questions and beliefs will be answered and put to the test. I have a feeling that I’m not the only one that is excited for the opening tip of another Indiana Hoosiers basketball season. GO HOOSIERS!