Pandemic Daydreaming (Fiction)

The long wait has finally come to an end as college basketball teams have started to take the court playing exhibition games against traveling foreign club teams in the past week. Indiana University fans will get their first look at the 2020-2021 edition of the Hoosiers tomorrow night on the Big10 Network as they will replay last nights exhibition game versus a Yugoslavian Club team.

Being in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (SSAH) for a game without the usual 17,000+ screaming Hoosier fans was different to say the least. Media members and the teams were all that were present. And while a full SSAH is the best way to witness a game, hearing the squeak of the shoes, the communication amongst the players, and the instructions from the coaches was pretty interesting and entertains as well.

This was the Yugoslavian teams 3rd game on their U.S. tour and they came in sporting a 2-1 record, having lost to Arizona, and having beaten Vanderbilt and Fresno State. They are being led in scoring and rebounding by a familiar name for most older IU fans. Ivan Renko, Jr. is a 6’6” 220lb. wing player for the Yugoslavian team came in averaging 18.7pts. & 9rebs. through their first three U.S. games. His visit to SSAH wasn’t a pleasant one for the youngster who’s father was once recruited by Bob Knight.

Indiana played well in their first test of the season. In fact, they played very well. Head coach Archie Miller ran a starting five of Juniors Robert Phinisee & Race Thompson, Sophomores, Trayce Jackson-Davis & Jerome Hunter, and Freshman Khristian Lander onto the court to kick off the Hoosiers season. Not only did that starting five show incredible promise going forward for the upcoming season, but the second unit of, Seniors Joey Brunk & Al Durham, and the Freshman trio of Anthony Leal, Trey Galloway, & Jordan Geronimo did as well.

The backcourt tandem of Lander & Phinisee showed that they will not only be able to play well together, but they very well may compliment each other. The advantage of having two more than capable ball handlers on the court at the same time, even when one of those two (Lander) should be playing his senior season of high school, was obvious from the get go…literally. Jackson-Davis won the opening tip by back tapping it to Lander who showed an immediate burst of speed to get into the lane and then kick it out to a finally healthy Phinisee who shot faked a defender off of his feet at the 3-point line, took two dribbles and calmly sank a 15ft. jump shot. Immediately following a Jackson-Davis block that was chased down by Thompson and thrown ahead to Phinisse, who pushed the ball to mid-court and hit a streaking Lander in stride with a bounce pass that resulted in a lay-up and a foul. He sank the free throw and the Hoosiers were up 5-0 in roughly one minute of game time.

Renko Jr. looked rattled from the beginning. Hunter’s improved lateral movement was apparent, and even the two times he was beaten of the dribble by Renko Jr., Jackson-Davis, or Thompson were awaiting him and the results were a blocked shot, and a traveling violation. The entire Hoosier defense looked quicker, more aware, and was communicating extremely well. Renko Jr. was guarded by Hunter, Geronimo and Galloway throughout the game and was forced into a 3-17 shooting night, and he also committed five turnovers.

Geronimo and Galloway showed glimpses of their ability to both score and to find the open man. On the other end of the court their willingness and their ability to defend was obvious. They will both have their freshman moments, as will Lander, but their effort will never be questioned. They each had an ill-advised turnover but there was no head hanging from either. Instead, they busted their butts to get back on defense, and both times doing so resulted in the Hoosiers regaining possession of the ball. Geronimo got the rebound off of a missed shot, and Galloway got a steal from behind that was corralled by Hunter who quickly started a fast break the other way.

Brunk was solid in his minutes backing up both Jackson-Davis & Thompson. And Durham & Leal both showed that the Hoosiers now have 6 players when you add in Sophomore Armaan Franklin, who was held out due to a mild ankle sprain, that are capable of handling the ball and scoring from the backcourt. Leal also showed off his prowess as a shooter, knocking down 3-5 shots from 3-point range and all 4 of his free throws. The seems to be the real makings of an interchangeable backcourt without much drop off in production for Miller to work.

Thompson was his usual workman like self that Hoosier fans fell in love with last year. He pulled down 11rebs. to go along with his 9pts. Three of those points came on 1-2 shooting from 3-point range. Jackson-Davis was…well, a freshman Jackson-Davis, only better. He’s bigger, he’s stronger, he’s quicker, and he’s more confident. Which should put fear into the teams on the Indiana schedule this year. He had a double-double, which I’m guessing will be the norm this year. He also unveiled a mid-range game that will only get better as his confidence grows even more. There isn’t much the young man can’t do on the basketball court, and yet he’s only a sophomore. I know it’s a stretch but I’m going to start campaigning for him to stay three years, because with the talent in Candy-Stripes improving each year, a junior Jackson-Davis would be terrifying for opponents.

All in all I think Hoosier fans who tune in tomorrow night to watch what I witnessed tonight will be pleased with what they see. It was only one game and it wasn’t against B10 caliber competition, but there was enough shown to know that the promise of an fun and exciting season is there.

Game #1 grades:
Lander: B+ (the real deal)
Phinisee: B+ (healthy)
Hunter: B (Comfortable)
Thompson: B (Workman)
Jackson-Davis: A (Beast)
Durham: B (Solid)
Geronimo: B- (Exciting)
Leal: B+ (Shooter)
Galloway: B (Tough…Hoosier fans will love him, opponents will hate him)
Brunk: B (Leader)
Franklin: N/A (Rumored to be much improved)


*This is obviously a figment of my imagination, but I am desperately starving for some live sports, none more so than some Indiana University Hoosiers basketball. So please understand how writing what I’ve been thinking and dreaming about is therapeutic for me, and who knows, maybe some of you as well.*