Indiana is getting in the full swing of things this basketball season as the Big Ten opener is this weekend against Nebraska.
The Hoosiers will look to slow down a backcourt unit of Nebraska that runs the offensive side of the team. Nebraska has a 5-guard group that combines for 73% of the team's 79 points per game.
Indiana's guards have to be ready to slow down that unit and it starts with Xavier Johnson staying out of foul trouble. During our media availability with Mike Woodson today, I asked how IU's guards have been defensively so far this season and what they need to do to slow down Nebraska.
Woodson: Well, I mean, I don't think we've played extremely well out front as of late because we've been giving up numbers to point guards and shooting guards, and that's something that we've got to get back to being better.
We talked a lot about it yesterday and did some things on the floor that I think might help us a little bit, but Nebraska, they're guard driven, in terms of their style and how they play, so we're going to have to really lock in and defend off the dribble where we're not giving straight-line drives and keeping people in front of us where we're making them make tough, contested shots. We've got to keep them from the paint.
That's going to be huge with this team going into tomorrow's game."
Indiana looks to rebound from its first loss of the season. We will have a full breakdown of Nebraska this afternoon.
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The biggest news on the recruiting front is with 2023 Cathedral forward Xavier Booker. Booker was expecting to make a trip to IU last week but it was cancelled. This is now the second time in the last few months that a visit has been cancelled. Earlier this week Booker was on campus at Purdue for an unofficial visit.
There isn't anything to 'panic' about right now, but it's something to keep an eye on. IU had Booker for an official visit this summer so that's the big thing. I would expect Booker to return to IU around Christmas time when he has time off at school and can get up for a game. But, if we go through January and there is no new visit, then it's time to start thinking..
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Indiana extended another 2025 offer last night, this time to Holy Innocents (GA) forward Caleb Wilson.
Wilson is a 6-foot-8 forward. This is the third offer to a class of 2025 player - the first outside the state.
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IU 2022 commit Jalen Hood-Schifino and Montverde Academy was in action last night against No. 11 Oak Hill and dominated the entire game. It was a 40-point game for much of the second half, winning 86-51.
JHS finished with 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting with four rebounds and six assists. He was the best player on the floor from start to finish.
Some other names on Montverde that IU is targeting are 2023 five-star forward Kwame 'KJ' Evans and 2024 four-star forward Derik Queen. Evans is a regular in the rotation but since Queen is just a sophomore, he sees limited minutes. Because of the blowout, both saw extended time. Here are scouting notes on both from last night.
2024 forward Derik Queen got extended minutes here in a blowout win. Again shows good footwork as mentioned earlier this week. Does a decent job handling the ball up top for his size. Had a nice behind-the back dribble and take on a smaller defender from the top of the key. Isn't a leaper, but a good rebounder due to his size. Has solid length. Needs to get in better shape-- which he will. Still young and no better place to be than Montverde. Really intriguing skillset overall though. Definitely showed a few things I didn't know he had tonight -- albeit in that blowout.
2023 forward KJ Evans didn't do a whole lot. Had some really good runs in transition. Good offensive rebounding tonight too. As stated before, his length is tremendous. He needs more muscle but he has the ability to morph into a terrific two-way player. If he can knock down a three consistently, he will add so much more to his game. Works a lot FT line and in right now. Definitely more of a 3-4 combo than a 4-3. But I just don't seem him playing the 4 in college. He will be a wing so he needs to work on his shot a bit more.
Montverde plays again tonight at 8 pm ET against IMG Academy. Game is on ESPN+.
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Small note..
- We now have a few good stats to look at from the start of the Mike Woodson era. Trevor takes a look at some keys from the non-conference as we take a brief break for conference play.
indiana.rivals.com
The Hoosiers will look to slow down a backcourt unit of Nebraska that runs the offensive side of the team. Nebraska has a 5-guard group that combines for 73% of the team's 79 points per game.
Indiana's guards have to be ready to slow down that unit and it starts with Xavier Johnson staying out of foul trouble. During our media availability with Mike Woodson today, I asked how IU's guards have been defensively so far this season and what they need to do to slow down Nebraska.
Woodson: Well, I mean, I don't think we've played extremely well out front as of late because we've been giving up numbers to point guards and shooting guards, and that's something that we've got to get back to being better.
We talked a lot about it yesterday and did some things on the floor that I think might help us a little bit, but Nebraska, they're guard driven, in terms of their style and how they play, so we're going to have to really lock in and defend off the dribble where we're not giving straight-line drives and keeping people in front of us where we're making them make tough, contested shots. We've got to keep them from the paint.
That's going to be huge with this team going into tomorrow's game."
Indiana looks to rebound from its first loss of the season. We will have a full breakdown of Nebraska this afternoon.
---
The biggest news on the recruiting front is with 2023 Cathedral forward Xavier Booker. Booker was expecting to make a trip to IU last week but it was cancelled. This is now the second time in the last few months that a visit has been cancelled. Earlier this week Booker was on campus at Purdue for an unofficial visit.
There isn't anything to 'panic' about right now, but it's something to keep an eye on. IU had Booker for an official visit this summer so that's the big thing. I would expect Booker to return to IU around Christmas time when he has time off at school and can get up for a game. But, if we go through January and there is no new visit, then it's time to start thinking..
---
Indiana extended another 2025 offer last night, this time to Holy Innocents (GA) forward Caleb Wilson.
Wilson is a 6-foot-8 forward. This is the third offer to a class of 2025 player - the first outside the state.
---
IU 2022 commit Jalen Hood-Schifino and Montverde Academy was in action last night against No. 11 Oak Hill and dominated the entire game. It was a 40-point game for much of the second half, winning 86-51.
JHS finished with 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting with four rebounds and six assists. He was the best player on the floor from start to finish.
Some other names on Montverde that IU is targeting are 2023 five-star forward Kwame 'KJ' Evans and 2024 four-star forward Derik Queen. Evans is a regular in the rotation but since Queen is just a sophomore, he sees limited minutes. Because of the blowout, both saw extended time. Here are scouting notes on both from last night.
2024 forward Derik Queen got extended minutes here in a blowout win. Again shows good footwork as mentioned earlier this week. Does a decent job handling the ball up top for his size. Had a nice behind-the back dribble and take on a smaller defender from the top of the key. Isn't a leaper, but a good rebounder due to his size. Has solid length. Needs to get in better shape-- which he will. Still young and no better place to be than Montverde. Really intriguing skillset overall though. Definitely showed a few things I didn't know he had tonight -- albeit in that blowout.
2023 forward KJ Evans didn't do a whole lot. Had some really good runs in transition. Good offensive rebounding tonight too. As stated before, his length is tremendous. He needs more muscle but he has the ability to morph into a terrific two-way player. If he can knock down a three consistently, he will add so much more to his game. Works a lot FT line and in right now. Definitely more of a 3-4 combo than a 4-3. But I just don't seem him playing the 4 in college. He will be a wing so he needs to work on his shot a bit more.
Montverde plays again tonight at 8 pm ET against IMG Academy. Game is on ESPN+.
---
Small note..
- We now have a few good stats to look at from the start of the Mike Woodson era. Trevor takes a look at some keys from the non-conference as we take a brief break for conference play.
TheHoosier - What the advanced statistics tell us about Indiana Basketball
Learn some intriguing numbers on Indiana basketball that tell a story you may not have known
indiana.rivals.com
