I would guess it will be Davis or Greene, maybe Durham as a dark horse. I know he's got to get healthy, but I think if Davis does and he can get in shape, he will be our leading scorer. Maybe a 14-8 guy, again if healthy. He sure deserves some good luck, so that's my pick.
Interesting topic on the front page: who do you expect to be our leading scorer next year?
- Thread starter kkott
- Start date
I think it greatly depends on what kind of offense Coach Archie Miller succeeds in implementing. It could be the inside-cutting/post players who get fouled a lot and make a lot of free throws, not necessarily an outside shooter.
It should be a very balanced team, if nothing else. I still haven’t given up on Smith and I could see him scoring 12-14 ppg, but I’m probably in the minority. Green and Jackson-Davis have to be the favorites, but any starter could end up leading the team in scoring.
My picks would be Green, followed by Durham and then Davis. If I had confidence in Davis staying healthy and out of foul trouble I'd have him as a close second to Green.
Think IU will have a balanced scoring attack with Green leading the way. Could see 6-7 guys all average between 8-13 points. Green in my opinion is really the only capable of stretching the floor and going for 20+ in any given night but you'll see much more balance with our new and improved front court.
I concur that scoring will probably be very balanced and we may not have anyone averaging over 15 per game.
Greene, Phinisee
I cant see Davis getting enough minutes. Odds are Brunk will be a starter. TJD will get a fair share of minutes.
Phinisee, Greene, Al, Smith, Brunk
Green is the most likely player to lead us in scoring. He was a pretty good FT shooter and I would expect him to get fouled and score from the FT line more than anyone else. He will be our leading 3 point shooter and score from outside as well as drives to the basket.
Phinisee might have games he scores well, but I don't expect him to be the main scoring guard. I don't think it is a stretch to believe he will average 10 ppg or a little more.
Without a clear dominant front court player identified, I would expect Davis to be a scoring leader. I feel the front court scoring will change game by game with a different high scorer each night. It would be great if TJD, Thompson, or Brunk averaged double figures. I would like to think TJD is a candidate to be a scoring leader with Davis.
My guess:
Green - 14.0
Davis - 12.0
Phinisee - 10.5
TJD - 9.5
Durham - 8.0
Smith - 7.0
Thompson - 6.0
Brunk 5.0
Franklin - 4.0
Anderson - 2.0
Those seem reasonable. I think Smith and Durham will score a little more, but I think you're close.
Looks more than reasonable although I think D. Davis will be closer to the 9-10 range and Brunk the 7-8 range as I think they will play similar minutes.
For those keeping track at home, that's 78 points per game, up from 71.5 the year before. For those asking how we replace 32 ppg between Romeo and Juwan, that is the answer above. A more balanced and equal scoring attack. That's how you get better despite losing your 2 best players.
If you noticed, I didn't include Hunter. I am not making a prediction that he won't play. I am showing we will be able to score regardless of Hunter's production. I don't think any player I listed is exaggerated or unreasonable. If Hunter plays, some players will see fewer minutes and lower totals. Someone like Phinisee may not need to be a scorer every game.
I don't share in the doom and gloom scenario. I am also not predicting an Elite 8. Green's play still concerns me, but less than it did before the NIT. We may not always be happy with his decisions but he can still score and plays some defense. I don't see us shooting worse than we did or having more injuries than last year.
TJD-Brunk-Davis play the same area. (Old days considered a 5)
Unless injury
Smith, No matter how flustered I was with him. He is going to start.
Hunter if capable of playing. Is a freshman (red shirt) he couldn’t even practice. So lost a season of conditioning let a lone game time. I like Hunter, it’s gonna take awhile though.
Of course all imho.
Can be totally wrong.
It would be nothing new
If Smith leads us in scoring, it will be either a better season than most expect, or.....the other.
My money is on Green. He's got the experience, will get the pt and the shots. just hope most of the shots come within the flow and not forced.
Green can shoot, Smith can not.
If Green does not play PG then his poor decision, high risk/low reward, turnovers should be reduced.
Brunk and Race are more skilled offensively than Smith. Go big or go with 3 guards. If Smith plays and opponents don't guard him on the perimeter it allows Smuth's defender to sag into the lane to prevent drives or cover perimeter shooters or double down in the post. IU's offensive spacing and ball movement flow should improve if Smith is not on the floor. If Damezi gains his confidence back he can take minutes from Smith as a legitimate scorer at the 3.TJD-Brunk-Davis play the same area. (Old days considered a 5)
Unless injury
Smith, No matter how flustered I was with him. He is going to start.
Hunter if capable of playing. Is a freshman (red shirt) he couldn’t even practice. So lost a season of conditioning let a lone game time. I like Hunter, it’s gonna take awhile though.
Of course all imho.
Can be totally wrong.
It would be nothing new
That's pretty much my view on Hunter. Assuming he can play, he probably won't be tearing it up this year, at least early on. No PT and very few practices to adjust to the college game. Conditioning could be hurt and overall skills will probably rusty. I hope he surprises me.
I wasn't trying to be disingenuous, I actually agree with what you said. If Hunter does play I'm guessing you'll see a decrease in production from Thompson/Smith.
But snarlcakes attempted to laugh me off the board a few weeks ago when I suggested Green would be the leading scorer next year at 13-14ppg when asked how Romeo's production was going to be replaced. It's pretty comical that Green is nearly the unanimous pick to lead the team in scoring next year and almost single handily makes up Romeo's production.
If Green is injured and attempts to play out the season then he may not be the leading scorer. Green at the 2 should be effective scoring the ball, but he will get the defensive focus that Romeo had draped on him last season from every team IU plays. I expect 11 -15 ppg from a Senior Green. Hunter's health and recovery time to full game speed will determine his productivity. I am hoping for a nearly 100% Hunter by the end of next season.
Green averaged ~9.5 ppg last season while Langford was at ~16.5 ppg. Green increasing his scoring average by 5 ppg doesn't come anywhere close to single handily making up Langford's production. It'll be a team effort to make up for the lost scoring of Morgan and Langford. Green will hopefully be one of those that steps up and not only scores more but does so more consistently. As I said earlier in this thread, I think he'll be the team's leading scorer.
I say Smith or Green because they showed last year they can score 20. Smith if he plays within the system and runs the flour can be a volume scorer.
He also took nearly 5 less shots a game. If Green can average 13-14 ppg on 11-12 shots, he will almost (key word which is what I said to begin with, not completely) single handily make up Romeo's production. The rest will be done by other players.
Plenty of players. Would not be shocked at all to see IU go to a 3 guard lineup with Durham, Phin, and Green in the event Hunter isn't healthy depending on match-ups. Much more offensive options with Durham in the lineup over Smith.
Wow. A guy who misses 80% of his 3s can be a volume scorer? And shoots 50% FT or worse ? That is the definition of a non-shooter.
Shooter vs scorer not same thing. Smith runs floor well and games he played well showed his a capable scorer. He will be a junior and have plenty of experience, I look for him to take a big step forward.
Green, rob and Durham is a very small lineup. Not to mention we have little guard depth.
Let’s hope he’s re-learning his free throws in Cook as we speak.
