Former IU coach Tom Crean was the visitor on this week’s Hoosier Hysterics podcast.
Within the later a part of the episode, Crean, an ESPN analyst, was requested for his ideas on this season’s IU crew and roster.
Right here’s a transcript of Crean’s feedback, which embody a ton of perception on the personnel:
On why he feels good about this season’s IU crew and the way he sees the brand new gamers integrating with the newcomers:
“I’m going to begin with what has to enhance. And I believe the fellows that they obtained, after which we will get into specifics in order for you, however I believe what has to enhance from watching a lot, and once more, I’m watching as an analyst, I’m actually not, , my guys aren’t there anymore. As soon as Robert Johnson and Newkirk left and guys like that, they’re not there. To me, they’ve obtained to move the ball higher. They actually do. Passing has gotta be at a premium for that crew as a result of I do suppose they will shoot it higher.
“I believe, once more, their spacing goes to be essential, the ball shifting goes to be essential. I believe they’re going to have guys knock down some open photographs, OK, like Mackenzie (Mgbako), can he knock down open photographs or is he going to attempt to manufacture photographs? Is he going to attempt to take photographs dribbled into a man with 19 seconds, 18 seconds on the shot clock? That doesn’t work. However in case you get the man, you kick it to him and also you get him an open 3, he obtained higher at doing these issues.
“I believe that a part of it will be actually, actually essential. I believe getting (Oumar) Ballo to, and I’d wager that they’re going to do that, I’d wager that the conditioning side and getting him to have the ability to play more durable goes to be there. I believe that’s what he wants and I believe that’s what Indiana will want. Getting him to be a multi, even at his dimension, getting him to be a multi-dimensional defensively. Ensuring he’s good along with his arms within the choose and roll. Be certain he can guard at the least a dribble. Be certain he can hedge and get better and get again. Perhaps he gained’t be the rim shot blocking presence that Kel’el Ware was or perhaps he gained’t be the positional defender that Trayce Jackson-Davis was, however he’s obtained to be a mix of that with that dimension and talent on the rim to create some distortion and deform these views and shield it.
“I like the child from Illinois (Luke Goode). Once more, there’s no motive, for Indiana to succeed, they usually have it now, there’s no motive they will’t get extra open photographs with that crew that they’ve. (Kanaan) Carlyle, I’ve beloved him since he was a freshman in highschool. He’s one of many hardest enjoying, hardest minded, get after you, guard the ball… however he performs at one velocity, proper? They’re going to have to have the ability to get him to alter some speeds. I like the man, I actually do. That complete group. Isaiah Collier, Carlyle, that complete group. We have been recruiting them onerous (at Georgia). I like Carlyle.
“(Myles) Rice, I believe is a key in that he’s gotta be… I’ve watched him for a very long time, too, as a result of he performed with Jabari Smith in highschool. A few issues he’s gotta get higher at. The shot has gotta get higher. The footwork of the shot, the moving into the shot, the consistency of the observe by way of of the shot. Getting higher when… he can actually pound the dribble to get to the rim, he’s gotta get that pound to get his shot off. He’s gotta be… I shouldn’t say he’s gotta be, I’m not teaching him, I don’t imply it that means, he’s at his finest when he’s not simply searching for his shot. Let’s put it that means after which he’s shifting the ball. I believe he can move within the choose and roll. I believe he can throw it forward.
“The areas that I believe may damage Indiana is that if they’re not pretty much as good at having the ability to play by way of the size. Like Rice has struggled in opposition to size, he’s struggled with greater guards, he’s struggled on the rim. Having a plan for that. That’s one motive we taught the ice motion, the drive below the board motion with Yogi (Ferrell) as a result of Yogi wished to go to the rim however Yogi wasn’t sturdy sufficient to cope with a few of that size. So Yogi may create extra motion, create extra open seems for others and for himself by driving it below the board and all the sudden Yogi turned such a greater layup maker as a result of he wasn’t all the time attempting to problem the protection. Little issues like that that you need to do, I believe that’s going to be actually, actually vital for them.
“However I believe while you take a look at their means to shoot the ball this yr. If Mackenzie will get able to shoot, will get good photographs, (Trey) Galloway can shoot the ball, Goode can shoot the ball. Carlyle can shoot the ball. Myles Rice has gotta get higher as a shooter to maintain it trustworthy so there’s not that drop off assist, get it to the elbow assist that may occur. I like their crew.
“(Malik) Reneau has gotta make a leap. He’s gotta get a proper hand. In the event you take a look at his fees on the finish of the yr. In the event you return to the Nebraska recreation, he didn’t rating the final 16 minutes of the sport. I don’t even know what number of (fouls) he performed with, however like, a few of his fees later within the yr, he wouldn’t put the ball in his proper hand, proper? And rating going to the bucket along with his proper hand. The entire sudden he’s attempting to show his physique, there’s a cost. These are the issues that should occur. However they should occur at each program, not simply Indiana. Weak hand growth, give attention to these varieties of issues, being able to shoot, bettering your passing, these are the basics that each program in America has obtained to be locked into. And I’ve by no means seen Mike (Woodson) apply, I’ve by no means seen Indiana apply, I’d suppose they’re. These are the keys for that crew to get higher as a result of I believe they’ll defend simply high-quality. I believe they’ll have depth. However having the ability to play by way of contact, having the ability to play by way of the size, having the ability to maintain their steadiness once they get hit, , all of these type of issues are going to be key.”
On if there’s any concern with enjoying two bigs:
“In the event that they didn’t get higher, yeah. And once more, I haven’t seen these guys and I actually haven’t heard something about these guys. I say all of this not figuring out the gamers and never figuring out something about their summer season. So I’m simply providing you with from final yr. They’ve to enhance. Reneau has gotta change into a constant exterior shooter. Two bigs is okay in case you’re creating assist. Trayce Jackson created assist as a result of he may choose you aside. And also you needed to deliver assist to the put up.
“Ware may step out and make just a few extra photographs. To not the extent that he thought he may, however you continue to needed to guard him on the market.
“I’ll use this for example and that is extra of a common 1-2. Individuals play five-out they usually play high-low… when your bigs or your large doesn’t should be guarded away from the basket, OK, you’re principally enjoying 4 on 5 if he can’t shoot and he can’t actually damage folks with passes… and I’m not speaking about passing out of the put up. If he can’t actually move from the elbow or the highest of the important thing space. If he can’t execute an excellent handoff which drives into the handoff man’s defender to create some kind of assist from his man. In the event you can’t pull the opposite bigs as much as guard, you’re enjoying 4 on 5 persistently. I lived it early on at Indiana. Proper, we lived that. You have got gotta be so inventive in the event that they don’t have to protect your bigs previous the elbows, previous the 3-point line. Once more, I’m simply utilizing that as a common assertion. I believe Reneau obtained higher as a shooter. He’s gotta be capable to really feel the sport higher, proper? Play random basketball higher, do extra than simply depend on his left hand. And gamers get like this. They get, OK, are you left hand dominant or are you left hand dependent? And there’s an enormous distinction. There’s an enormous distinction. And I take advantage of that as a common assertion as a result of I coached like that endlessly. That was one of many obsessions with issues that we did was having the ability to go together with each arms, rating with each arms, dribble with each arms, move with each arms, defend with each arms. It’s such an enormous a part of it. I believe that’s going to be the important thing it doesn’t matter what lineups Indiana performs.
“They need to have a very fast, quick crew, probably, irrespective of who they’ve within the recreation. And that’s even with Ballo actually not the most effective runner. It’s onerous to protect him. The break at Arizona two years in the past was ridiculously good. And he was an enormous a part of that. He was an enormous a part of that. As a result of they threw it forward. They’d Tubelis, they’d Ballo, I’m not saying he’s a speedster, he’s not Cody Zeller however he doesn’t should be, proper? He can get within the lane, he can seal and you may’t get round him. They usually obtained so many guys that may make performs. They need to have loads of enjoyable teaching that crew.”
Filed to: Tom Crean
