Indiana will play its second and last exhibition contest Friday evening in opposition to Marian College in Bloomington.
The exhibition is ready for a 7 p.m. ET tip on B1G+. Right here’s what to look at for on Friday evening in Meeting Corridor:
Will Indiana shoot higher from the perimeter?
Indiana’s 3-point capturing has been the dominant storyline surrounding this system within the preseason. In Sunday’s exhibition win, the Hoosiers tried 19 3s in opposition to Tennessee on the Meals Metropolis Heart in Knoxville.
But it surely was a story of two halves as Indiana went 0-for-11 within the opening 20 minutes earlier than settling in and making 4 of its eight makes an attempt within the second half.
Postgame, Mike Woodson defined that Indiana had been trying extra 3-pointers in its intrasquad scrimmages than it shot in opposition to the Volunteers. On Monday’s radio present with Don Fischer, Woodson famous that Tennessee’s protection contributed to IU’s poor 3-point capturing share.
“We’ve been capturing 37 % (on 3s),” Woodson defined. “Tennessee will pressure you to overlook pictures based mostly on how they play.”
Whereas Indiana want to take extra 3-pointers this season to grow to be extra balanced offensively, the Hoosiers must shoot a good share to justify extra quantity. Friday is the subsequent alternative for IU to do exactly that.
Who will likely be out there to play?
Indiana was with out three scholarship gamers in Sunday’s win at Tennessee. Jakai Newton was out with a knee damage, Trey Galloway continues to rehab from offseason knee surgical procedure and Bryson Tucker took a knee to his thigh in a current follow.
In Woodson’s radio present feedback with Fischer, he talked about Kanaan Carlyle and Anthony Leal had been each banged up within the Tennessee sport. In response to Woodson, Carlyle sat out of Monday’s follow.
With the common season opener subsequent Wednesday in opposition to SIU-Edwardsville, Indiana’s well being is without doubt one of the greatest storylines surrounding this system.
Woodson mentioned Monday that he hopes Galloway will likely be in uniform on Friday. Nevertheless, his tone on Newton was much less optimistic. He famous that IU “can’t appear to maintain Newton wholesome to the place he can follow day by day.”
The Hoosiers have two video games that ought to be comfy wins to begin the season, however the schedule will shortly warmth up in mid-November when South Carolina involves Meeting Corridor.
Getting Kanaan Carlyle extra comfy
Stanford switch Kanaan Carlyle was one of the vital coveted guards within the switch portal final spring. Carlyle confirmed off his explosive scoring skill at occasions final season within the Pac-12 and embraces his function as a defender.
Carlyle, nonetheless, had the ball in his fingers rather a lot final season at Stanford and must alter to enjoying extra off the ball this winter with Myles Rice serving as this system’s main ball handler.
Woodson mentioned earlier within the week that he’s working to get Carlyle extra comfy in his function with the Hoosiers.
In Sunday’s exhibition, Carlyle completed with 5 factors, 4 assists, three rebounds and two turnovers in 31 minutes.
“I feel he’s nonetheless looking for himself. He’s simply kinda choosing his spots,” Woodson mentioned of Carlyle. I simply gotta get him extra comfy. He had a great ground sport final evening (in opposition to Tennessee). He defended his butt off. On the finish of the day, he’s able to having large nights. I simply gotta get him comfy when it comes to his function and what’s anticipated of him as a result of he can actually defend the ball and he’s able to placing the ball within the bucket as effectively.”
Can IU proceed to push the tempo whereas caring for the ball?
One of the vital encouraging stats from Sunday’s exhibition victory was how effectively the Hoosiers took care of the ball within the second half.
Indiana dedicated 10 turnovers in a sloppy first half on the Meals Metropolis Heart, together with 4 in its first 4 possessions of the sport.
However the Hoosiers settled in after intermission, committing simply three over the ultimate 20 minutes. The efficiency by Myles Rice was particularly spectacular. Rice performed 31 minutes and didn’t flip it over as soon as regardless of attacking off the dribble relentlessly.
Since taking up in 2021, Woodson has said he desires to see 12 or fewer turnovers per sport. Indiana completed with 13 turnovers on Sunday in opposition to a program ranked within the prime 5 of KenPom’s adjusted defensive effectivity rankings for the previous 4 seasons.
If Indiana can proceed pushing the ball in transition whereas limiting its errors, the offense ought to be a lot better than final winter. IU’s 18 quick break factors in opposition to Tennessee had been a strong begin and one thing to construct on.
Extra alternative for the bench
Sunday’s exhibition was tight all through and Indiana performed all of its starters 30 or extra minutes.
That’s unlikely to be the case on Friday in opposition to Marian, which ought to give some key reserves an opportunity to log extra minutes.
Whereas the standing of Galloway, Tucker and Newton stays up within the air, Friday ought to present the chance for Luke Goode to rebound from Sunday’s 0-for-5 capturing efficiency.
Langdon Hatton gave the Hoosiers six strong minutes in Knoxville, however he wasn’t capable of capitalize on two point-blank pictures. Gabe Cupps regarded extra assured and aggressive off the dribble and was the one Hoosier to attain off the bench in 10 minutes at Tennessee. Leal performed six minutes in opposition to Tennessee and had a steal whereas lacking his solely shot.
On Friday, search for Indiana to go to its bench extra and to experiment with lineups greater than it did on Sunday afternoon.
(Photograph credit score: IU Athletics)
Filed to: Marian College Knights