COLUMN: IU should use full-court press more often

The pressure was getting to the Colonels.

With just more than 11 minutes left in the first half, graduate student guard Evan Gordon stole an errant pass.

An errant pass forced by IU’s full court press.

Gordon gave the ball to freshmen guard Stan Robinson, who lobbed it to senior forward Will Sheehey.

Sheehey pump faked, drawing his defender into the air and got fouled, earning two shots at the line.

Facing one of college basketball’s worst teams in Nicholls State, IU had 40 minutes to try several different strategies on the court.

In an effort to control the pace, 18 different Hoosiers played in Friday night’s 79-66 win against Nicholls State.

During the win, IU unveiled a full court press that proved effective. For a team that has struggled to produce efficient offense this year, a full court press could be just what it needs.

But everything comes with the disclaimer: IU played Nicholls State. The Colonels have defeated only three teams on the year — Mobile, Loyola and IUPUI.

Still, what I saw was interesting. With the length this team has, a full court press might wreak havoc on opposing teams.

The Hoosiers ran a zone press, with some of their lengthiest and most athletic players spearheading it.

At different points in the game, sophomore forward Jeremy Hollowell (6-foot-8), freshman forward Troy Williams (6-foot-7) and Robinson (6-foot-4) played out front in the press.
They used their wingspans to get into passing lanes, and helped the IU defense force 17 Nicholls State turnovers.

“The bottom line is we wanted to bring tempo and pace to the game,” IU Coach Tom Crean said.

And IU certainly did that in impressive points during the game.

However, IU has’t practiced the press much. After the game, Crean said they pressed more in this game than in practice and other games combined.

Since IU is a poor jump shooting team, they have to generate points in any manner possible. That means pushing the pace, and forcing a hectic tempo.

Featuring several good slashers, getting a turnover and running out on the break could be key when the shots aren’t falling.

Like I said earlier, this was Nicholls State.

Everything that happened should be taken with a grain of salt. And the fact IU had 20 turnovers in a game against one of college basketball’s worst defenses is alarming.

But IU must utilize its athletes.

“This is the most athletic team I’ve played on,” Sheehey said.

Utilizing their athletes in a full court press will give this Hoosiers team another valuable dimension come Big Ten play.

And that’s why games like this one against inferior competition are useful.

Instead of a basketball arena, Assembly Hall feels like a laboratory.

“They’re lightning quick,” Nicholls State Coach J.P. Piper said. “If they can make shots from the perimeter, they are going to be a heck of a team. I love how fast they get up the floor. I’m glad we don’t have to play them again.”