Indiana men’s basketball returned home after a promising blowout victory over Maquette University on Nov. 9 to host the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Again, the Hoosiers displayed a dominant offense, scoring 101 points in the victory Wednesday.
Now, the Cream and Crimson will continue their five-game homestand against the University of the Incarnate Word at 5:30 p.m. Sunday inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. The matchup marks the first between the two programs.
Indiana’s modern offense
Across former head coach Mike Woodson’s four-year tenure, Indiana fans grew discontent with the Hoosiers’ offensive play style. Through three games under first-year head coach Darian DeVries, there’s an entirely new brand of Hoosier basketball.
Indiana averages 99.6 points per game and shoots 47.5% from 3-point range — polar opposites from recent years of post-centric, two-big basketball.
Fifth-year senior guard Lamar Wilkerson leads the Hoosiers in scoring with 22 points per game, as he’s drained 15 longballs thus far. Despite his relative struggles against Milwaukee with a quiet 12 points, redshirt senior forward Tucker DeVries is second in scoring and paces the Cream and Crimson with 21 rebounds.
Indiana has assisted on 73 of 103 made field goals this season. It’s a squad that emphasizes sharing the basketball and taking great shots, not good ones.
“I think it's just a lot of the intentionality of who we brought here and then their willingness to be a part of that,” Darian DeVries said Wednesday. “We talk to them a lot about this is how we can win. If we all stay true to that we're going to have a lot of fun and have some success.”
The Hoosiers’ defense
Despite the dominant victory over Milwaukee, Indiana’s defense wasn’t “hooked up,” Darian DeVries said.
The Hoosiers allowed 31 points in the second half after surrendering 39 in the first. Sixth-year senior guard Tayton Conerway made note of Milwaukee’s 10 offensive rebounds to Indiana’s eight.
“So, the more we can get them from not getting them seconds chances, them offensive rebounds, which is probably something we're going work a lot on in practice this week, but as long as we can get them shots limited to one shot we can get out on the break and get a couple more points up there,” Conerway said Wednesday.
Although the Hoosiers’ lack a true big man in the post, they’ve outrebounded opponents 100 to 76 through three games.
What’s the word?
Incarnate Word is in its third season under head coach Shane Heirman, as it enters Sunday’s contest with a 2-1 record. Hierman served as the La Lumiere School head coach from 2014-17, helping elevate the La Porte, Indiana, preparatory school into a national power before jumping into the collegiate ranks.
The Cardinals began their season with a 34-point loss to Colorado State University but have since notched victories over Jarvis Christian University and Southwestern Christian University, respectively.
Graduate student guard Davion Bailey — an Indianapolis native who attended Pike High School — leads Incarnate Word with 19 points per game. Graduate student guard Tahj Staveskie averages 18.7 points, seven rebounds and seven assists per contest. Redshirt sophomore guard Harrison Reede scores 17 per contest.
Joining Bailey, senior guard Harrold Woods is a Hammond, Indiana, native.
Since Incarnate Word joined the Southland Conference ahead of the 2013 season, it’s yet to reach the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals have just one remaining Power Four foe — Texas Christian University — on its regular-season slate.
The game
Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. Sunday inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. Play-by-play announcer Noah Reed and color analyst Brian Butch will have the call as the contest will be televised on Big Ten Network. Play-by-play announcer Don Fischer and color analyst Erreck Suhr will announce the game on the IU Radio Network.
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Nathan Shriberg (@NShriberg and naashri@iu.edu) and columnist Kasey Watkins (@KaseyWatki8773 and kaslwatk@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
