A year ago, Indiana’s overtime road loss to Fort Wayne in the fourth game of the season kick-started a new batch of rumors that coach Tom Crean might be on the hot seat. Indiana had won the Big Ten and beaten Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament the year before, but it didn’t matter: There was growing frustration with Crean within the fan base, and this was the type of loss it couldn’t tolerate.
Indiana basketball lost to Fort Wayne again. The Hoosiers have serious problems.
Archie Miller’s first season isn’t going any better than Tom Crean’s last.
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
Crean must feel vindicated right now. Indiana lost to Fort Wayne again on Monday night, this time at home and by 20 points.
The Mastodons — Mastodons! — sank 17 threes in the win while holding Indiana to 16.7 percent shooting from deep. Fort Wayne also finished with nine more assists, eight more steals, and six less turnovers. This was a drubbing in every sense.
Meanwhile, Indiana is becoming far too familiar with this story.
Indiana can’t beat in-state teams
The Hoosiers are now 6-6 in their first year under Archie Miller. In a season that opened with a loss to Indiana State, these Hoosiers have already achieved dubious history:
If you want to go back to last year, Indiana also lost to Butler and got swept by Purdue. Good thing they somehow outlasted Notre Dame in overtime last week at the Crossroads Classic.
If Miller wants to endear himself to a new fan base, this is....not the best way to start. Until further notice, the “Hoosier State” is now the “Mastodon State.”
Indiana can’t score or defend efficiently right now
Crean’s teams were typically known for their offense. IU finished in the top 10 of offensive efficiency four times under Crean, and even finished No. 27 last season as the team struggled to get over .500.
Crean’s teams didn’t always play great defense (with 2013 being a notable exception), but at least they had an identity. Miller’s Hoosiers do not have an identity right now. They are not good at anything.
Indiana’s defense ranks No. 181 in the country. They can’t defend the three-point line or they don’t and don’t force any turnovers. The offense is No. 55, buoyed by the steady post play of Juwan Morgan and De’Ron Davis. But Indiana still lacks shooters and dynamic guard play in a big way. The Hoosiers are making only 31.2 percent of their threes — which ranks No. 292 in D1.
You can’t win like that.
The roster has a long way to go
Miller’s biggest test will come in recruiting. IU took a big hit talent-wise after the 2016 season when Yogi Ferrell and Troy Williams departed, and they still haven’t recovered yet.
There are some encouraging pieces. Morgan is a junior and Davis is a sophomore, so perhaps the frontcourt is set going into next year. Sophomore guard Devonte Green, the younger brother of Spurs’ shooter Danny Green, is turning into a nice player, as well.
But Indiana needs more talent, especially in the backcourt. Next year’s four-person class has four four-stars players, including two from the state in point guard Robert Phinisee and forward Damezi Anderson. But Jerome Hunter, the No. 73 player in the class, is Miller’s lone top-100 recruit.
The big fish that is Romeo Langford — ESPN’s No. 5 overall recruit — is still out there. Perhaps Indiana will land him. What Miler really needs is a steady base of talent he can grow with.
Right now, the Hoosiers don’t have it. This season isn’t shaping up to be any better than last year.
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