enough length and precise timing
to still get his paws on a few balls.
Bryant has his downsides: he’s
thin, not a true center, and lacks
upper-body strength. He isn’t
particularly strong in the pickand-roll game, so don’t expect
to see him on the perimeter too
frequently.
On the wings, O.G. Anunoby
and Juwan Morgan are stud
athletes, combining great length
and size with a springy athleticism.
Offensively, both will likely
struggle in the halfcourt, but can
add spot minutes in an up-tempo
system.
Their biggest assets will be on
the defensive end, where Morgan
will be able to come in and guard
opposing power forwards. The
Big Ten is loaded with teams that
slow down the pace and pound the
ball inside deliberately, leaving the
Hoosiers as the ultimate mismatch
in conference play. If they can
reliably defend the interior, the
Hoosiers could have a great deal of
success in the conference.
will come off the bench; either are
capable of getting streaky and carrying
the offense for spurts when one of the
main options is having an off night.
With all that offense and talent
returning, Crean didn’t necessarily
need a home run with his recruiting
class—just an interior presence, depth,
defensive versatility, and an ability
to develop players if Williams or
Blackmon look to go to the NBA this
year.
Freshman Thomas Bryant out of
Huntington Prep is a legitimate 6-foot10 big man with skill on both ends of
the court. He’s very good at scoring
in the paint and can consistently hit a
jumper at the elbows with range to the
3-point line. Best of all, Bryant defends
and alters shots. He’s got very good
footwork for someone his size, always
jumps vertically to avoid fouls, and has
“The offense will
continue to be their
calling card this
season, as a trio
of young guards
anchor the
team.”
Defense and the new freshmen
are the difference-makers for the
Hoosiers. If they fix their culture,
find leadership, defend reasonably
well in the conference, and stay
healthy, the Hoosiers could push
for a top spot in the NCAA
Tournament.
Photo: Trevor Ruszkowski - USA TODAY Sports
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