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What to Expect: Gardner-Webb

by in Opponents | November 21st, 2011

Indiana will look to open the season 5-0 for the second straight season tonight in Assembly Hall against Gardner-Webb. It’s the first meeting between the schools.

Here’s a look at what to expect out of the Bulldogs, who finished last season 11-21 and are projected to finish last in the Big South by Basketball Prospectus:

The “guarantee game” portion of the Indiana schedule rolls along this evening as the Hoosiers welcome Gardner-Webb for the Hoosier Invitational. And if the numbers bear out as expected, this one could be over quickly.

Gardner-Webb is likely the third weakest opponent on the schedule and their top player from a season ago, Jonathan Moore, graduated. A pair of newcomers, Wofford transfer Jason Dawson and freshman Max Landis, are the only two Bulldogs averaging in double figures through four games. Landis, a 6-foot-1 guard, is an Indianapolis native.

Laron Buggs, a senior guard, will likely start in the backcourt with Dawson and Landis. Buggs shot just 31.5 percent from 3-point range last season.

Up front, junior Stefon Johnson is one of the best in the Big South on the defensive glass, but doesn’t offer much offensively. Mike Byron, a 6-foot-11 sophomore, will likely draw the assignment of checking Cody Zeller.

POMEROY PREVIEW

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What to Expect: Savannah State

by in Opponents | November 18th, 2011

Indiana will look for its fourth win of the season on Saturday night when Savannah State makes its way to Bloomington for the second-ever meeting between the two schools. IU beat Savannah State, now a member of the MEAC conference, 79-57 on December 4, 2010.

Here’s a look at what to expect out of the Tigers, who finished last season 12-18:

Indiana and Savannah State enter Saturday night’s meeting in Assembly Hall on opposite ends of the spectrum from an offensive perspective.

The Hoosiers have opened the season as one of the country’s hottest shooting teams. And the Tigers, who recently completed a transition from an independent to a member of the MEAC, will once again find themselves as one of the nation’s worst offensive clubs.

Head coach Horace Broadnax lost his only player with an offensive rating over 100 — Jovonni Shuler — to graduation. For some perspective, Indiana had eight players with an offensive rating over 100 last year. Here’s a look at some of Savannah State’s Pomeroy numbers from a season ago, with national ranking in parenthesis:

If the Hoosiers continue their solid defense from the season’s first three games, Savannah State will be lucky to break 60.

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What to Expect: Evansville

by in Opponents | November 15th, 2011

(Photo credit: CourierPress.com)

Indiana will make the 135-mile trip southwest to Evansville on Wednesday night for its first road test of the season in the Purple Aces’ brand new $127 million Ford Center.

Here’s a look at what to expect out of Evansville, who finished last season 16-16 and fell to the Hoosiers 67-54 in Assembly Hall:

RYAN LEADS FOUR RETURNING STARTERS

Junior guard Colt Ryan, a former AAU teammate of Jordan Hulls, is one of four returning starters for fifth-year coach Marty Simmons. The Batesville product is arguably the best shooter in the Missouri Valley Conference and will be a key matchup for the Hoosiers on the perimeter. Ryan knocked down close to 41 percent of his 3-point attempts and shot 87 percent from the foul line as a sophomore. He scored 23 points in Evansville’s season opening win over Butler in overtime, but shot just 4-of-15.

Forward Kenny Harris is expected to anchor the frontcourt for the Purple Aces. The 6-foot-6 senior will give up a couple of inches to IU on the frontline, but was one of the top 10 defensive rebounders in the Missouri Valley Conference last season. Beyond Harris, Simmons has little returning experience or size in the paint. Senior guard Denver Holmes (7.8 ppg) and junior guard Ned Cox (7.3 ppg) should also play significant roles.

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What To Expect: Chattanooga

by in Opponents | November 12th, 2011

The Hoosiers return to the floor less than 48 hours after the season opener to host Chattanooga on Sunday evening.

Here’s a look at what to expect out of the Mocs, who are expected to contend for the top spot in the North division of the Southern Conference:

FOUR STARTERS RETURN

John Shulman returns four starters from a team that finished 16-16 a season ago, but managed to post just two wins against teams in the top 100 of the Pomeroy ratings. On paper, Chattanooga is considered the second toughest opponent of the eight “guarantee” games on the IU schedule.

Omar Wattad, a 6-foot-5 senior forward, is the top returnee for the Mocs. Wattad, who began his career at Georgetown, averaged 14.3 points per game as a junior and made 88 shots from behind the 3-point line. Ricky Taylor, a 6-foot-5 senior guard, brings back 13 points per contest and shot close to 50 percent on 2-point field goals last season. Senior point guard Keegan Bell ranked 45th nationally in assist rate as a junior and Drazen Zlovaric, a 6-foot-9 transfer from Georgia, could see significant minutes up front.

PUSHING THE TEMPO

Unlike Stony Brook, one of the slowest adjusted tempo teams in the country, the Mocs could look to try and run with the Hoosiers tomorrow night in Assembly Hall. Chattnooga ranked 42nd in Division I in adjusted tempo a season ago at 69.8 possessions per contest. Indiana’s depth should allow them to take control of this contest early if Chattanooga chooses to engage the Hoosiers with a frantic pace.

DEFENSE

Chattanooga was one of the worst defensive teams in the country last winter and was outscored by 0.04 points per possession in conference games. A quick run through some of their numbers from the 2010-2011 campaign: 53.5 effective field goal percentage allowed, a block percentage of just 3.9 percent (341st in the country) and a steal percentage of just 6.7 percent (331st in the country).

The effective field goal percentage mark should be of particular concern for Chattanooga considering the Hoosiers just shot over 70 percent in that category against a much better defensive team in Stony Brook.

BOMBS AWAY

46.2 (!) percent of Chattanooga’s field goal attempts last season came from beyond the 3-point line. That was the fourth highest mark in the country. And while they only connected on 32.1 percent of their 3′s, Indiana’s difficulty in defending the 3-point shot is a potential cause for concern if Wattad or Taylor come out making shots.

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What To Expect: Stony Brook

by in Opponents | November 10th, 2011

The Hoosiers begin regular season play Friday night against Stony Brook inside Assembly Hall.

A quick look at the Seawolves, who reached the title game of last year’s America East conference tournament:

THE RETURN OF TOMMY BRENTON:

Due to a knee injury, Brenton missed the entire 2010-11 season. But as a sophomore in 2009-10, he was a force on the boards, as he racked up the 19th best defensive rebound rate in the country. He also sported an impressive  free-throw rate (78.1 percent, 23rd in the nation) and steal rate (3.6 percent, 79th in the nation) to go along with his rebounding prowess.

While he may still be shaking off some early-season cobwebs, Brenton is a Seawolf to watch during Friday night’s matchup.

PACE:

Last season, Stony Brook’s pace was one of the slowest in the country. It’s adjusted tempo (63.6 possessions per game) ranked 307th out of 345 Division I teams. If the Seawolves are playing at such a pace again this season, it could clash a bit with the Hoosiers, who are looking to get on the break and go.

OFFENSE:

The Seawolves had some serious issues scoring inside the arc last season (40 percent on 2′s, 344th in the nation). They also had some trouble from the line (65.2 percent, 288th in the nation). Their 3-point shooting (33.9, 191st in the nation) could be bolstered by Ron Bracey, a junior college transfer who can shoot the trey. Depending on how things shake out, this could be a game where the Hoosiers gain a little more confidence on defense.

DEFENSE:

This is where the Seawolves hang their hat. Their adjusted defensive efficiency in 2010-11 (97.9, 90th in the nation) was strong, as was their defensive effective field-goal percentage (45.3 percent, 22nd in the nation). So the Hoosiers, after a strong shooting game against the University of Indianapolis, could be tested on the offensive end by Stony Brook’s D.

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Around the Hall: Conference foes kick off exhibition play

by in Opponents | November 2nd, 2011

Around the Hall is recommended reading from the Inside the Hall crew. In today’s case, it’s a sampling of what’s going on around the Big Ten. So go ahead, get your read on. 

+ In Champaign, a Meyers Leonard-led Illinois overcame a slow start to beat Wayne State in an exhibition. In West Lafayette, Robbie Hummel scored 18 points in 15 minutes to lead Purdue in an exhibition win over Northern State. And in Minneapolis, Trevor Mbakwe’s double-double helped the Golden Gophers get past Bemidji State in another exhibition contest.

+ Illinois sophomore guard Crandall Head has been suspended four games for a violation of team rules.

+ With an announcement scheduled for tomorrow, AnnArbor.com looks at the potential impact of a Mitch McGary commitment for Michigan.

+ Ohio State beat writer Bob Baptist shares his thoughts on the Buckeyes after getting a chance to watch practice on Monday.

+ Michigan State junior forward Derrick Nix approached Tom Izzo after Sunday’s practice and offered to give up his starting spot for sophomore Adrien Payne.

+ Bill Carmody enjoys playing Mortal Kombat.

+ First-year Penn State coach Patrick Chambers has introduced the “attitude club” to the Nittany Lion program.

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