Three observations from IU basketball’s first exhibition game in Puerto Rico

IU basketball's Tucker DeVries takes a jump shot.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Indiana began its summer trip in Puerto Rico on Wednesday with a dominant 98-47 win against Universidad de Bayamón. The Hoosiers were expected to beat the local college team and did so convincingly. Still, the game offered valuable growth opportunities.

Here are three observations from the exhibition victory:

Indiana looks comfortable in offensive sets

In a game with a massive talent discrepancy, it was up to Indiana to stay within its offense and run plays.

Most of Indiana’s offensive possessions could have been over in seconds on the fast break. However, Darian DeVries made sure his team religiously ran the offense.

Not only were the Hoosiers fine-tuning live-ball offensive situations, they were running out-of-bounds plays in their entirety despite the lack of defense.

One-third of Indiana’s points came in transition. The other 67, scored in the half-court, featured constant movement and off-ball screens to free up teammates. The team finished with 32 of its 41 made field goals coming off an assist.

Tayton Conerway was a nightmare for ball handlers

Brought to Bloomington after earning Sun Belt player of the year honors last season, Tayton Conerway brought the defensive energy. The Troy transfer finished with four steals and seven rebounds, leading to quick Indiana baskets the other way.

The smothering defense came as no surprise as Conerway put on a defensive clinic in last week’s open practice. Nevertheless, his active hands and intensity were contagious, as they lit a spark early for the Hoosiers.

Defense wasn’t the only place Conerway excelled. The senior stuffed the stat sheet on offense, scoring nine points and three assists to only one turnover. Conerway made four of his six shots, including his lone three-point attempt.

Though it’s only been one practice and one exhibition game, Conerway already shows potential to be a top Big Ten defender.

Team camaraderie is already in place

As with most summer trips, Indiana’s primary focus has been on building team chemistry through various activities. With an entirely new roster, Darian DeVries is using this trip for team-building purposes on and off the playing floor.

Wednesday was the first look at what appeared to be a tight-knit group of guys. It was a relaxed atmosphere for the team, with smiles throughout the warm-up process.

There were a handful of miscommunication moments between players on the floor, but the team-first atmosphere was evident from the opening tip. Indiana was continuously making extra passes to get the best look the entire night. The unselfish nature of each player showed as each available player recorded an assist.

A notable moment was late in the fourth quarter when the starting five was off the bench, cheering on their teammates despite the lopsided scoreline. Indiana is nowhere near a finished product in early August. However, the team has become much closer in the past nine weeks, leading up to game one in Puerto Rico.

What’s next

Indiana will now play the first of its back-to-back against Mega Superbet, a professional team from Serbia, on Saturday.

Mega Superbet’s size and athleticism present a much more formidable challenge for the Hoosiers. The two games will give a clearer picture of where Indiana stands at this point in the summer.

Saturday’s game will be at Coliseo Roberto Clemente, a 12,500-seat arena that’s hosted Puerto Rico’s national team since 1973. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with Inside the Hall providing coverage throughout.

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

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