What to watch for at IU basketball’s Cream and Crimson scrimmage

Lamar Wilkerson takes a shot at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

IU basketball will host a cream and crimson scrimmage tonight at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

The scrimmage, which will not be televised or streamed, will begin at 7 p.m. ET with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. ET. The event is expected to last approximately 90 minutes and will feature four 10-minute quarters.

Admission is free and fans are encouraged to bring a canned food item to donate to the Hoosier Hills Food Bank.

Here are three things to watch for on Friday night:

Lamar Wilkerson’s shooting and scoring ability

IU fans got a first glimpse of Lamar Wilkerson last season when he came to Bloomington with the Sam Houston Bearkats.

Tonight marks the first opportunity for the fanbase to watch Wilkerson play on Branch McCracken Court wearing the cream and crimson.

The Hoosiers have lacked a guard with Wilkerson’s shooting and scoring prowess in recent seasons and it won’t be a surprise if the Arkansas native leads the team in scoring this winter.

In watching Wilkerson in two practices this offseason, it’s not hard to see why he averaged 20.5 points per game last season.

He excels at getting to his spots, whether he’s playing on or off the ball. And Wilkerson doesn’t need much space to get off his shot. He also plays the game with great enthusiasm and intensity.

On an IU roster built with perimeter shooting as a clear focus, Wilkerson will be a focal point of the offense and Friday marks the first chance for IU fans to get an up-close look at him this season.

The ball movement and spacing on offense

A consistent theme in both IU practices that were open to this media this offseason was ball movement and spacing.

When Darian DeVries built the roster via the transfer portal, he prioritized players who can shoot, move without the ball and pass.

From big man Reed Bailey, who handles the ball like a guard, to Conor Enright, who averaged more than six assists last season at DePaul, the roster is full of unselfish guys who are willing passers.

IU basketball will have far less emphasis on feeding the post under DeVries. Instead, the Hoosiers will look to create mismatches with crisp passing, moving without the ball and 3-point shooting.

Despite having 10 practices for the Puerto Rico exhibition trip along with three exhibition games, there’s still plenty of preseason work to do for the Hoosiers to gel as a team.

But Friday night will give the fan base a first glimpse at a new-look offense that will be more open and free-flowing than the previous eight seasons.

Trent Sisley’s motor and willingness to do the little things

As the only scholarship player on the roster from Indiana, Friday night will be extra special for freshman Trent Sisley.

The Santa Claus, Indiana, native grew up in Southern Indiana following IU basketball and will appreciate what it means to put on the IU uniform this season.

Sisley, a 6-foot-8 forward, has put himself in position for a rotation role with his play in Puerto Rico and in practice this fall.

At Tuesday’s open practice, Sisley was as active as any player on the floor. He grabbed offensive rebounds. He played unselfishly. And he used his size to finish plays at the rim.

Like most freshmen, Sisley will have growing pains. But his even keeled mentality should allow him to navigate the natural ebbs and flows of any college basketball season.

With IU’s limited frontcourt depth, the Hoosiers will need Sisley to develop into a consistent contributor in the rotation. He appears to be well on his way to doing just that and Friday will provide IU fans a chance to gauge his progress.

“We don’t have to completely rely on him,” DeVries said at Tuesday’s media day. “He doesn’t have to get 20 every night, but he’s also a guy that can. So that’s what I think is critical for him.

“It is nice to have the supporting cast he has around him so he can continue to grow and do it at a rate that I think he can be very comfortable with.”

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

See More: Commentary