IU basketball non-conference review: Tayton Conerway
- Alex Bozich
- 1h ago
IU basketball has completed the non-conference portion of the schedule and the Hoosiers are 10-3.
Ahead of the restart of Big Ten play against Washington on January 4, we’re taking a player-by-player look at each rotation player on the roster’s performance thus far this season.
Up first: Tayton Conerway
Conerway’s numbers through 13 games
A 6-foot-3 guard from Burleson, Texas, Conerway has started all 13 games for the Hoosiers.
Last season’s Sun Belt Player of the Year at Troy is averaging 11.9 points, 4.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 26.7 minutes per game.
Conerway is shooting 52.3 percent from the field, 25 percent on 3-pointers and 75 percent from the free-throw line.
What’s gone right for Conerway
Now in his third year at the Division I level after three seasons at the junior college level, Conerway recently scored his 1,000th career point in IU’s win against Chicago State on Dec. 20.
He’s been a very good finisher on 2s through the first 13 games, as he’s shooting 68.7 percent inside the arc. Arguably IU’s best player at getting past his defender and getting to the rim, Conerway has a strong first step and isn’t afraid to take the ball all the way to the basket and finish.
The 23-year-old point guard has also done a good job of getting to the free-throw line. His free-throw rate (FTA/FGA) of 41.1 percent is up from 29.4 percent last season and he’s shooting nearly nine percent better than a season ago from the stripe.
Conerway has also been a solid facilitator with an assist rate of 30.6 percent, which ranks in the top 100 nationally.
While his steal percentage of 3.8 is down from 5.6 last season at Troy, he’s pocketed two or more steals in eight of IU’s 13 games. He also does a solid job of pressuring the ball at the point of attack.
Areas of concern for Conerway
Perimeter shooting was a question mark entering the season and Conerway has struggled from beyond the 3-point line.
He was just a 27.6 percent 3-point shooter last season at Troy on 134 attempts and is 10-for-40 on 3s this season. Defenses are going to continue to give him the 3-point shot unless he proves he can knock it down more consistently.
Decision-making has also been an issue at times, as his turnover rate of 24.1 is the highest on the roster. Rather than making the simple play, Conerway sometimes attempts passes that aren’t there, resulting in turnovers. He’s had three or more turnovers in eight games.
Fouls have also been an issue for Conerway, who is averaging 3.6 fouls per 40 minutes. Fouls limited him to 23 minutes in a loss at Minnesota and to 21 minutes in a loss to Louisville.
Outlook for the rest of the 2025-26 season
Conerway is Indiana’s best threat off the dribble and is a shifty ball handler who can navigate his way through traffic.
His inability to knock down open 3-pointers consistently limits his ceiling as an offensive player. The emergence of Nick Dorn could make lineups with Conor Enright, Lamar Wilkerson, Tucker DeVries and Dorn a possibility, given the floor spacing.
Indiana needs Conerway to improve his decision-making when conference play resumes, as the team’s turnover percentage has been creeping up in recent weeks. For a team that doesn’t crash the offensive glass, the Hoosiers have to maximize every possession and reducing turnovers is key for the remainder of the season.
Shot chart for Conerway through 18 games
Shot chart via our friends at UMHoops.com
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