Tayton Conerway makes a splash in IU basketball’s 31-point win against Milwaukee
- Quinn Richards
- 2h ago
Indiana University’s diving program has produced a U.S. Olympic diver at every Summer Games since 1964. Tayton Conerway — IU basketball’s starting guard — does not compete in the pool, but don’t tell him that.
With just under five minutes remaining in the Hoosiers’ 101-70 win over Milwaukee on Wednesday night, Conerway hurled himself headfirst toward the crimson seats lining the home bench. While the effort didn’t earn him a perfect 10 in Paris, it did force a 10-second violation in Bloomington. Close enough.
The Hoosier faithful inside Assembly Hall applauded as three players and two coaches helped the now-grinning Conerway to his feet. It was well deserved — not just for that singular display of hustle, but for his performance in its entirety.
Conerway posted 21 points, a team-high six assists and a pair of steals in Indiana’s dominant victory against the Panthers.
“Tayton just has an ability to get by people,” Darian DeVries said postgame. “He’s got a little shake to his game. You haven’t seen it a lot. He hasn’t needed to. I thought tonight he did a really good job.”
The Troy transfer’s success in passing the ball didn’t come as a surprise. Conerway tallied a game-high eight assists last time out against Marquette. It was his ability to score inside the paint that stood out the most. Despite failing to convert a single field goal against the Golden Eagles, the 23-year-old Conerway netted eight of his 11 attempts in Wednesday’s win.
While his offensive production may have been unexpected from an outside perspective, it certainly wasn’t for Indiana’s head coach.
“We thought he could potentially have a big night,” DeVries said. “We talked to him at shootaround today. Like any time we’re in trouble, just create a gap or have the other guys create a gap, and you just stick your head down and try to get to the rim and make a play.”
That’s precisely what Conerway did. All but one of his makes were inside the paint. Conerway routinely used his quickness off the dribble to get past his primary defender and showcased the savvy skill set of a seasoned veteran to finish at the rim. After all, that’s exactly what he is.
Before his two seasons at Troy, Conerway spent three years playing in the NJCAA. Now in his sixth year of college basketball, he serves as a reliable option in Indiana’s backcourt that DeVries can count on. That’s why Conerway played a team-high 34 minutes against Milwaukee.
“Coming into the game, my team just had a lot of confidence in me,” Conerway said.
Another reason for DeVries’ trust in the reigning Sun Belt Conference player of the year can be found on the other end of the floor. The Hoosiers’ head coach mentioned his frustration over his team’s defensive intensity in the first half.
He highlighted open looks from the 3-point line as a shortcoming of Indiana’s play before the intermission. The Panthers converted five of their 11 attempts from beyond the arc in the first half. They didn’t make a single shot from deep in the second half.
“I thought the guys after halftime did a much better job,” DeVries said. “I thought we were way more aggressive. We got them pushed out and we were able to disrupt them a lot more.”
Leading the way in that adjustment? Conerway.
Need proof? Look no further than his decision to pick up his assignment from three-quarters court with a 25-point lead. A decision that consequently led to a poked ball. A poked ball that trickled its way toward the Hoosier bench, only to be chased down by Conerway.
It’s hard to glean much from nonconference matchups. But for Conerway, his performance against Milwaukee showcased just how significant a role he could potentially have for an Indiana team that’s still very much establishing its identity.
The Hoosiers and Conerway will continue their five-game homestand against Incarnate Word on Sunday night at Assembly Hall.
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