Indiana returns from Christmas break for its ultimate non-conference sport on Sunday at Simon Skjodt Meeting Corridor. The Hoosiers will host Winthrop. The Eagles are 10-4.
Sunday’s sport will tip at 4 p.m. ET on BTN:
Indiana will look to maneuver to 9-0 in Bloomington this season when it hosts Winthrop on Sunday afternoon. The Eagles don’t personal a win over a crew ranked higher than No. 217 in KenPom and are 0-3 in opposition to high-major opponents. Winthrop has performed three ACC opponents – Virginia Tech, Louisville and Florida State – and misplaced these contests by a median of 13 factors.
After fighting Chattanooga final Saturday, Indiana was on break till Thursday for the Christmas vacation. At 9-3 general and No. 55 in KenPom, the Hoosiers have important work to do to get again into the NCAA event image. Picked to complete second within the Huge Ten within the preseason, Indiana was absent from Joe Lunardi’s newest Bracketology.
MEET THE EAGLES
Winthrop has 4 gamers averaging in double figures and is led by 6-foot-7 senior ahead Kelton Talford. A fifth-year senior from Nice Falls, South Carolina, Talford averages 14.9 factors and eight rebounds whereas capturing 56.3 p.c.
Talford has the Fifteenth-best free throw price (FTA/FGA) within the nation at 78.4 p.c, in keeping with KenPom.com, and is 67-for-101 (66.3 p.c) from the road this season.
Okay.J. Doucet, a 6-foot-7 senior, performs the 5 and is second in scoring with 14 factors per sport. Doucet is a menace to attach from the perimeter and is 15-for-36 (41.7 p.c) on 3s in 14 video games. He’s second on the crew in rebounding at 5.7 per sport however has additionally dedicated a team-high 33 turnovers.
A fifth-year level guard leads the backcourt in Kasen Harrison. The 6-foot-2 native of Beaumont, Texas, has dished out a team-best 46 assists and is third in scoring with 13.6 factors per sport. Harrison additionally has a terrific free throw price (60 p.c) and is 51-for-67 (76.1 p.c) from the road in 14 video games.
One other fifth-year senior, Nick Johnson, begins on the three with freshman Paul Jones beginning on the two. Johnson is a 34 p.c 3-point shooter and like Talford and Harrison, will get to the road at a excessive price. Johnson has a free throw price of 65.6 p.c and is capturing 70.6 p.c from the road. His 11 factors per sport are fourth on the roster.
Each Jones and Bryce Baker, who comes off the bench, are high-volume 3-point shooters. Jones is 25-for-81 (30.9 p.c) on triples, whereas Baker is 30-for-86 (34.9 p.c) from deep. Each gamers common 7.9 factors per sport.
Tai Hamilton, a 6-foot-10 sophomore, offers backup minutes on the 5. Hamilton is capturing near 58 p.c from the sector, averaging 3.2 factors and three.1 rebounds in 10 minutes per sport.
Ryan Jolly and Isaiah Wilson are backups within the backcourt for coach Mark Prosser. Jolly is only a 30.4 p.c 3-point shooter and Wilson isn’t a menace to shoot as he’s taken simply 17 discipline purpose makes an attempt in 13 video games.
Tommy Kamarad, a 6-foot-6 senior, has began 5 video games and is simply 5-for-30 (16.7 p.c) on 3s and 8-for-18 (44.4 p.c) from the free throw line.
TEMPO-FREE PREVIEW
The Eagles rank first nationally in free throw price (FTA/FGA) at 55.1 p.c. The Eagles completed first in free throw price final season, ninth within the 2022-23 season and twenty sixth in Prosser’s first season in 2021-22.
By way of 14 video games, Winthrop has tried 153 extra free throws than its opponents and has made 98 extra. The Eagles are capturing 66.8 p.c from the road. Nonetheless, attending to the road hasn’t been a power in opposition to high-major opponents. Winthrop had a free throw price of simply 22.4 p.c in opposition to Virginia Tech, 31.4 p.c in opposition to Louisville and 33.8 p.c in opposition to Florida State.
Winthrop can also be an above-average offensive-rebounding crew at 94th nationally, per KenPom.com, and shoots 53.8 p.c on 2s, which ranks 106th. The Eagles are taking part in the fifth quickest tempo within the nation and with Indiana at present taking part in the 58th quickest tempo, Sunday needs to be an up-and-down sport.
Defensively, the Eagles are turning opponents over at a excessive price. Winthrop opponents commit turnovers on 21.7 p.c of their possessions, which ranks thirty third within the nation. The Eagles battle on the defensive glass and have problem maintaining their opponents from going to the free-throw line. Winthrop ranks 280th in defensive rebounding proportion and 289th in opponent free-throw price.
WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO
The KenPom projection is Indiana by 15 with a 92 p.c likelihood of a Hoosier victory. Bart Torvik’s scores like Indiana by 19 with a 92 p.c likelihood the Hoosiers prevail.
After rising to fortieth in KenPom following a win in opposition to Minnesota on Dec. 9, Indiana has fallen 15 spots to No. 55 and out of most NCAA event projections.
Whereas the general file is stable at 9-3 and the Hoosiers don’t have a “dangerous” loss on the resume, Indiana has failed to satisfy preseason expectations up so far. There’s loads of season left to alter the narrative, however Indiana should exhibit much more urgency and consistency than it has via its first 12 video games.
Filed to: Winthrop Eagles
