(10/20/15 2:43am)
105 days. That is all the time that Indiana Women’s basketball coach Teri Moren had to get her team ready to play a college basketball season last year.
After being hired on August 2nd of last year after five seasons as Indiana State’s head coach, Moren didn’t have the luxury of an offseason to implement her philosophies the way she would have liked to. There was some success on the floor, but struggles presented themselves for a key reason last year.
“We didn’t have the time last year to build our team," said Moren. "But we are in a different place now. A much better place.”
She speaks in the present, but the offseason didn’t go exactly as planned either. In early March, three key pieces of the Women’s Basketball team decided to transfer, including a second team All Big-Ten Selection and a former Indiana Miss Basketball second place finisher. Changes in the program led to a large part of the core moving on to new places.
But the beauty of a breakdown is the potential for the rebuild, and that is exactly what the Indiana women’s basketball team plans on doing. You wouldn’t blame a program in this kind of transition if it struggled to find its identity, but not this team. Point guard and team leader Tyra Buss saw the change, and it starts defensively. “That was a new thing. With [Coach Moren] coming in it was a lot different because the majority of practices were now about defense, not offense.”
Make no mistake about it, this group believes in their identity on defense. Offensively though, Moren is looking for some key players to step up. “There is no question we want [Alexis Gassion] to do more," said Moren. "I’ve asked her to be more selfish. She has to score for us and I think she’s excited about that. We’ve made it pretty crystal clear to her that she needs to be a scorer.”
While some key new faces arrived in the program, including the freshmen frontcourt duo of Kym Royster and Danielle Williams, the straw that stirs the drink is Buss, who will take on added responsibility this year. “Tyra is going to have the ball in her hands more," said Moren. "I’m going to ask her to run our basketball team and she didn’t have that roll last year. But there is no question I have the utmost confidence in her.”
After having a whole offseason to develop both on and off the court, expect this year’s team to look plenty prepared and lay the foundation for years to come.
Notes and Quotes
• A common theme from all the coaches today at the Big Ten Media Day stemmed around the substantial rule changes implemented this year. If you ask Coach Moren, she’d like to see the game resemble the WNBA as much as possible. Some of the rule changes for this year include: 4 quarters vs. 2 halves and the ball being advanced in 4th quarter out of timeouts.
• Alexis Gassion commented on what she thought the biggest difference between year one and year two with Teri Moren. “We really didn’t know who they (the coaches) were," said Gassion. "It was a roller coaster season and we had our ups and downs. But having a full offseason to get to know the coaches is going translate for us on the court.”
• Tyra Buss on her team goal: “I want to finish at the top of the Big Ten and make a run in the Big Ten tournament and even the NCAA tournament”
• What newcomer has stood out most? “Tyshee Towner has surprised me," said Gassion. "I wasn’t sure what to expect, but she definitely has a defensive mindset, so I can see why coach wanted her."
(10/16/15 5:16am)
Expectations for the Indiana Men’s basketball team are as high as they have been since 2012. Lead by a strong returning cast, which includes four starters, and many key reserves, the Hoosiers also add McDonalds All-American Thomas Bryant. This Hoosier team looks strong on paper. The only problem? Right now it is only on paper and that is a concern for head coach Tom Crean.
The major story to come out of Big 10 Media day for the Hoosiers centered around front court injuries and lack of depth. This is an area that was boosted by the arrival of Bryant and graduate transfer Max Bielfeldt in the offseason but once again is front and center. Crean noted that Bryant’s foot is improving and he is “able to do a little bit more every day” but gave only brief mention of either of their statuses. “We would anticipate having them back (close to the start of the season) but you can’t really project their (Hartman & Bryant) timelines. Everyone heals differently. It’ll be a little bit longer for Collin.”
Crean mentioned Bielfeldt as a key addition especially with the current injuries up front. As the newest (and oldest) member of the team, Bielfeldt is trying his best to balance his roll as the veteran but also the rookie of the group. “I’m trying to tell the young guys what to do but at the same time I still have to listen because there are things where I have to learn what to do." But even with his addition, it’s been tough to get in a rhythm early with the lack of depth. “We really haven’t had a day where we’ve had our top 10 out there together.” However, Crean didn’t sound concerned as he acknowledges that it’s the long game that counts. “We don’t have that depth (up front) right now. If we get it back, we could be a pretty good team. It sets us back, but it’s a long haul and it gives some other guys opportunities."
What is happening on the court right now is still driven by the senior captain, Yogi Ferrell. This isn’t the first time Ferrell has had lofty expectations put on him. Coming out of Park Tudor High School in Indianapolis, where he had won state titles and had been awarded countless individual accolades, the expectation was National Championships as soon as he set foot in Bloomington. As a senior, this is his last chance to fulfill that ambition.
While there is no doubt Ferrell dreams of the possibilities, he understands that there is still something fundamental that comes first: “It starts with practice, we have to practice at that high level in order for us to win.” With a team that is already behind the ball because of injuries and off-the-court distractions, it’ll be crucial that this team takes advantage of every practice opportunity they get. Yogi made it clear what the expectations are, whether the venue of competition is a game or practice. “Some practices we start competing right off the bat. I think what coach is instilling is that we have to throw that first punch when we play guys. We can't back down against anyone.”
But before the Hoosiers can throw a punch, they'll need all hands on deck for a season long fight.
Notes and Quotes
• It’s not often an 18-year-old center gets compared to a super hero, but that is exactly what Bielfeldt compared the freshman phenom to. “There is a reason he is a McDonald's All- American. He has a better shot than I thought he would. He’s got a 7’6” wingspan for a 6’10” guy and you think you can get around him, but all the sudden it's like Mr. fantastic where the arm just keeps going and you have to find a way to get around it.”
• In talking about Emit Holt’s dismissal from the team, Ferrell said it brought him to tears. “That was a very sad day. I cried. Losing another teammate, another brother, just seeing him walk out the door like that, not knowing when you’ll see him again, that was just a sad day.”
• Ferrell made a pretty bold statement as to how good Indiana’s backcourt could be. “I feel like we could have the best backcourt in the country. Me, James (Blackmon Jr.), Rob (Johnson), Troy (Williams), different guys like that with Nick (Zeisloft) too. I feel like we could definitely cause some trouble against teams."
• Crean went out of his way to gush over the potential of their rival to the north with some bold statements. “With what they (Purdue) have experience-wise and what they have on the front line, I think they are a contender for the national championship. If you look at their experience and their front court, it is as good as any in the country.”