Surging Hoosiers Keep Getting the ‘Job Done’

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Conor Enright concedes nothing. Ever. Indiana's veteran guard pushes for all he's worth in the quest to win.

Oregon should take note, Monday night.

Hoosier veteran forward Sam Alexis refuses to leave games because of pain. We saw that Saturday against Wisconsin and might also see that against the Ducks at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

The image resonates long after its Saturday afternoon occurrence, Enright chasing Wisconsin guard Nick Boyd as the clock ticks under 20 seconds and IU trailing 77-76 in overtime, getting just enough in front of Boyd near midcourt to draw an offensive foul, disbelief from Badgers coach Greg Gard, relief from Enright himself (he expected to be called for a foul) and a Hoosier end-of-overtime chance that guard Lamar Wilkerson ruthlessly exploits with a pair of clutch free throws for a 78-77 victory.

"I saw his shoulder go into me and I figured I might as well try and get a charge," Enright says. "It worked out."

Adds coach Darian DeVries: "Conor just does what he does. He keeps fighting, keeps competing."

A second image also resonates, of Alexis barely able to walk in overtime, a formidable inside force with 19 points, seven rebounds, and five blocks against the Badgers, limping through cramps because, as he says, "Coach tells us every day to just bring the intensity. I was just trying to do what I did in practice (on Friday)."

And so it goes, four wins in the last five games, two victories in overtime.

"I trust our guys," Darian DeVries says. "They know what we're trying to run. They know what we're trying to get."

IU (16-8 overall, 7-6 in the Big Ten) is not a basketball juggernaut in the manner of the 1976 national title squad, the last major college team to go undefeated behind legendary coach Bob Knight and superstars such as Scott May, Kent Benson, Quinn Buckner, and Bobby Wilkerson. That group, which finished 32-0 and 18-0 in Big Ten play, will be recognized Monday night as part of a 50th anniversary celebration.

The current Hoosiers win despite blowing double-digit leads, despite stretches where defensive rebounding assumes the complexity of quantum physics, and the reliance on 3-point shooting becomes as much an anchor as an elevator. "These dudes don't quit," Darian DeVries says. "They keep fighting."

Credit a veteran roster led by six seniors.

"With a senior group like this," Enright says, "obviously we don't want to blow leads and go into overtime, but we still battle together and get it done."

Alexis helps set the tone.

"His energy spreads to other people," Enright says. "He does it every day in practice, in the weight room. It's contagious. Him being around has been awesome for us."

Darian DeVries emphasizes 3-point shooting; he builds teams where everyone is a beyond-the-arc threat. But he also understands the necessity of attacking the rim, especially if outside shots aren't falling. Get inside, score, draw fouls, shoot free throws and, perhaps, regain perimeter shooting rhythm.

"We've been trying to be more aggressive driving the ball," Darian DeVries says. "It's adjusting and adapting."

Now comes Oregon (8-15, 1-11), which pushed Purdue hard on Saturday before losing 68-64 at Mackey Arena. The Ducks are led by senior center Nate Bittle, who averages 16.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. He returned from a six-game absence to score 23 points against the Boilers.

Forward Kwame Evans averages 13.1 points and 7.1 rebounds. Guard Takai Simpson averages 12.6 points with a team-leading 40 3-pointers.

Monday night's 50th anniversary celebration is expected to also include players such as Jim Crews, Tom Abernathy, Scott Eells, and James Roberson.

Those Hoosiers set an opening-game tone by routing UCLA, the defending national champion, 84-64. They had several close games, beating Michigan 72-67 in overtime and twice edging Purdue by four and three points. They beat Michigan in the national championship game, 86-68.

IU's 1975 team might have been better. It certainly was more dominant before May, an All-American, broke his arm near the end of the regular season, creating vulnerability that Kentucky, which had lost to the Hoosiers by 24 points during the regular season, capitalized in a 92-90 Elite Eight heartbreaker.

That team, which finished 31-1 and 18-0 in winning the Big Ten title, was recognized with a Saturday halftime presentation by athletic director Scott Dolson with four attending players in John Kamstra, John Laskowski, Steve Ahlfeld, and Steve Green.

Surging Hoosiers Keep Getting the ‘Job Done’

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Players Mentioned

Sam Alexis

Conor Enright

Lamar Wilkerson

Indiana University Athletics