With Hoosiers, Questions Are On The Inside
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Excitement and intensity are two good words to sum up the attitude of the Indiana Hoosiers at their first press conference for the 1998-99 basketball season Tuesday in Bloomington.
The entire squad, with the exception of fiery head coach Bob Knight, came out to entice the media and give the lowdown on what could be an interesting season of Indiana hoops.
Their first NCAA tournament victory in five years behind them, the new-look Hoosiers have placed a goal of winning the Big Ten and advancing futher into the national tournament.
The question of the day centered around IU's lack of punch in the inside game.
The Hoosiers were more than ready to defend their big men.
"The front court's been working hard, but if we put it all on our shoulders as a team, we'll do well," said sophomore Luke Recker.
"If people think we have a bad inside game, then they're in for a surprise," added freshman Dane Fife.
"Everyone seems to think our middle is soft. I don't think it's soft at all," said junior college transfer Lynn Washington. "I think it will be tougher than last year."
Not only was Washington defending his team's inside game, he also defended his new coach.
"I don't think the game has passed him by at all," Washington said. "He's a great teacher, all we have to do is listen to him."
Washington added that he was excited to play for a coach that doesn't let anything go unchecked.
"I really want someone to be on me all the time," he said. "It will make me a better player."
While everyone questions IU's lack of a strong front court, it may be their intensely deep back court that will carry them.
Returning A.J. Guyton and Recker would make for a formidable core, but add to that the freshman All-American Fife, junior Michael Lewis, and two top long-range shoots in Luke Jimenez and freshman Kyle Hornsby, and you've got what some experts are calling one of the top five backcourts in the country.
Don't forget that IU quarterback Antwaan Randle El will be joining the squad in December.
That back court could change the face of Indiana basketball. It's been talked about for some time now, but this could be the year the Knight employs a more uptempo offense.
"I feel that we could play at a faster pace; we have the guys to do it," Recker said.
All the talk of uptempo play also has Guyton, who could be headed to the NBA following his junior year, excited. He said that he feels and uptempo style would open him up for outside jumpers as well as inside fast break layups.
One thing that had been lacking from Indiana teams in the past has been leadership on the court. That may change in the form of Guyton and Recker, two who seem ready to take over the reins of the young squad.
"We really didn't have a team leader last year, and A.J. and I have taken that on," said Recker. "I think a great team needs to have more than one good leader. It' a challenge to be a leader, you have to think about the team as a whole and not just hold yourself accountable. Hopefully, I can provide that leadership."
The change in attitude among the Hooseirs seems to come from an excited and ready-to-play freshman class.
"The freshmen have great attitudes, and they really push us in practice," Recker said.
The Hoosiers may also be a more competitive team than in the past, as their practices have become more intense. Where a year ago they may have wanted to leave practice early, this year's squad goes the extra mile to run more and extend their practice on the court.
"When we practice, we play to win," Fife said. "You can tell the players want to win. There's been some tempers flare.
"Everybody on this team is competitive, but we leave it on the court. It is real, real physical. We've almost been ready to go to blows," Washington added.
At any rate, the Hoosiers are prepared to turn the once strong program into a national powerhouse, and they begin the journey Friday night with Midnight Madness.
Recker summed up the attitude of the team best before leaving for his workout.
"We're going to keep in mind that we're tired of Indiana being a mediocre team," he said. "This could be Indiana's breakthrough year."
Could be.
But will it be? [[In-content Ad]]
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Excitement and intensity are two good words to sum up the attitude of the Indiana Hoosiers at their first press conference for the 1998-99 basketball season Tuesday in Bloomington.
The entire squad, with the exception of fiery head coach Bob Knight, came out to entice the media and give the lowdown on what could be an interesting season of Indiana hoops.
Their first NCAA tournament victory in five years behind them, the new-look Hoosiers have placed a goal of winning the Big Ten and advancing futher into the national tournament.
The question of the day centered around IU's lack of punch in the inside game.
The Hoosiers were more than ready to defend their big men.
"The front court's been working hard, but if we put it all on our shoulders as a team, we'll do well," said sophomore Luke Recker.
"If people think we have a bad inside game, then they're in for a surprise," added freshman Dane Fife.
"Everyone seems to think our middle is soft. I don't think it's soft at all," said junior college transfer Lynn Washington. "I think it will be tougher than last year."
Not only was Washington defending his team's inside game, he also defended his new coach.
"I don't think the game has passed him by at all," Washington said. "He's a great teacher, all we have to do is listen to him."
Washington added that he was excited to play for a coach that doesn't let anything go unchecked.
"I really want someone to be on me all the time," he said. "It will make me a better player."
While everyone questions IU's lack of a strong front court, it may be their intensely deep back court that will carry them.
Returning A.J. Guyton and Recker would make for a formidable core, but add to that the freshman All-American Fife, junior Michael Lewis, and two top long-range shoots in Luke Jimenez and freshman Kyle Hornsby, and you've got what some experts are calling one of the top five backcourts in the country.
Don't forget that IU quarterback Antwaan Randle El will be joining the squad in December.
That back court could change the face of Indiana basketball. It's been talked about for some time now, but this could be the year the Knight employs a more uptempo offense.
"I feel that we could play at a faster pace; we have the guys to do it," Recker said.
All the talk of uptempo play also has Guyton, who could be headed to the NBA following his junior year, excited. He said that he feels and uptempo style would open him up for outside jumpers as well as inside fast break layups.
One thing that had been lacking from Indiana teams in the past has been leadership on the court. That may change in the form of Guyton and Recker, two who seem ready to take over the reins of the young squad.
"We really didn't have a team leader last year, and A.J. and I have taken that on," said Recker. "I think a great team needs to have more than one good leader. It' a challenge to be a leader, you have to think about the team as a whole and not just hold yourself accountable. Hopefully, I can provide that leadership."
The change in attitude among the Hooseirs seems to come from an excited and ready-to-play freshman class.
"The freshmen have great attitudes, and they really push us in practice," Recker said.
The Hoosiers may also be a more competitive team than in the past, as their practices have become more intense. Where a year ago they may have wanted to leave practice early, this year's squad goes the extra mile to run more and extend their practice on the court.
"When we practice, we play to win," Fife said. "You can tell the players want to win. There's been some tempers flare.
"Everybody on this team is competitive, but we leave it on the court. It is real, real physical. We've almost been ready to go to blows," Washington added.
At any rate, the Hoosiers are prepared to turn the once strong program into a national powerhouse, and they begin the journey Friday night with Midnight Madness.
Recker summed up the attitude of the team best before leaving for his workout.
"We're going to keep in mind that we're tired of Indiana being a mediocre team," he said. "This could be Indiana's breakthrough year."
Could be.
But will it be? [[In-content Ad]]