Indiana is 3-0, and Monday night’s 83-80 win over Syracuse at Gainbridge Fieldhouse gave the Hoosiers another clear snapshot of what this team already does well - and what still needs work.
The rebounding edge has been there from the start. For the third straight game, Indiana controlled the glass, grabbing 40 percent of its missed shots with 14 offensive rebounds while holding Syracuse to 23.3 percent on its misses.
The Hoosiers also won the second-chance points battle 12-9. Through three games, Indiana owns a 48-18 advantage in second-chance points, and as of Tuesday morning, the Hoosiers ranked 27th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage at 42.9, according to KenPom.com.
That kind of work on the glass has helped IU average 8.3 more shot attempts than its opponents so far.
The offense, meanwhile, was spread around. Only six players scored, but four Hoosiers finished in double figures.
Markus Burton and Darren Harris each poured in 20 points, Jaeden Mustaf added 18, and Bryce Lindsay chipped in 11 despite an off shooting night. Indiana didn’t shoot especially well on 2s, finishing at 45.9 percent, but it made enough plays from deep and at the line to get by.
The Hoosiers hit 9 of 25 from 3-point range and 22 of 26 free throws. Through three games, IU is shooting 36.1 percent from 3 and 77.1 percent at the stripe, and the team sits inside the top 30 nationally in offensive efficiency, per KenPom.com.
Still, the defensive side is where the warning lights are flashing. Indiana gave up 1.14 points per possession against Syracuse, and the Orange got a big lift from Ryan Moesch, who came off the bench for 19 points after scoring just six total in Syracuse’s first two games against New Haven and Central Connecticut.
The bigger issue is inside. Syracuse shot 55.6 percent on 2s, making it the third straight opponent to top 55 percent on 2-point attempts against Indiana to open the season.
KenPom.com currently has the Hoosiers 271st nationally in 2-point field goal percentage defense.
The problems aren’t limited to the paint, either. Indiana’s guards have been getting beaten off the dribble too often, and opposing ballhandlers are finding their spots too easily on the perimeter. The offense has given IU a strong early foundation, but the defense has to tighten up fast if this team wants its ceiling to stay high.
There’s also a clear adjustment waiting on the offensive end: get Aiden Sherrell more involved. Sherrell took only two shots against Syracuse, both 3-pointers, and made both.
That fits part of his game, but it shouldn’t be the whole picture. Through three games, he has the eighth-highest usage rate on the roster, yet Indiana has mostly kept him stationed on the perimeter.
He can shoot it from there, but he’s also a strong finisher at the rim with size and physicality that should create problems for most defenders. The Hoosiers need to find ways to free him up closer to the basket, and more touches could also help him on the offensive glass.
Against Syracuse, he had just one rebound, and it came on the defensive end.
Mustaf’s night was a reminder of how much he can swing a game without leading the scoring column. He wasn’t Indiana’s top scorer, but he may have been its most valuable player on the floor.
The Georgia Tech transfer knocked down two 3s, including a big one with 4:48 left that cut Syracuse’s lead to one. If he can keep hitting open looks from outside, it only makes his downhill game more dangerous.
Mustaf finished 5-for-8 on 2s, 2-for-3 on 3s and 2-for-3 at the line for his 18 points. He also grabbed three offensive rebounds and helped shut down Syracuse’s Gavin Doty, who went 2-for-7 from the field and finished with five points.
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