Indiana
Last season: 18-16, lost at Georgia Tech in the first round of the NIT.
Nickname: Hoosiers.
Coach: Archie Miller.
Conference: Big Ten.
Who’s gone: Coach Tom Crean, F OG Anunoby, G James Blackmon Jr., C Thomas Bryant.
Who’s back: G Robert Johnson. After withdrawing from the NBA draft, the senior will take on an expanded role as he tries to improve his numbers (12.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game). G Josh Newkirk. The clear choice at point guard returns for his third and final season with the Hoosiers. He’s hoping to cut down on the turnovers and take on a bigger scoring role (9.0 ppg last season). F De’Ron Davis. The 6-foot-10 forward lost about 20 pounds this offseason with the hope he will stay in better condition and commit fewer fouls when he starts getting tired.
Who’s new: F Clifton Moore. While it’s unclear which member of this four-player freshman class could have the biggest impact, Moore provides the Hoosiers one quality they lack - size. He and Davis are the only players on the roster taller than 6-9.
The Skinny: Miller’s first Indiana team may not have all the pieces but it does have enough backcourt talent and potential on the front line to become a factor in the Big Ten race. Expect it to take time for the players to get in sync with Miller’s new system, and an early four-game run with Duke, Michigan, Iowa and Louisville won’t help. But a postseason bid is a reasonable possibility.
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