Indiana basketball heads out west for its first of two road games — starting off against Washington.
Washington enters Saturday’s matchup at 13-15 overall and 4-13 in Big Ten play. The Huskies rank 112th in offensive efficiency with a rating of 110.8. Defensively, they rank 106th overall with a 104.1 rating. Overall, Washington is ranked 97th in KenPom’s ratings.
Here is a deep dive into some of the challenges Washington could give the Indiana basketball program.
Key Players
Washington’s offensive success revolves around Great Osobor. Osobor has the ball in his hands every possession and every play involves him at some capacity. Osobor has the 4th highest usage rate in the Big Ten and 11th in total points produced this year. At 6-foot-8, Osobor plays very much like a point forward — and orchestrates a lot of the offense. When he’s scoring, he’s doing so inside the paint and is not a factor from outside of 7-10 feet. Not counting free throws, Osobor has scored 82.4 percent (253-of-307) of his total points this season from the paint. He’s hit 11 3s this year, with five coming against Purdue alone — going 2-of-21 in the last 10 games. With great strength and frame, Osobor can play with his back to the basket but is best facing up and using his toughness and athletic ability to win his matchup attacking. He’s ranked 2nd in the Big Ten in free throws and is a terrific rebounder, ranking in the top 10 of the Big Ten in offensive and defensive rebounding rate.
On the wing is Tyler Harris. Harris is a versatile scorer who can attack the basket and is one of the top shooters in the country from three. Harris is shooting 49 percent from three but is only making 1.5 3s a game. He has a high release and with his size at 6-foot-8, he’s difficult to defend when he’s shooting from the perimeter. Most of Harris’ effectiveness as a shooter is off of the catch, with little ability to create space off of the dribble. Harris likes to attack the basket but when he does, he creates little separation with a lack of explosiveness off of the dribble — using his length and finishing ability to score over defenders in the paint.
Zoom Diallo is another extremely athletic perimeter player who is terrific attacking the basket. He can attack with either hand and has a variety of skill moves around the basket to get his shot off. He is not a threat from three, making just four 3s all year. Despite teams understanding he won’t be a threat from deep, he doesn’t force open shots from the perimeter. Because of his athletic attacking style of play, he finds ways to score in the mid range or at the rim and does so efficiently, shooting 51.8 percent on 2s and 48.4 percent overall. Indiana basketball needs to understand his game is going to start and end with his attacking and try to force him to settle from three.
Mekhi Mason is another talented guard who is extremely effective as a shooter and someone who can flip the game immediately with his ability to get hot from three. 56 percent of his shot attempts come from three and most of his looks come off the catch. Indiana has struggled with off-ball shooters and that’s exactly what Mason is. While Mason is a shooter first, he uses that to open up his slashing game. Over the last four games, Mason is averaging 17 points and shooting 55.2 percent from three (16-of-29).
In the front court is Franck Kepnang. While he’s seen most of his action off the bench this year, he’s been inserted into the starting five over the last three games. Kepnang is a terrific rebounder and shot blocker and will not be someone who has plays run for him offensively. Most — if not all of his action — comes from offensive rebound put back dunks. Kepnang is a very athletic but aggressive and physical defender and that can be something IU uses to its advantage as he averages 6.3 fouls per 40 minutes. Kepnang missed most of the season with an injury.
Off the bench is former Butler guard DJ Davis. Davis is strictly a three-point shooter, with 76 percent of his attempts this season coming from three. 72 percent of his made field goals are 3s as well. Davis is shooting 36.2 percent from three and can get hot in a hurry for the Huskies. He has had a 31-point game off the bench this year and is averaging 13.6 points a game over the last five games with 16 made 3s at 53.3 percent.
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Key Tendencies
Offensively, Washington has struggled despite having some solid individual talent. The Huskies are second-worst in the Big Ten in turnover rate, with a negative assist-to-turnover rate in Big Ten play. With a slower style of play and a team that struggles to shoot 3s, it’s not a healthy combo. Washington makes just 7.1 3s a game — 13th in the league — and ranks 275th nationally in three-point rate. On the flip side, Washington dominates the paint in most games, with 45 percent of their points coming from that area. In 10 of its 13 wins, the Huskies have won the paint battle. With so many perimeter-oriented players, Washington struggles on the glass, ranking 230th nationally in offensive rebound rate.
Defensively, Washington is okay in numerous areas but not good in most. The Huskies are allowing teams to score at an efficient rate, with opponents averaging the second-highest effective field goal rate in Big Ten play and in two point percent. While Washington doesn’t give up a ton of 3s, opponents are able to create open looks if they are patient. If they do, they’re typically open as opponents are shooting 38 percent from three in Big Ten play. The Huskies don’t turn teams over at a high rate and struggle to defend the rim outside of Kepnang. Indiana basketball will have numerous opportunities to attack the basket and with the good ball movement it showed last time out against Penn State, should have ample opportunities to get open looks both at the rim and from three.
Overall, this is a good matchup for Indiana basketball — an opponent that doesn’t force turnovers or shoot a high volume of 3s. Indiana will likely get the chance to replicate its offensive performance from Penn State. The Hoosiers need to force Washington out of the paint while staying home on shooters. If Washington is going to get open looks from three, it’ll be a long night for Indiana.
Projected Starters
G – Zoom Diallo (Freshman; 6-4, 185)
Stats: 11.1 ppg, 3.1 apg, 2.7 apg
G – Mekhi Mason (Junior; 6-5, 195)
Stats: 9.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 42% 3pt
G – Tyler Harris (Sophomore; 6-8, 190)
Stats: 12.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 49.4% 3pt
F – Great Osobor (Senior; 6-8, 245)
Stats: 14.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.9 spg
C – Franck Kepnang (Senior; 6-11, 120)
Stats: 6.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.0 bpg
Key Notes
- Washington has an even scoring margin in the second half, compared to -64 in the first half, this season — Washington is -86 in the second half of the last 11 games, however
- The Huskies have scored 40+ points in the paint six times this year
- Washington shot 41.9 percent from three in February — making at least seven 3s in every game
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