Tom Crean, Hoosiers Reinventing The Game This Season

“Small Ball” has led to Indiana’s unexpected success, but can it be sustained?

Indiana coach Tom Crean may just be on to something. Missing arguably their best two post options in Hanner Mosquera-Perea and Devin Davis, the embattled Hoosier coach has been forced to go small out of necessity, starting 6’8 forward Collin Hartman essentially in the “5” spot.

Truth be told, Hartman is about as far from a post player as they come, but Indiana already being uber thin at on the inside, has forced everyone on the team to play out of position at times.

I’ll be the first to admit that I thought IU would struggle in the Big Ten as it was before Perea got injured. When we heard that Hanner was out for 2-4 weeks with a dislocated kneecap, I thought we were done for.

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Well, color me surprised. Since Mosquera-Perea’s injury, the Hoosiers have gone 4-1, tallying two impressive road victories. Even more impressive was dismantling of a 13th ranked Maryland squad that many thought would come into Assembly Hall and hand the guys clad in candy striped pants a lopsided loss. Granted, they fell back down to earth there just a little bit this weekend in the 82-70 loss in Columbus, but the Hoosiers are still 5-2 and sitting squarely in second place behind 5-1 Wisconsin.

Against Ohio State, Collin Hartman went 4-5 from deep. In the last four games, Hartman has scored 41 points… Hartman gives the Hoosiers another player that they can depend on for offense, instead of just “garbage buckets” off of the occasional offensive rebound.

Since Hartman’s insertion into the starting lineup, the Hoosiers’ offense appears to have hit another gear. In that time, Indiana has shot over 50% from 3pt range (up roughly 10% from their season average). Although IU is typically 2-3 inches shorter on the inside than every Big Ten opponent they face, they’ve managed to out rebound every conference foe other than Michigan State.

Can small-ball have sustained success in the big ten? That’s yet to be determined, but IU seems to certainly be holding their own. This begs the question: when Mosquera-Perea returns from his knee injury (projected in mid February) does Crean still with Hartman as a starter and ride the momentum the Hoosiers have gained? The old cliché, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it, would seem appropriate in this case.

It’s pretty obvious to anyone that has watched the games that Indiana just flat-out looks like a better team since the change. That’s not meant as any disrespect to Hanner, who is obviously Indiana’s most athletic big, and certainly provides needed depth to the Hoosier frontcourt. Simply put, the “5 out” offense has transformed IU into a different team.

What began as an experiment out of necessity has turned into a brilliant strategy. If success continues, one has to wonder we will se more of this offense in the future for the Hoosiers. Their two signees for next season, Morgan and Anunoby, both measure in at 6’7 slashing combo forwards, which would figure to fit perfectly into an offense that favors driving, outside shooting, and spacing.

Heavily recruited Hoosier target, Thon Maker, while close to 7 feet tall, has the ball handling skills and perimeter ability to also fit into that system and excel. Maker would also give Indiana the luxury of someone who could go toe to toe with some of the big physical post players of the Big Ten, but is still versatile enough to play on the wing in the “5 out” system.

The only true post player Indiana is actively after for next season is 6’10 center, Thomas Bryant. If Bryant goes elsewhere, you may see more of this offensive style in the future. Even if he does come to Bloomington, you may see an offense more similar to what Crean ran when Cody Zeller was in town.

Is small ball here to stay in for the Hoosiers? At least for the foreseeable future, maybe so. For a state that loves basketball and loves its shooters, than might not be such a bad thing.

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