Indiana signed on for two more years of the Crossroads Classic this week. It’s a move, coach Tom Crean said, that changes some non-conference scheduling.“We’re going to play a neutral game in Indianapolis.The names have changed. But the challenge remains the same.
Indiana travels to Rupp Arena today for a showdown with No. 16 Kentucky.
The Hoosiers (7-1) won’t have to contend with John Wall, Patrick Patterson, Eric Bledsoe or DeMarcus Cousins. All have moved on – with Wall, Bledsoe and Cousins leaving for the pros after one season.
“I think they still operate the same system with a few more set plays than what he (Kentucky coach John Calipari) has run in the past,” IU coach Tom Crean said Thursday. “You can see John is getting closer to the offense he wants. They have high-level players, and that is what Kentucky is going to be about with John there. They are going to have great players from year to year whether the players are there one, two, three or four years.”
There are only eight teams in the nation with a roster younger than the Wildcats. Kentucky (6-2) has six freshmen and one sophomore.
The freshman class includes starters Terrence Jones (20 points per game, 10.5 rebounds) and Brandon Knight (17.4 points).
“It’s the same system, and he’s not putting anyone out on the court that cannot play,” Crean said.
“There is nowhere to cheat off a guy. There is nowhere to hide anyone. They are a high-level team. I think the similarities are they really push the ball extremely well. They also reverse the ball extremely well. They attack you off the dribble maybe even more this year because he has more guys who can really put the ball on the ground.
“Last year, so much of their game was John Wall and Eric Bledsoe. They had Cousins in the post, but he wasn’t driving the ball like Terrance Jones. So, it’s a different team in the sense of the matchups problems they offer on the perimeter. We have to be smart with that.
“… John’s system hasn’t changed. His players may have changed, but he is the same coach. He is one of the best coaches in the game. There is absolutely no doubt about that and his teams reflect that in the way they guard.
“He has always been a very underrated defensive coach. John really knows what he is doing with the guys who have such length. They create a lot of havoc. I do not know their deflection numbers, but I know they have to be high.”
Indiana is averaging 16.8 turnovers per game.
“We are looking to go up there and be smart, attack and execute,” Crean said.
“At the same time, you have to have a sense you are going to be playing against extreme length, size, quickness and speed.
“You really have to understand the decisions that have to be made in taking care of the basketball because this is not a game where you want to lose the points off turnovers battle.”
