In its media release for Thursday’s exhibition against Southern Indiana, the IU men’s basketball program released stats from its closed scrimmage against Loyola Chicago. While not a full box score, it does confirm some of what was rumored on social media, and also serves to further illuminate what appears to have been a solid defensive effort.
Below is our original report.
The Indiana University men’s basketball program competed against their first opponent in a different uniform on Sunday. The Hoosiers went head to head with the Loyola of Chicago Ramblers, a Final Four participant from last season.
The scrimmage was held at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis.
In this year’s first AP Top 25 preseason college basketball poll, Loyola is ranked #26, and Indiana, #28.
Very few details have come out of the session, which was closed to the public and media. Based on what we have seen reported on social media and through other sources, here are a few unverified details from the scrimmage.
- Multiple accounts have reported that Indiana won the scrimmage by a score of 70-48.
- Indiana’s length was reportedly a major factor on both ends of the floor, and especially on the defensive end.
- Loyola isn’t a particularly long team, so this isn’t altogether surprising, but this note along with the score does seem to highlight that IU may be ahead of where they were last year in implementing Archie Miller’s defensive principles.
- Frank Ward (Frankie Vision) put out a statement on social media (that was later deleted) that Romeo Langford scored 19 points and added 10 rebounds.
- Don Fischer mentioned on the radio this morning that Indiana “played very well on defense and was very good rebounding the basketball.”
- Justin Smith was apparently a dominant factor on the offensive glass.
- Multiple people we spoke with said that Juwan Morgan was “the best player on the floor.”
- Fischer also indicated that three or four people didn’t play or played very little due to being “nicked up.”
- UPDATE: You can read/watch Archie Miller’s brief comments on the scrimmage from his radio show with Don Fischer here.
While just a scrimmage, if that score is accurate it is at the least encouraging in light of last year’s season opening loss to Indiana State. That being said, don’t read into it too much. Without the proper context of what went on including playing time, etc., it would be wrong to overanalyze the results.
Fans will have the first opportunity to see this team live on Thursday in the exhibition against Southern Indiana and then at the season opener next week against Chicago State.
If any videos of the scrimmage emerge, we will share those, although given the closed nature, that may not happen.
IU head coach Archie Miller has his radio show with Don Fischer tonight and a press conference later this week and may provide more information on the scrimmage.
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