Indiana Basketball: Juwan Morgan key for the Hoosiers in 2018-19

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 01: Juwan Morgan #13 of the Indiana Hoosiers works against Deshawn Freeman #33 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the second half during the second round of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 1, 2018 in New York City (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

There’s a ton of hype surrounding star freshman Romeo Langford for this upcoming season. However, for the Hoosiers to go dancing, it’ll be due to the play of Juwan Morgan.

When former Indiana Basketball Head Coach Tom Crean was fired, along with several key players leaving the program, a rebuild was the obvious next step for the new guy in charge Archie Miller. Fans had to wait for his first recruiting class to come in the following season while hoping that some of the returning players would develop into key pieces for the future.

That happened, with 6’7 forward Juwan Morgan exploding in his junior year this past season. He averaged 16.5 ppg (7.7 ppg as a sophomore) and 7.4 rpg in just under 30 mpg. Morgan led the Hoosiers in both scoring and rebounding while leading Indiana to a solid 9-9 Big Ten record.

The junior tested the NBA Draft waters this offseason but elected to return for one more year, elating fans back in Bloomington. He’ll be joined by that promising recruiting class, led by the hometown star Romeo Langford. He’s ranked in the top-10 overall in all ranking services and has been pegged by many to have an outstanding first-year campaign in college basketball.

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As good as Langford could very well be at the next level, it’s surprising how Morgan has already been overshadowed. That’s how it was last year, as Indiana’s down season lowered the exposure for the Hoosier forward. Morgan couldn’t even win the Most Improved Player Award in the conference, as Big Ten Player of the Year Award Keita Bates-Diop took those honors.

But that doesn’t take away how good the Indiana leader was last season, with 10 different games of 20+ points, including a career-high 34 points and 11 rebound performance in the upset win over a ranked Notre Dame team. That game was what really put him on the map nationally. And even when the eyes left Indiana, Morgan still continued to play at an All-Big Ten level.

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With a ranked recruiting class for the Hoosiers along with sharp shooting grad transfer Evan Fitzer from Saint Mary’s, Morgan will have a much better supporting class to allow him to operate and continue at this newfound high level. Langford might be the most recognized player on this upcoming Indiana team but it’ll be the play of Morgan that dictates whether or not they’ll go back to the NCAA Tournament. And based on last season, that looks to be a good bet for Hoosier fans.

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