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Indiana Basketball: 5 keys to a successful 2018-19 Big Ten schedule

BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 09: Indiana Hoosiers players take the floor against the Montana State Bobcats in the second half of the game at Assembly Hall on November 9, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. The Hoosiers won 80-35. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 09: Indiana Hoosiers players take the floor against the Montana State Bobcats in the second half of the game at Assembly Hall on November 9, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. The Hoosiers won 80-35. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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DURHAM, NC – NOVEMBER 27: Jones of the Duke Blue Devils goes after the ball against Durham. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC – NOVEMBER 27: Jones of the Duke Blue Devils goes after the ball against Durham. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

3. Limit turnovers offensively

Rob Phinisee (FR), Aljami Durham (SO), and Romeo Langford (FR) might make up one of the more dangerous backcourts in the nation but they are also one of the youngest. Their combined collegiate experience is extremely low and that means that mistakes are bound to happen. To this point in the year, the trio has played well beyond its years in terms of limiting turnovers but the Big Ten schedule will be a constant gauntlet of difficult opponents.

And considering IU as a team turns the ball over a bunch (20.1% turnover rate, 238th), these three are going to need to maintain poise throughout the conference slate. As long as the Hoosiers take care of their possessions, it is hard to imagine many defenses will be able to slow down this high-powered scoring attack. With a top-5 national ranking in effective field goal percentage (58.8%), this is a team that can score on opponents in a variety of ways.

Valuing each possession is a fairly rudimentary concept of offense but that does not make it any easier to do. The Hoosiers have already shown that ball security is a weakness of the team and therefore Big Ten opponents will likely turn up the pressure against them. Will the young roster maintain pose during the conference schedule and limit their turnovers?