Indiana Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Hoosiers
Key Reserves
De’Ron Davis | 6-foot-10 | 255 lbs | Senior
Arguably the most underrated player on this roster, De’Ron Davis has roamed the paint for Indiana well over the past few seasons. Even though he has struggled with injuries, the 6-foot-10 senior can be a major contributor when healthy. He is a physical presence in the lane on both ends of the floor and does an exceptional job on the glass. Davis can also be a strong rim-protector and his offensive game has grown over his time in Bloomington.
He will not be a go-to scorer for the Hoosiers but can supply his fair share of buckets. Given his experience in the program and skill on the glass, there is a very reasonable shot that Davis reprises his role in the starting lineup ahead of TJD. He can be a solid defensive anchor and should be a vocal leader this season. Davis will play significant minutes even if he is not a starter. He is a key cog in IU’s frontcourt.
Damezi Anderson | 6-foot-7 | 225 lbs | Sophomore
Rising sophomore Damezi Anderson definitely struggled during his first campaign at the collegiate level but should still be poised to see his fair share of minutes this season. He brings plenty of size to the wing at 6-foot-7 and is quite versatile. All of the tools are there for him to be a strong reserve this season but he needs to put it all together.
If Jerome Hunter is forced to miss significant time again this season, Anderson will likely be used as the primary reserve. He needs to be ready to prove why he was a top 150 recruit out of high school. He only averaged 1.5 points and 1.1 rebounds per game across 21 contests last season. Expect a bigger role for Anderson this time around.
Joey Brunk | 6-foot-11 | 245 lbs | Junior
IU’s frontcourt is exceedingly deep this season and therefore Joey Brunk is likely to be the third big in the rotation behind TJD and Davis. Across two full seasons at Butler, the 6-foot-11 Brunk struggled to find a consistent role. The Dawgs ran a perimeter-centric scheme, for the most part, and therefore Brunk’s offensive touches were limited. He is at his best when allowed to work in one-on-one situations in the post as he boasts a fair number of moves and can be a reliable passer as well.
With that said, he does not stretch the floor as a scorer and struggles on the defensive end. Brunk plays with a great motor and will come away with plenty of hustle plays while quickly becoming a Hoosier fan-favorite. The key for him will be diversifying his offensive skill set and improving his defensive abilities across the board, especially in the pick-and-roll.
Jerome Hunter | 6-foot-7 | 220 lbs | Freshman
Perhaps the biggest question mark on the entire roster, Jerome Hunter redshirted last season as a result of a leg condition. He should be ready to go from the jump this season, though, and that would greatly improve IU’s rotation. Hunter was ranked as the No. 59 overall recruit in the 2018 class and brings a great combination of size and shooting ability.
The Hoosiers desperately need another 3-point threat in their rotation and Hunter would be able to bring that to the table. Additionally, he is a strong playmaker on the wing and could help Phinisee in that regard. If he is healthy, he will be a major impact reserve this season.
Race Thompson | 6-foot-8 | 235 lbs | Sophomore
Race Thompson has been a bit of a forgotten man in Bloomington. The former top 150 recruit in the 2017 class redshirted his first year on campus and then missed a ton of time last season due to a concussion. Now in his redshirt-sophomore campaign, Thompson projects as a reserve in Indiana’s crowded frontcourt. He stands at 6-foot-8 and can be a reliable rebounder.
His playing time this season might depend on how often Coach Miller will want to play two-big (TJD, Davis, Brunk) lineups. If he looks to go small more, that would spell more playing time for Thompson as he could split time at the “4” with Smith. Considering Thompson has essentially sat out the last two seasons (63 total minutes), it is hard to predict exactly what he will be able to bring to the table. Fans will soon find out, though, as it is likely that he cracks the rotation.
Armaan Franklin | 6-foot-4 | 195 lbs | Freshman
Although not the highest-ranked newcomer to IU this season, Armaan Franklin might surprise some people. The in-state prospect brings plenty of size to the backcourt and can be a dynamic player on both ends of the floor. Franklin takes great pride in his defense and also can score at all three levels. If he can be a viable threat from distance right away, it is reasonable to think that he can find consistent minutes as a key reserve.
Phinisee, Green, and Durham will log the majority of the playing time in the backcourt but don’t count Franklin out. He still needs to develop with regards to playmaking and consistency but he could be an impact scorer and defender right way. Franklin was ranked as the No. 151 overall recruit from the 2019 class.