NCAA Basketball: Ranking the state of Indiana teams for 2020-21 season
1. NCAA Basketball state of Indiana power rankings – Indiana Hoosiers
Projected Depth Chart
G- Rob Phinisee, JR / Armaan Franklin, SO
G- Khristian Landers, FR / Anthony Leal, FR / Trey Galloway, FR
G- Al Durham, SR / Jerome Hunter, SO / Jordan Geronimo, FR
PF- Trayce Jackson Davis
C- Joey Brunk / Race Thompson, JR
It seems that order his been restored in the state of Indiana (as far as these preseason rankings are concerned). The reclassification of Khristian Lander into 2020 gives the Hoosiers a top 25 player in his perspective class on the inside AND the outside for the first time since Cody Zeller and Yogi Ferrell. Trayce Jackson Davis (13.5 pts, 8.4 reb, 1.2 ast) and Lander will be one of the top 1-2 punches in the Big Ten this season, a punch that they were missing when top 10 recruit Romeo Langford tried to do it all for IU back in 2018.
The big question for Head Coach Archie Miller is who will start at the point guard position? Rob Phinisee (7.3 pts, 2.5 reb, 3.4 ast) has had a strong first two seasons in an IU uniform and was ready to take the next step this upcoming season with the graduation of last years’ second-leading scorer, Devonte Green. It’s hard to see a scenario where the newly reclassified freshman, Lander, doesn’t start, but Phinisee would start for almost any team in the Big Ten. Can they be on the floor at the same time? That will be a fascinating storyline to watch.
In the frontcourt, the transfer of former top 100 recruit Justin Smith was a bit of a surprise and puts more pressure on the trio of 6’11 Joey Brunk (6.8 pts, 5.2 reb, .6 ast), 6’7 Jerome Hunter (3.8 pts, 2.1 reb, .3 ast) and Race Thompson (3.7 pts, 4.0 reb, .4 ast) to help Jackson-Davis in the frontcourt. Two key points here for IU: 1) Smith and Jackson-Davis never quite seemed to find the chemistry the program had hoped, and 2) having three solid options to replace Smith’s 10 points and five rebound shows just how much depth and talent this team has. I think they will be ok without Smith.
The Hoosiers look great on paper, but thus far in three seasons at the helm in Bloomington, Coach Miller has been unable to turn next level talent into much success. 2019-20 would have had March Madness in the cards for IU, but Indiana fans will quickly forget that if the upcoming campaign is a disappointment. With Khristian Lander’s unexpected eligibility in 2020-21 expectations are high among the Hoosier faithful which only ramps up the pressure on Miller.
Next. Updated top-25 power rankings for 2020-21. dark
Indiana and Purdue will be neck and neck in the Big Ten all season long, but the lack of depth in West Lafayette coupled with Indiana’s latest recruiting win pushes the Hoosiers across the line as the #1 team in the state to start the season over the Boilers.