Indiana @ Providence preview
Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville
Indiana and Providence are two teams with hopes of showing improvement this season.
The Hoosiers and Friars will get to gauge their progress when they face off in the Maui Invitational in Asheville, N.C., on Monday. Indiana and Providence are opposite a bracket that includes Texas and Davidson.
"We are getting ready to take on a Maui field that is really, really talented," Indiana coach Archie Miller said. "We have our work cut out for us as we get down there."
Indiana (1-0) is coming off an 89-59 win over Tennessee Tech. Trayce Jackson-Davis was strong inside with 26 points and 11 rebounds, but the Hoosiers also experimented with a smaller lineup and got a lift from Trey Galloway, who scored 13 points off the bench in his IU debut. Miller said playing smaller this season has created some concerns for the Hoosiers rebounding the basketball.
"I don't know that we have a ton of guys going after the ball and rebound it," Miller said. "That is the biggest concern going to Asheville. With that type of field, that is what we are going to be going up against is rebounding."
Providence (1-0) is coming off a 97-56 win over Fairfield in its opener. Star guard David Duke got in foul trouble, picking up two fouls in the first 17 minutes, but still finished with a solid all-around game with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
"I want David to believe he's dominant," Providence coach Ed Cooley said. "He's such a good kid. He's a physical specimen, he's worked on his decision making, his ball handling, his mid-range, finishing at the basket, his conditioning. I mean he's in really, really good shape. Talked to him about senseless fouls ... with him off the floor, we're a different team."
Miller and Cooley share a bond off the floor because they coached together for Team USA at an event in Crete, Greece and won a gold medal in 2015. Both coaches have similar styles, demanding defense first, and expect a physical, grinding contest.
"We're used to playing with teams like Indiana," Cooley said. "When you play in the Big East there's never a night off, so the players that have been here are accustomed to the level of play. It's unfortunate that it's a little bit earlier this year and we have only one game under our belt. It will be a totally different game than it was the other day."
--Field Level Media