Hoosier State Hoops: IU Finishes Disappointing Season

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Indiana University’s season came to a close Tuesday night as the Hoosiers lost to Wichita State, 73-63, to finish the season with a record of 19-16.

This season for the Indiana Hoosiers couldn’t have been more underwhelming. The addition of Romeo Langford along with Rob Phinisee gave Indiana a top recruiting class that led to many projections of being an NCAA tournament team. But only finishing three games over .500 is just not good enough to deserve a tournament bid.

Indiana did finish with seven wins against Quad 1 teams but that does not, and should not, overcome a terrible 1-12 stretch. NCAA tournament teams do not have stretches like that in the season, let alone when the Hoosiers have the talent they had on the roster.

One highlight of the season was Romeo Langford, despite all the pressure he had on him. He was nothing short of spectacular in my eyes. Langford finished the season with averaging 16.5 points and five rebounds per game.

As Langford’s season concludes, the next step up could be the NBA draft as mock drafts are putting him around the end of the lottery. Those projections typically lead to the player testing the waters and I believe it will be too hard for him not to pass up. Langford did everything he could and the team did not play up to their capability.

Certainly a huge reason Indiana even kept their season afloat was Juwan Morgan. Morgan was a man among boys in the paint for the Hoosiers this season as he concluded his four years with Indiana. The forward from Waynesville, Missouri put together a solid campaign of 15 points and eight rebounds that were needed every game. Those efforts should leave Morgan proud of the efforts he has put in throughout his four year career. He has nothing to be ashamed of as he continued to improve each and every year, which is all you can ask for from your players.

Indiana, as it moves forward to next season, has an opportunity to redeem itself with Greenwood native Trayce Jackson-Davis arriving. Jackson-Davis gives them their second McDonald’s All American in a row. Not to mention that Armaan Franklin, who is from Indianapolis, will look to make an immediate impact for his hometown team. However, the Hoosiers may not be done adding as they are being looked at by recruits such as Trendon Watford and Harlond Beverly.

Indiana, being a young team, has most of their players coming back as the Hoosiers will only lose three scholarship players with the possibility of losing four.  Seniors Evan Fitzner and Juwan Morgan will graduate and junior Clifton Moore intends to transfer. It also seems that Romeo Langford will declare for the NBA Draft as well. Langford has not given any idea as to what he will do but I am assuming that a lottery selection will be too tempting. This roster heading into next season will still be led by head coach Archie Miller, and he will look to get Indiana to its first NCAA tournament and eliminate the rough 2018-2019 season that left many Hoosiers fans unsatisfied.

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