Indiana closes out its first week of the 2023-24 season with a Sunday evening game against Army.
Game Day Essentials:
Army (0-2) at Indiana (1-0)
- Tip Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern
- Location: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222), Bloomington, Indiana
- Television: BTN (Matt Schumacker, Robbie Hummel)
- Stream: Fox Sports
- IU Radio Network: IU Radio Network
- Point Spread: Indiana is a 24.5-point favorite
- KenPom Projected Score: No. 53 Indiana 77 No. 338 Army 54
- Series: First Meeting
Bob Knight’s time at Army
While the two teams have never met, legendary head coach Bob Knight led both programs.
His coaching appointment to West Point made him the youngest varsity coach in college history at age 24. Knight had a 102-50 record during his six seasons (1965-71) at West Point. He guided the Black Knights to four trips to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) (1966, 1968, 1969, 1970) and helped Army to one third-place and two fourth-place showings at the NIT. Knight coached Army to a pair of 20-win seasons, including an Academy-record 22 wins in 1969-70. He also remains one of just two Army basketball coaches to have registered more than 100 wins.
Army’s Kevin Kuwick
Kevin Kuwik (COO-ick), was named Army West Point’s Lee Anderson Head Men’s Basketball Coach on March 29, 2023, announced by Director of Athletics Mike Buddie. Kuwik becomes the 32nd head coach in the program’s 121-year history.
Kuwik spent this past season (2022-23) as an assistant coach at Butler under head coach Thad Matta. His impressive résumé includes both stints working for Matta for two seasons at Ohio State and serving under Brad Stevens at Butler for a single season. Kuwik brings more than 20 seasons of coaching experience with him.
“Kevin is a great choice! He has worked with the best at very special places. I’m excited for the future of Army West Point Basketball.” – Mike Krzyzewski, Hall of Fame Coach and Former Army West Point Coach (1975-1980).
Prior to his most recent stop at Butler, he spent five seasons (2017-22) at Davidson with the final four seasons as an assistant coach. At Davidson, Kuwik helped the Wildcats to a record of 101-52 earning NCAA Tournament berths in 2018 and 2022 while making NIT appearances in 2019 and 2021. Davidson posted an impressive mark of 59-24 in Atlantic 10 play during his tenure. In addition to recruiting and scouting responsibilities, Kuwik worked with the team’s frontcourt players, highlighted by 2022 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Luka Brajkovic.
Before joining Davidson staff, Kuwik spent six seasons (2011-17) at Dayton where he worked under Archie Miller. While in Dayton, Kuwik helped the Flyers to a 139-65 overall record, 68-31 conference mark and five postseason appearances (four NCAA Tournaments and one NIT), including a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2014. Kuwik
coordinated the Flyers’ defense, which ranked 15th nationally according to KenPom during the 2015-16 season.
Army’s results and roster:
Army has opened the season with a 71-55 home loss to KenPom No. 235 Marist, and a 57-44 road loss to No. 343 Stonehill.
Army rosters a trio of players on the travel squad with Indiana high school basketball roots. Senior forward Charlie Peterson, a native of North Central, serves as the team’s captain and has career averages of 6.9 points and 4.9 rebounds across 82 career starts.
Senior forward Matt Dove, a Princeton Community alum, has 72 career appearances off the bench.
Junior guard Blake Barker, a Columbus North graduate, has appeared in 13 career games.
Army’s KenPom notable numbers:
(out of 362 teams)
Tempo – No. 313 (Offense No. 259 / Defense No. 225)
Offensive Efficiency – No. 359
- Army shoots a lot of threes (46 percent of all shots, No. 53 highest rate), but they’ve only made on 25 percent so far. That low rate, along with making just 36.1 percent from two, has led to the No. 325 effective field goal percentage (36.7 percent).
- A high turnover rate (24.2 percent, No. 322) has added to the Black Knights’ challenges on the offensive end.
- Things aren’t any better at the free throw line, where Army has made just 51 percent (No. 330).
- If there’s any bright spot, the Black Knights have grabbed 30.7 of their misses, for the No. 150 offensive rebounding rate.
Defensive Efficiency – No. 235
- Opponents are making 57.1 percent of their shots, resulting in the No. 290 defensive effective field goal percentage. Things have been especially bad beyond the arc where teams have made 40 percent from three against Army, No. 296.
- Army doesn’t have the length to block shots. Their 1.6 percent block rate is just No. 337.
- The Black Knights have been very good at not allowing offensive rebounds. Teams are corralling just 11.9 percent of their misses, No. 7 nationally.
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