Upperclassmen guards often are the leaders of college basketball teams, and that will be the case with the 2019-20 Indiana Hoosiers.
By a vote of their teammates, senior Devonte Green and junior Al Durham will be the captains for IU for the upcoming season.
Green averaged 9.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game last year while shooting 40.2 percent from the field overall and 41% from long range.
Indiana head coach Archie Miller said this about Green during last week’s IU basketball media day:
“When he’s played well throughout his time with us we’ve had some great wins. Consistency is what we’re looking for, but he’s coming into his senior year. Mentally he is in the best place he’s been since I’ve been here. His five-week pre-season and off-season has been very distractionless on the floor, and the off floor in the weight room and conditioning areas, he’s hit all-time high marks. He’s good there. Best he’s been.
He’s our most talented offensive player without question. To be able get the most out of him, you’re going to have to live with him doing some things at times that probably you would like to take back. But for him to be able to be himself, for him to be able to do it at another level more consistently, he’s got to have some more rope.”
Durham averaged 8.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game last year while shooting 40.3 percent overall and 34.8 percent from long range.
Miller had this to say about Durham last week:
“He’s always been about the right things, and he continues to be the same way right now as he was when he got here. That’s a credit to his family and credit to how he approaches things, not only in basketball perspective, but just in general. He’s a great guy. He’s a great person to have on your team. He’s a great guy to go to class with. He’s a great guy.
He takes a lot pride in his individual improvement and he works at it. He’s a much better player. He’s stronger now than he has been in the past. He’s heavier now than he has been in the past. Now he’s experienced a lot of minutes in a two-year period. We count on him to do a lot.”
Below is the full release from the school.
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana – Indiana University men’s basketball coach Archie Miller has announced that senior Devonte Green and junior Al Durham, in a vote by their teammates, have been named team captains for the 2019-20 season.
“Being a team captain comes with great responsibility,” said Miller. “You lead by example on the floor every day with your work ethic and in the locker room by not being afraid to hold your teammates accountable in representing the standards we expect when you wear Indiana across your chest. Devonte and Al have earned the respect of their teammates and coaching staff.”
Green is in his fourth year with the Hoosiers and is the top returning scorer for IU averaging 9.4 points and 85 assists. He also led the team shooting 41.0% from three-point range. He has played in 91 career games.
Durham is in his third year in the program and 8.3 points with 54 assists. He also led the team in free throw shooting averaging 73.6% from the free throw line. He has started 39 games in two seasons.
The Hoosiers will begin practice today. They open the season at home, November 5, against Western Illinois.
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