Hoosier hearts sank when Indiana center Sam Alexis hyperextended his knee on the team’s first possession in Lexington Saturday evening. He had to be helped off the court while putting no weight on his left leg.
Alexis was inserted into the starting lineup last week as head coach Darian DeVries said he was looking for a spark and more physicality at the five spot. Instead, it appeared the Florida transfer could be lost for the game, if not much longer.
Fortunately for the Hoosiers, Alexis was able to come back just moments later, and he played 30 minutes in IU’s 72-60 loss to Kentucky.
But Alexis’ return didn’t necessarily provide answers as the Hoosiers gave up 14 offensive rebounds and were outscored 36-18 in the paint at Rupp Arena.
And his return didn’t provide a clear signal Alexis completely avoided an injury. He was icing his knee after the game, and DeVries spoke in a way on his Monday radio show that suggested Alexis was still being evaluated.
“You watch it on film and you realize it could have been much, much worse. We’re still hopeful that he’s going to be alright there,” DeVries said. “That was one of those injuries, if he is able to get through it he was very fortunate because that was one that could have been very bad.”
Even with Alexis, Indiana is a team lacking size against teams like Kentucky and the upcoming Big Ten gauntlet.
DeVries has been rotating the 6-foot-9 Alexis and 6-foot-10 Reed Bailey at the five, while playing 6-foot-7 Tucker DeVries primarily at power forward. Alexis has a center skill set but is undersized against most high major teams. Bailey has some enticing perimeter skills on the offensive end, but he hasn’t shown a consistent ability to score through contact or rebound at a level required of a Big Ten center. And at 6-foot-7, Tucker DeVries is probably more of a high major wing, at least from a rebounding standpoint.
Individually, Alexis and Bailey have been inconsistent. Alexis is only averaging 4.0 rebounds per game in Indiana’s three losses, and Bailey just 4.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in those contests.
Collectively, the Hoosiers have guarded the two well (42.6%, No. 6 in the country), but they’ve gotten there via help rather than rim protection. Indiana is just No. 275 in block rate (7.5%). And a lot of help can lead to games like Minnesota and Louisville, where teams shoot a good percentage from three against the Hoosiers.
Perhaps putting Alexis and Bailey on the court together could provide the answer? Because of a lack of overall depth on the inside, Darian DeVries hasn’t felt comfortable to this point going that route.
“The biggest challenge for us is depth,” DeVries said ahead of the Kentucky game. “We don’t have a third big right now that we can put in there if there’s foul trouble or whatever, so it’s hard for us to give them (Alexis and Bailey) many minutes together. It’s something we’d love to be able to explore and do a little bit more of. But right it’s just the lack of bodies to be able to keep them fresh and productive, and then the foul trouble piece as well.”
Indiana’s lack of depth on the inside might just be a problem that never finds a conventional solution this season.
6-foot-8 sophomore Josh Harris is one possibility when he gets healthy. But he doesn’t have the length IU is missing, and he probably isn’t ready for a major role this season when he returns. He is at least progressing towards a return since suffering an injury in the fall. He has not been wearing a walking boot this month, and DeVries said Monday Harris is getting closer to seeing the floor.
Meanwhile 6-foot-10 Bosnian freshman Andrej Acimovic hasn’t played at all this year and appears to be on a redshirt track. So he doesn’t look like the answer either.
Indiana’s best bet might be creativity by way of utilizing smaller lineups featuring players with shooting ability who embrace physicality and rebounding.
That’s where freshman Trent Sisley and junior Nick Dorn come into the picture. Both of their minutes have been on the rise of late. Perhaps they should be playing even more.
The 6-foot-8 Sisley is playing with the motor the Hoosiers need in the front court. He is leading the team in defensive rebounding rate (19.7%) and defensive rebounds per 40 minutes (7.4).
And the 6-foot-7 Dorn is shooting 43.3% from three on the season while posting three games of 13 or more points in the last five contests. He has averaged 4.0 rebounds per game over the last three games from his wing position.
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