Junior forward Justin Smith created offense from defense in Indiana's season opener against Western Illinois. He scored a team-high 24 points and snagged seven rebounds in the team's 98-65 victory.
Smith worked in the offseason to play multiple roles on both ends of the court and will need to defend both forwards and guards this season.
On the opening night of Indiana basketball inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, junior forward Justin Smith kicked off the season with a steal on one end of the court, then raced down the floor and finished with a dunk on the other.
His defensive intensity and offensive presence was a constant as Indiana blew past Western Illinois, 98-65. Smith started the game, contributed 22 minutes in the victory and was the game's leading scorer with 24 points to go along with a team-high seven rebounds.
“Defensively he's very, very active and made plays for us,” Indiana head coach Archie Miller said of Smith after the game. “So as we keep going here, he's an important cog in our wheel. He's got to stay with it and just keep getting better.”
Smith was utilized in the post and on the perimeter both offensively and defensively. Last season, he was tasked with matching up against other forwards near the paint, but now he’s extending his versatility toward the three-point line.
Just four minutes into the second half, he added a three pointer of his own on an open shot in the corner after an inbounds pass.
“Whatever coach Miller wants me to do, I will do on the floor,” Smith said. “Whatever he asks me to do. He wants me to play the four, he wants me to play the five, he wants me to play the one, I'll do it.”
The junior played most of his minutes at the three with limitations in the Hoosiers backcourt. Senior guard Devonte Green did not play due to an injury and sophomore Rob Phinisee was held to limited minutes.
Smith will be slotted into that role all season, where he can create mismatches thanks to his 6-foot-7 frame.
While the team saw junior guard Al Durham shoot a perfect seven-for-seven from the floor after returning from a knee contusion, it was Smith’s defense that transitioned to the team’s offense. He stole the ball from the Leathernecks three times in the game, all of them in the first half.
As an active defender, he was able to get fast breaks where the court was void of Western Illinois players. It was there where he could show off his athletic ability on four separate dunks for the Hoosiers, adding energy and excitement to the arena.
“I feel like I'm at my best in transition, so being able to create turnovers and really get out and run, use my athleticism to really benefit our team,” Smith said. “But just in general, we got to use defense to create our offense, especially with the kind of versatility that we have."
Smith spent the offseason honing his ability to play multiple positions, ultimately allowing him to compete against both opposing forwards and guards. Miller said when he is engaged and locked in, Smith has the potential to be an elite defender.
He’s shown the ability to challenge bigger players last year, but now he’s taking on smaller, off-ball players on offense.
“I mean it was a goal of mine to really be able to play more aggressive and more consistent on the perimeter,” Smith said. “So that's really what I worked on this off season and I'm lucky that it's coming into fruition.”
His athleticism on both ends of the court flashed in the team’s opening day victory. Smith’s versatility on offense and defense will be thrusted into significant minutes even when Green returns to the team.
When Miller’s roster is healthy, he’ll have a number of players to contribute as a committee this season, and Smith will be asked to play in a variety of roles like he did tonight.
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