With the offseason underway, TheHoosier.com will review each IU player's 2016-17 season.
We continue the series with a look at freshman forward De'Ron Davis.
Stats
Averaged 5.9 points and 3.1 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per game ... Also shot 48.5 percent from the field and 75.6 percent from the free throw line ... Field goal percentage was fourth-highest on the team... Played in all 34 of IU's games as a true freshman, starting in four of them.
Season In Review
Davis, a four-star recruit and IU's highest rated signee from its 2016 class, arrived on campus in late August the day before the fall semester began. Tending to summer academic obligations delayed his departure from his hometown of Aurora, Colorado and put him behind from a conditioning standpoint. The rest of his classmates had already arrived on campus in early June and completed summer workouts by the time he got there.
Nonetheless, Davis' conditioning gradually improved and he began to make meaningful contributions as the season wore on. Former Indiana head coach Tom Crean initially had Davis on a "hockey-shift" playing time schedule to control his minutes as he got in shape.
Davis played 13.1 minutes per game off the bench during the Hoosiers' non-conference portion of the schedule, then saw his playing time increased to 19.7 minutes per contest during Big Ten play.
In his first career start, he tallied eight points and eight rebounds playing alongside sophomore center Thomas Bryant against Louisville on Dec. 31. He wouldn't get another start until the Minnesota game on Feb. 15, the first of three straight he made.
However, foul trouble proved problematic for Davis during Big Ten play. He recorded at least three fouls in six of the Hoosiers' final eight games of the season. In the Minnesota game, Davis picked up three fouls in three minutes.
When able to avoid foul trouble, Davis was productive defensively. His 26 blocks were third-most by an IU player last season.
On the offensive end of the court, Davis was very involved. Using advanced statistics from KenPom.com helps explain this.
Percent of possessions used - KenPom.com utilizes this metric to describe a player's role in the offense by explaining how the number of his team's possessions the player is "personably responsible for ending while he is on the floor" - is useful in illustrating Davis' place within the offense. According to KenPom, Davis used 24 percent of possible possessions, earning the designation of "major contributor." For reference, IU junior guard James Blackmon Jr. used 23.1 percent while Bryant used 22.6 percent.
Outlook
Davis has a chance to take on a larger role as a sophomore depending whether Bryant keeps his name in the NBA Draft or returns to school.
If Bryant keeps his name in the draft, there's no reason to believe Davis won't be the starting center this upcoming season. If Bryant returns, Davis would likely come off the bench.
Davis' role remains to be seen in IU head coach Archie Miller's system. Still, Davis' shot-blocking and rebounding ability will be an asset for next year's Indiana team, and his development over the summer will be worth watching with a full summer in Bloomington ahead of him.
Previous Postseason Player Reviews:
• OG Anunoby
• Thomas Bryant
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