Roster Outlook: Rob Phinisee
The only remaining player from a highly-touted 2016 Indiana recruiting class is point guard Rob Phinisee. Phinisee has been a frustrating player for Hoosier fans to watch over his career. His freshman season mirrored that of Yogi Ferrell -- a traditional point guard who showed flashes of something more.
However, Phinisee hasn't developed into the scorer some might have expected him to become. Instead, the development has come on the defensive end of the floor. Newly hired assistant coach Dane Fife called Phinisee one of the best defenders in the Big Ten, and that he expects him to spearhead the defense.
With a new coach and a new system, this season could be the one Hoosier fans have been expecting from Phinisee for years.
2020-2021 Recap
2020-2021 Stats: 7.1 points, 2.9 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 34.7% field goal, 26% 3pt
Phinisee struggled mightily scoring the basketball last season. He averaged 7.1 points per game (fifth-most on the team) on an atrocious 26% from three and 34.7% shooting overall. Those shooting numbers are bad by any standard, but it isn't entirely Phinisee's fault.
On a roster bereft of playmaking and scoring, Phinisee often had to overextend and play a role in which he was not comfortable. A pure point guard, the junior thrives when bringing the ball up the court, setting up the offense, and guarding the opposing team's best guard. Scoring is not his main point of focus.
That isn't to say Phinisee can't score. In his best offensive game of the season, he dropped 16 in one-half against Nebraska. However, it is unlikely he will ever be able to score like that consistently. This season, Phinisee is primed to succeed in ways he never has in the past.
Improvements for this season
Defense will always be the standout aspect of Phinisee's skillset, but defense alone just won't cut it. The point guard must create for others, and that starts by creating opportunities for himself. Shooting 34.7% from the field is horrible, but there is reason to believe that percentage may go up.
For the first time in his college career, Phinisee does not have to be a key cog in the offense. If he can make good passes and hit open spot-ups he should be just fine. When surrounded by players like Miller Kopp, Xavier Johnson, Parker Stewart, and the like, this is all he will need to do and he will be better for it.
If he could become a strength on offense, that would be a fantastic development for Mike Woodson's squad. At the very least, Phinisee needs to not be a liability when his team has the ball.
Expectations for this season
Phinisee's shooting numbers are likely to improve next season. He may not score more points, but he will likely be far more efficient. Think about it this way -- two seasons ago, Phinisee and Al Durham were the only two players in the starting lineup who even had a three-point shot in their arsenal (surrounded by Justin Smith, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Joey Brunk).
When only two players on the court are remotely a threat from the outside, the defense can pack the lane and overplay the shooters. Very few shots in Phinisee's career have been easy to make.
This season, the floor will be more evenly spaced, creating more open driving lanes and cleaner looks from three. The quality of shots will improve, and Phinisee will not have to expend as much energy on the offensive end of the floor. Spending less energy on offense means even more energy for his lockdown defensive game.
Phinisee's game has been thirsting for a better supporting cast to bring out the best in him. On this team, Phinisee can focus on what he does best instead of trying to be a player he is not.
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