Indiana men’s basketball was going to have its ups and downs this season.
That was obvious when it became apparent that head coach Darian DeVries’ first roster was built on 3-point shooting with relatively
minimal size in the frontcourt compared to its peers around the Big Ten. So it wasn’t exactly surprising when the Hoosiers dropped four consecutive games in the middle of January. All four of those losses are understandable on paper, none rank outside of KenPom’s top-25, but enough came in blowout fashion to be worrying.
So when Indiana went on the road at Rutgers with Jersey Mike’s Arena being a house of horrors for the program as of late, a fifth loss wouldn’t have been surprising. The Scarlet Knights are pretty middling this season but have been surprisingly competitive against the same teams that blew out Indiana.
Instead it was Indiana on the right end of a blowout, winning 82-59. Sure, shooting variance had to swing in its favor eventually. It was a heartening performance with rival Purdue set to visit Assembly Hall and ope, Indiana won that one too, 72-67.
Indiana snapped its losing streak by beating a bad team and started a winning streak by beating a good thing. The main difference between those two wins and the previous four losses? Nick Dorn, the Elon transfer, in the starting lineup in lieu of an injured Tayton Conerway.
Dorn was masterful in those two games, particularly in his 3-point shooting. He went 6-10 from beyond the 3-point line against Rutgers and 4-9 against Purdue with 23 and 18 points, respectively. Indiana doesn’t win either without him.
His presence changes the lineup itself, bumping Lamar Wilkerson over to his more natural position at shooting guard as Dorn mans the wing. He gives Indiana three proven 3-point shooters in himself, Wilkerson and Tucker DeVries with Conor Enright taking his fair share of shots and making a big one late against Purdue. Combine that with all the movement in the offense and it makes for a group that’s very difficult to keep track of, constantly threatening from long range while opening up opportunities for cuts to the rim. This team is built to make 3s, move and pass the ball until an opportunity opens up. Having Dorn on the court, particularly with Wilkerson and DeVries, makes for more opportunities.
Dorn helped lift Indiana when the Hoosiers needed it more than ever before this season. Indiana’s coaching staff has to return the favor by lifting him into the starting lineup permanently.
That naturally means demoting somebody once Conerway has fully returned from his lingering ankle injury. It’s not like Conerway is without value, his ability to get downhill isn’t really available anywhere else and could prove even more advantageous when he’s with three proven floor spacers. Rotating between Conerway and Enright, the team’s best passer, at point guard seems appropriate.
Dorn has definitely played his way into starting minutes and deserves that status. Elevating him would help Indiana immediately and send a message to future recruits that performance is rewarded in Bloomington.
