Is this what they need to turn it around? I don't think so...rumor is the starting lineup will be:
Roberts, Kline, Wright, Strickland and Coverdale
IU shuffles starting lineup for Michigan
Strickland to start at point, Coverdale moves to shooting guard, Hornsby to come off bench.
By Terry Hutchens
terry.hutchens@indystar.com
February 12, 2003
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Freshman Marshall Strickland is in at point guard for the Indiana Hoosiers.
Senior Tom Coverdale slides over to shooting guard. And senior Kyle Hornsby will come off the bench.
In an attempt to shake IU out of its doldrums and five-game losing streak, basketball coach Mike Davis is shaking up his backcourt tonight when the Hoosiers (14-8, 4-5 Big Ten) play host to Michigan (14-8, 7-2) at Assembly Hall.
Davis is hoping by lessening Coverdale's ball-handling responsibilities, his senior guard will be able to bust out of a seven-game shooting slump.
"I moved him to the shooting guard spot because people have really been picking him up full court and taking a lot of energy from him," Davis said. "I think moving him to the two-guard will allow him to become more of a scorer again, and our offense will be a lot quicker than what it has been with Marshall and Donald (Perry) handling the ball."
Coverdale's best games come when he's hitting a high percentage of his 3-point shots. When he can connect from 3-point range, Coverdale is a confident player who can exhort the crowd and give IU the energy it needs.
When he's not hitting his 3-pointers, however, Coverdale slips into a shell. He looks frustrated, his shoulders sag and he begins to press on offense.
In the past seven games, Coverdale has struggled with his 3-point shot. He is 7-of-39 from beyond the arc, 18 percent. Last week against Michigan State and Northwestern, he was 1-of-14 from 3-point range.
Davis said when he worked Coverdale in at the shooting guard spot in practice Monday, he saw immediate results.
"He was a different player," Davis said. "He was coming off screens and getting better shots and he just looked more confident. I also think this will free him up to drive to the basket more from a set position."
Davis said Coverdale accepted the move well.
"He told me he just wanted to be on the floor and help us win basketball games," Davis said.
Davis will continue to go with a three-guard lineup with Strickland, Coverdale and Bracey Wright. Hornsby, who has averaged 4.0 points in his past six Big Ten games, has been demoted.
Coverdale said Saturday following the Michigan State game that he and his teammates have to keep their heads up and get through this bad stretch.
"We took some small steps (against Michigan State), but we knew we weren't just going to come in, play hard and right away play our best basketball," Coverdale said. "Hopefully, we can turn things around."
Davis is hoping that recent history with another Big Ten school can repeat itself.
Last season, Illinois opened conference play 4-5, then won its final seven games to finish 11-5 and earn a share of the Big Ten championship.
But the similarities run even deeper. After nine games, Illinois was 4-1 at home and 0-4 on the road, the same as IU this season.
The ninth game for Illinois last season was a 67-61 home loss to Michigan State. IU's ninth game was a 67-62 home overtime loss to Michigan State on Saturday.
When Illinois won its final seven in a row, its first win was against Michigan, IU's foe tonight.
"When things are not going well, it's easy to get caught up in that downward spiral," Davis said. "But we just need to take things one game at a time and get back on the winning track again."
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Roberts, Kline, Wright, Strickland and Coverdale
IU shuffles starting lineup for Michigan
Strickland to start at point, Coverdale moves to shooting guard, Hornsby to come off bench.
By Terry Hutchens
terry.hutchens@indystar.com
February 12, 2003
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Freshman Marshall Strickland is in at point guard for the Indiana Hoosiers.
Senior Tom Coverdale slides over to shooting guard. And senior Kyle Hornsby will come off the bench.
In an attempt to shake IU out of its doldrums and five-game losing streak, basketball coach Mike Davis is shaking up his backcourt tonight when the Hoosiers (14-8, 4-5 Big Ten) play host to Michigan (14-8, 7-2) at Assembly Hall.
Davis is hoping by lessening Coverdale's ball-handling responsibilities, his senior guard will be able to bust out of a seven-game shooting slump.
"I moved him to the shooting guard spot because people have really been picking him up full court and taking a lot of energy from him," Davis said. "I think moving him to the two-guard will allow him to become more of a scorer again, and our offense will be a lot quicker than what it has been with Marshall and Donald (Perry) handling the ball."
Coverdale's best games come when he's hitting a high percentage of his 3-point shots. When he can connect from 3-point range, Coverdale is a confident player who can exhort the crowd and give IU the energy it needs.
When he's not hitting his 3-pointers, however, Coverdale slips into a shell. He looks frustrated, his shoulders sag and he begins to press on offense.
In the past seven games, Coverdale has struggled with his 3-point shot. He is 7-of-39 from beyond the arc, 18 percent. Last week against Michigan State and Northwestern, he was 1-of-14 from 3-point range.
Davis said when he worked Coverdale in at the shooting guard spot in practice Monday, he saw immediate results.
"He was a different player," Davis said. "He was coming off screens and getting better shots and he just looked more confident. I also think this will free him up to drive to the basket more from a set position."
Davis said Coverdale accepted the move well.
"He told me he just wanted to be on the floor and help us win basketball games," Davis said.
Davis will continue to go with a three-guard lineup with Strickland, Coverdale and Bracey Wright. Hornsby, who has averaged 4.0 points in his past six Big Ten games, has been demoted.
Coverdale said Saturday following the Michigan State game that he and his teammates have to keep their heads up and get through this bad stretch.
"We took some small steps (against Michigan State), but we knew we weren't just going to come in, play hard and right away play our best basketball," Coverdale said. "Hopefully, we can turn things around."
Davis is hoping that recent history with another Big Ten school can repeat itself.
Last season, Illinois opened conference play 4-5, then won its final seven games to finish 11-5 and earn a share of the Big Ten championship.
But the similarities run even deeper. After nine games, Illinois was 4-1 at home and 0-4 on the road, the same as IU this season.
The ninth game for Illinois last season was a 67-61 home loss to Michigan State. IU's ninth game was a 67-62 home overtime loss to Michigan State on Saturday.
When Illinois won its final seven in a row, its first win was against Michigan, IU's foe tonight.
"When things are not going well, it's easy to get caught up in that downward spiral," Davis said. "But we just need to take things one game at a time and get back on the winning track again."
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