Jump to content

Thanks for visiting BtownBanners.com!  We noticed you have AdBlock enabled.  While ads can be annoying, we utilize them to provide these forums free of charge to you!  Please consider removing your AdBlock for BtownBanners or consider signing up to donate and help BtownBanners stay alive!  Thank you!






Sign in to follow this  

Harrison Niego continues to add depth to IU's bench


hmhernan
  • IU did what it is known to do in Assembly Hall, knock off ranked opponents. The Hoosiers took down No. 4 Iowa 85-78 on Thursday night and it is games like this, which convinced freshman walk-on Harrison Niego to pass up scholarship offers and choose to come play for IU.

All week around campus, there was a buzz about Thursday night’s game. Would IU pull off the upset? Would it get demolished on its home court? I have to admit, I was nervous to see which IU team would show up. But nevertheless, IU would get a chance to play a top-five team, at home and in front of a national audience.

 

The energy, the stage and the opportunities cannot be matched anywhere else. The fans played a big part of it and once that energy gets rolling, there is no slowing down, Niego said.

 

Niego only had two points in seven minutes, but it’s guys like him that gave the Hoosiers the depth to rally back against Iowa. Despite a 16-point lead in the first half, IU ended up trailing by 4 points in the second half. But that’s where the bench came in. IU had 28 bench points, while Iowa had 0.

 

Nick Zeisloft, Max Bielfeldt, OG Anunoby, Juwan Morgan and Niego all played, and all scored for the Hoosiers. With Yogi Ferrell struggling to make shots, Thomas Bryant in foul trouble and yet another unpredictable and unreliable performance from Troy Williams, the IU bench is what keeps this team grounded.

 

Coach Tom Crean admits Ferrell plays too many minutes. Crean also admits that it is his fault. Niego is good, but he’s still young. He doesn’t have the confidence and experience yet to give him more playing time.

 

It’s obvious for one to see Niego is overthinking things out on the court, passing up opportunities to score. He still looks timid.

 

“Sometimes Niego is his own worst enemy and we just wanted him to play fast,” Crean said. “I wouldn't say reckless, but try to play fast and be really, really cognizant of moving the ball to people and be confident that he's out there and not worry about who he's matched up with, just do his best job.”

 

I’ll admit I was really worried for this year when news got out James Blackmon Jr. would be out for the season. But the problem now seems to be that the Hoosiers have too many guys who can fill Blackmon’s spot.

 

Other freshmen like Anunoby and Morgan play more than Niego because they are bigger and they have more versatility, but that isn’t to go against Niego and say that he’s not capable.

 

“[Niego] is tough,” Crean said. “He's a tough, young guy. And he's got to play more. I mean, it's been me, not him. I’ve just been playing those other guys more. But we have to have another guy that can handle the ball. And I was really proud of the way he played.”

 

Niego’s only points, and only shot, came with about 9 minutes left in the second half off of a baseline jumper to decrease Iowa’s lead to two. He’s a good shooter, but he still remains just a little too shy on offense.

 

However, I’d rather have him be too timid than be too out-of-control. As we’ve seen with Williams, it is not a good habit to have too much confidence and the mindset that one can do no wrong.

 

It seems as though all Niego needs is a little encouragement to spark his attack on offense. He plays the best when he trusts his instinct.

 

“Yogi is a great leader, he always tells me to be aggressive and look for my shot,” Niego said. “But when these guys instill confidence in me like they always do, it's real easy just to kind of revert back and knock down a shot or two to help us.

 

IU really showed its depth on Thursday night and they proved again, that Assembly Hall is a tough place to play if you’re the visiting team. Sure, Ferrell, Williams, Robert Johnson and those guys get some of the credit, but without IU’s bench, these wins wouldn’t be happening.

 

This wasn’t the first big victory for IU this season, and I definitely don’t think it will be the last. IU has balance in its lineup and that will come to make a big difference down the stretch. The fact that so many guys can contribute makes this win nothing less but a team effort.

 

It wasn’t an easy victory for IU, but it was a meaningful one. Despite talk of the ‘easy schedule,’ the Hoosiers have earned their wins. And at this point in the season, I’ll take a win, no matter how they come.

Sign in to follow this  


User Feedback

Recommended Comments



If we have a free scholarship should give it to him.

 

If there was one available, he would have it. That's what it means to be a "preferred" walk-on. 

Share this comment


Link to comment
Share on other sites

If there was one available, he would have it. That's what it means to be a "preferred" walk-on. 

I thought it meant you did not have participate in tryouts. He just knew he had a spot on the team coming in (as opposed to like, Burton, who went through tryouts).

 

I extra think that because don't we only have 12 scholarship players? Yogi, JBJ, Rojo, Troy, OG, Juwan, Max, TB, Priller, Z3, Hartman, and Newkirk? Then Tharp, Niego, Taylor, and Burton walking on?

Share this comment


Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought it meant you did not have participate in tryouts. He just knew he had a spot on the team coming in (as opposed to like, Burton, who went through tryouts).

 

I extra think that because don't we only have 12 scholarship players? Yogi, JBJ, Rojo, Troy, OG, Juwan, Max, TB, Priller, Z3, Hartman, and Newkirk? Then Tharp, Niego, Taylor, and Burton walking on?

 

I think you're right on that count. A preferred walk-on is recruited and doesn't have to go through tryouts. I know in the past, not necessarily on IU but other teams, that preferred walk-ons get a scholarship when one is available. Certainly strange if Niego doesn't. Perhaps it has to do with the IU Student Athlete Bill of Rights and if he got a scholarship he'd have to have it for four years? 

Share this comment


Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't go overboard on Niegro. Everybody loves the underdog but he is a role player and he is doing fine filling his role. At this point in his career he has been pushed into service because of our lack of depth at guard because of Blackmon's injury. He isn't ready to be pushed much farther or his shortcomings will become more apparent. As to the future, we will see what happens.


Oh Ok, if you say so, then it's good enough for me.

Share this comment


Link to comment
Share on other sites

How does someone like priller get a free ride where niego has to pay? Makes zero cents

did we even get any road Priller last night? Now that I think about it on don't remember him. If not that is sad 27 point lead and can't get garbage seconds lol

Share this comment


Link to comment
Share on other sites
I really think it's sad that we have to turn to a walk on for yogis time off the court but that being said I'm thankful that he hustles and gives his best effort on the court plus he is scrappy when he is out there I like it

Share this comment


Link to comment
Share on other sites



Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
















×