News & Views: Incorporating freshmen, taking a break, best sports coats

Three nuggets from Indiana's football and basketball teams on this first weekend in October.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana's football team is off this weekend, and the basketball team is just getting started. The hoops guys have had their two media days, both on campus and outside of Chicago at Wednesday's Big Ten event, and they started practice on Monday and will show off a little bit on Saturday at Hoosier Hysteria.

Here are a few topics to discuss:

Incorporating freshmen into the basketball mix

NEWS: Indiana's basketball team will need its highly regarded freshmen to step up immediately this season.

VIEWS: Indiana coach Archie Miller has been impressed with the newcomers so far, starting in the summer and through the first week of official workouts. He's sure they will be a big part of this Indiana team.

"Whether you're at Indiana or anywhere, young people take different paths to the floor. We've always played freshmen, our staff has. We've played freshmen here in our first two years, whether that be Al Durham or Justin Smith (in 2017-18) and last year's crew had a number of guys step in.

"This year's team will be no different. Our two true freshmen, Trayce (Jackson-Davis) and Armaan Franklin, both have been fantastic since they've stepped foot on campus in terms of their ability to do what we've asked them to do, fit in, and be productive. And I think through our first couple workouts here, looking at things, I think both guys have a chance to really impact our team.''

Jackson-Davis has been mentioned as a Freshman of the Year candidate in the league. He's that good. 

"Obviously Trayce coming in and being a McDonald's All-American, there's a lot around him in terms of accolades and hype,'' Miller said. "But right now he's been very, very humble in the way that he's worked, in the way that he's fit in. I'm very, very proud of him and Armaan both in the way they've approached things. They've been as good as any player on our team in terms of our fall camp and what we're doing. Both of those guys not only have to contribute, but they can impact our team.''

Indiana freshman Trayce Jackson-Davis was a McDonald's All-American at Center Grove High School

Breaking up the football season into thirds

NEWS: At the break, Indiana football is about what we thought they'd be. Or is there still much more to learn?

VIEWS: Because of how the calendar falls in 2019, there are two football bye weeks this season. That's a good thing, and this week is a great time to catch our breath and take a look at the big picture.

Indiana is 3-2 so far, with nonconference wins over Ball State, Eastern Illinois and UConn in which the Hoosiers gave up only a combined 27 points. But the two losses, to Big Ten foes Ohio State and Michigan State, have been a different story, The Hoosiers have given up 51 and 40 points in the two defeats. The defense has to get better quickly.

What it means is this stretch before the next bye week — Rutgers, at Maryland, at Nebraska and Northwestern — might be the most important month in Tom Allen's tenure at Indiana. It's that big, because of its potential.

The reason? Outside of Rutgers next week, where the Hoosiers probably will be a two-touchdown favorite or more, the following games are all toss-ups. Even, Steven. 

Can Indiana go 4-0? Or 3-1? Or worse?

Yes to all.

"The three games after Rutgers could all be pick 'em games,'' a Vegas insider told me Thursday. "They're that close from an action standpoint. Me personally, I think this Indiana team is on the rise, especially with that (Michael) Penix kid at quarterback. Their schedule sets up for a nice little run here, but they've got to go out and do it.

"Indiana really doesn't have that history, putting together winning streaks in the Big Ten. But this is a better team than we're used to seeing. They could hang 40 or 50 a week here for a while. And they could win a bunch of games.''

Archie Miller's deep red jacket turned a few heads

Looking good in red, even all dressed up

NEWS: Archie Miller rocks a red jack at Big Ten Media Day.

VIEWS: Hell, yeah. It worked.

Miller was rocking a deep red sports coat at Big Ten Media Days in Rosemont, Ill., on Wednesday. It was definitely the boldest statement of any coach, and even more of a fashion statement than his two players.

His two players who were at the event — captains Devonte Green and Al Durham — were both impressed and surprised with their coach's style game. They took the conservative approach themselves, wearing dark blue suits with ties.

“’He said if I was to have seen what you guys were wearing, I wouldn’t have worn this,’”  Green said about Miller’s bold jacket. “I didn’t even know about it until we got here.”

Ooh, ooh.
That's that B1G drip. 💦 pic.twitter.com/oPbHDYac2a

— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) October 2, 2019