Published: November 04, 2009 11:54 pm         

IU’s Crean uses exhibition win to teach young Hoosiers

BLOOMINGTON — Tom Crean sounded like a kid who keeps getting to unwrap his Christmas presents this week.

After Indiana defeated NAIA Grace College 96-73 in an exhibition Wednesday at Assembly Hall, Crean loved how he could use the game toteach his players in the days to come.

The fact that Grace repeatedly pushed the ball and torched the Indiana transition defense? Crean said that Grace “didn’t respect” the transition defense and was glad that he could use it to show his players exactly how hard they needed to work to get back on defense.

And when the players do get back on defense, Crean wanted to see them pressure the ball and help on defense. His assessment? They are a“long way off.”

Indiana only led by six at halftime and was even in rebounds until midway through the second half. The game was at times sloppy as the teams combined for 42 turnovers.

“We made a lot of basic mistakes. It was great to have them go through it and try to correct it in the game,” Crean said. “But it will be even better to show it on film and be able to correct it in practice.”

The first half saw nine ties and eight lead changes. But Crean told his players at halftime that if they continued to pressure Grace on defense, the Lancers would wear down and the Hoosiers would pull away.

With Indiana finally pulling away, Jeremiah Rivers stole the ball and took the ball in for a dunk. Ten seconds later, Verdell Jones stole the ball and looked at Rivers to see if they should go for the alley-oop. Rivers shook him off, took the pass and slammed home another dunk, sending the Assembly Hall crowd into a frenzy as the Hoosiers took a 73-55 lead.

And Grace coach Jim Kessler knew the game had gotten away.

“The two dunks were a culmination of those plays where the game got away,” Kessler said. “We were tired and Indiana decided it was time to get things done.”

For Rivers — a transfer from Georgetown — the two dunks not only doubled his career total, but meant he finally got to step on the floor.

The junior guard finished with 12 points and three assists in 23 minutes.

“I tried to take it all in during warm-ups so [the emotion] wouldn’t hit me all at once in the first few plays on the court.”

Freshman Christian Watford led Indiana with 19 points while Jordan Hulls added 14; Crean said Hulls impacted the game every time he was on the floor.

Crean said he wasn’t concerned about points tonight, but would grade the game looking at rotations and who was playing through fatigue.

“We have a long way to go, but I love our mindset and I love our attitude and desire to get better,” Crean said. “We smelled blood in the second half and went for it.”

Kessler said he was impressed with Indiana’s talent and how well coached they were, but cautioned that it will take time.

“Youth has to mature and has to grow,” Kessler said. “You can talk all you want at practice and show video tape until you are blue in the face, but you have to get on the court and play and learn how to win together.”