[IUFR] How Smart Reads Lead to Efficient Post Offense for IU

Coach Adragna dives into Indiana's post offense and the reads players like Malik and Kel'el making, which has led to IU having one of the best post-scoring offenses in the country.

A lot of the talk surrounding the 2023-24 Indiana Hoosiers’ offense has been about their ability — or inability — to take and make threes.

While the Hoosiers do rank 356th out 363 Division I schools in 3-point attempt rate, one could argue it’s for good reason. Due to the Hoosiers’ low 3-point shooting percentage, Indiana is scoring just 0.92 points per possession when it attempts a 3-pointer, which is 272nd in the country.

Thankfully for the Hoosiers, and sometimes contrary to popular belief, there is more to offense than just being able to take and make threes.

Indiana’s two most consistent offensive forces, Malik Reneau and Kel’el Ware, start at the 4 and the 5. Naturally, much of their scoring comes from the inside.

For that reason, the Hoosiers run a lot of their offense through the post. However, that’s not to say Indiana just pounds the ball into the post and it never comes back out.

Indiana’s bigs have gotten to be very good at taking what the defense gives them when they catch the ball in the post.

On the year, Indiana is posting the ball more than 98% of the teams in Division I. But that’s not necessarily bad, as the Hoosiers score 1.03 points per possession when the ball is posted.

Extrapolated over 100 possessions, Indiana is scoring 11 more points when it posts the ball than when it shoots a 3.

In today’s film room, we’ll dive into different post reads the bigs are making and how it leads to points for the Hoosiers offense.

Post Reads for Indiana’s Bigs

Ball Side Double - Kickout

This read is when the double team comes from the wing on the ball side. The post player then kicks the ball out and the offense works from there with an advantage.

Ball Side Double - Give and Go

This is the same double team as the video above, but instead of the wing player staying on the perimeter to receive the kickout, he cuts to the basket and receives a pass from the post player.

Opposite Kick

This is a similar read as the double team kickout, but instead of kicking the ball out to the player that passed it, the post player finds an open player on the opposite side of the floor to kick to.

The opposite player is typically open based upon the double team rotations that the defense makes. Oftentimes, teams will leave the player farthest from the ball open, as they can close out to him if the ball is kicked.

How about when the IU bigs know where the double is coming from due to scouting and film study? That’s when they can really go to work …