Indiana 103, Anderson 71.

Normally, it might not be worth the trouble to review the box score of an exhibition game against a D-III opponent, but that's literally all we have to go on for the 2008-09 Hoosiers. A few random thoughts:

• This was a 74 possession game, much faster than IU's 2008-09 average of 67.1. On the other hand, IU was pretty fast against lesser non-conference opponents last season, so this many not represent a sea change in tempo--it may just have been IU running wild on one of the few teams we will out-talent this season.
• In light of the pace, it's outstanding that IU turned the ball over only 10 times. Again, this was against a Division III team, but given the pace, the completely new roster, and Anderson's experience, I happy about this.
  
• IU was 4-11 from three point range, again, quite a departure for IU. It's lower than I expected for such a guard-heavy team, and I expect that to change as we play more talented opponents.

Again, all this game proves is that IU would be a very good Division III team. But that's better than the alternative.

Beginning of an era: the exhibition against Anderson.

Video: 7pm, BigTenNetwork.com

IU begins the Tom Crean era tonight, sort of, with an exhibition game against Division III Anderson University. Anderson finished 15-12 last season. While this game is a warmup for the inexperienced, Hoosiers, the Ravens likely will be quite motivated: every single player on the Anderson roster is from Indiana, and given the state of IU's program, they probably believe they can win. Last season's leading scorer, Mike Russell, a 5-10 guard from Pike High School in Indianapolis, returns. Russell shot 37 percent from three point range. and scored 15.3 points per game Ryan Fultz, a 6-5 forward from Knightstown, was the only other double digit scorer at 13.3. Of the 9 Anderson players who averaged more than five points per game last season, seven return.

Anderson was a mediocre shooting team last season: .426 from the field, .307 from three point range. The Ravens played a quick pace, over 72 possessions per game, which would have ranked Anderson in the top 10 percent of Division I. On the other hand, Anderson averaged just over a point per possesion, so that fast pace didn't lead to high scores.

Of course, for IU fans, this game isn't really about Anderson. It's about eyeballing this team, finding out who Crean intends to use and how, and learning to tell the players without a scorecard.