'That's something we're going to need': Tayton Conerway flashes scoring ability in win -- a critical part of his game for Indiana's success

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — When Indiana was up by 25 points with less than five minutes remaining, it would have been easy to slow things down and go through the motions on both ends of the floor. But as a loose dribble from the opponent and tip away from Tayton Conerway saw the ball leave the Milwaukee player’s hand and roll into the backcourt, it was Conerway who dove — almost parallel to the floor — to try to gain possession of the ball. He did — and that’s just the beginning of Conerway’s game and what he means to this team moving forward.

It’s easy to get caught up in the three-point barrage from Lamar Wilkerson and Tucker DeVries, but just three games into the year and versatility of Tayton Conerway continues to be on display. Defensive intensity, leadership and playmaking had been on display throughout the first two games of the season. On Wednesday it was his scoring.

“Coming into the game my team just had a lot of confidence in me,” Conerway said after IU’s 101-70 win. “On the film, I mean, a part that we feel like we could attack was like the one-on-one defense, and there ain’t too many people that can stay in front of our guys.”

Conerway finished Wednesday’s win with 21 points on 8-of-11 from the field, six assists, two rebounds and two steals. In the first two games combined he had just 18 points and was 6-of-20 from the floor.

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But, he ‘hasn’t needed to’ be that guy until Wednesday’s game. After a slow start by Tucker DeVries — just two points in the first half — and two fouls on Lamar Wilkerson, it was Conerway who stepped up and took on the bulk of the scoring. He went on to score seven of the next 12 points for the Hoosiers after Wilkerson left the floor, helping stretch a seven point lead to 13.

“Yeah, Tayton just has an ability to get by people. He’s got a little shake to his game. You haven’t seen it a lot. He hasn’t needed to,” Darian DeVries said after the win. “I thought tonight he did a really good job. We thought he could potentially have a big night. We talked to him at shoot around today. Like any time we’re in trouble just create a gap or have the other guys create a gap and you just stick your head down and try to get to the rim and make a play.”

Having big scoring games isn’t new to Conerway. He came to Indiana after being named the Sun Belt Player of the Year last season, scoring 20+ points in seven games, including a career-high 32 points.

Through three games, Conerway is now averaging 13.0 points, 6.3 assists 1.7 steals, and is shooting 66.7 percent from the field.

Despite just a 29 percent three-point shooter a year ago, he came into the regular season shooting 35.7 percent (5-of-14) over the course of five exhibition games. He’s just 1-of-6 to start the year, but his volume is just where Indiana wants him to be.

His shot isn’t why Indiana brought him to Bloomington, either. It was for his quickness, craftiness, consistent paint touches and ability to put on performances like Wednesday night.

“Definitely just exploiting that (my matchup) and having our teammates kind of like believing in me,” Conerway said. “Coach DeVries at the end of the day just telling me, ‘man, they can’t stay in front of you, so go get the job done’, and that’s what happened.”

Conerway’s 6.3 assists per game lead Indiana and have sparked the ball movement for the Hoosiers this season — leading to 73 assists on 103 made field goals through three games. IU’s 70.9 assist rate ranks ninth in the country, according to KenPom. Indiana’s offense rating through three games is 13th in the nation at 120.8.

“I would say the reason why is probably just the way — how unselfish we are on moving the ball,” Conerway said. “Like giving up a good shot for a great shot. Sometimes even though that layup is open, there are seven footers now, so if we kick it up, wide open three-pointer. Lamar, Tucker, they ain’t going to miss too many of them. That’s really our reason why right there: Stay unselfish.”

So as Indiana moves into major non-conference over the course of the next month and throughout the entire Big Ten slate, Tayton Conerway’s moments will become bigger. And, that’s what Indiana needs from him.

“Thought he did a good job attacking tonight, DeVries added. “He got to the rim a lot, he got into the paint and sprayed. So he’s one of those guys that that’s something we’re going to need throughout the year.”

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