IU basketball: How De'Ron Davis' injury affects Hoosiers moving forward

• IU at Minnesota, 5:15 p.m., Saturday, ESPN2

BLOOMINGTON – Indiana’s trip north for its second Big Ten road test in a week hit a setback before the Hoosiers even lifted off for Minneapolis.

De’Ron Davis, arguably the Hoosiers’ most important rim-protecting defender will miss Saturday’s meeting between IU and Minnesota. And perhaps much longer.

“It was a non-contact injury,” IU coach Archie Miller said, describing the “lower-leg” problem that will hold Davis out Saturday and beyond. “He’ll be out indefinitely until we have just a 100 percent clear indication of (the nature of the problem).”

Without Davis, IU is now down a regular starter, a promising forward who has struggled with consistency this season but shown flashes of great promise. Davis currently averages 9.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He has Indiana’s best block rate, and only Juwan Morgan, the Hoosiers’ leading scorer, has attempted more free throws.

Fouls have proven a persistent problem — Davis’ 5.2 committed per 40 minutes are tops among regular starters — and the Colorado native is still searching for greater consistency. After scoring in double figures in eight of IU’s first 10 games, for example, he hasn’t broken 10 points in any of the last five.

But his strengths will not be easily replaced.  

“All hands on deck,” Miller said. “It’s gonna be one of those things that we’re going to have to go practice by practice, and game by game.”

More must be expected of Morgan, the surprise package of the season so far and the Hoosiers’ leading scorer and rebounder. IU will also ask for more from forwards like Collin Hartman, Freddie McSwain and even freshman Clifton Moore.

One option that won’t likely be entertained is the burning of freshman forward Race Thompson’s redshirt.

A top-100 prospect in the Class of 2018 originally, Thompson moved up a class this summer, and enrolled at IU in August. Because of that late start, Miller elected to give Thompson a redshirt year to develop and adapt to the college game. And while IU’s coach recently praised the improvement Thompson has shown in a number of areas, it doesn’t appear likely Davis’ injury will change Thompson’s status.

If anything, Davis’ absence likely ramps up expectations for Morgan. Through three Big Ten games so far this season, Morgan is averaging 18.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He scored 17 in a Tuesday-night loss at Wisconsin but still didn’t hit full stride in his coach’s eyes.

“There’s a lot of pressure on Juwan,” Miller said. “There’s been a lot of pressure on Juwan in the last month or so to raise his level of play. I thought against Wisconsin he wasn’t as aggressive as he needed to be at times. I thought as the game went on, he got better.”

Miller will hope for more Wisconsin-like performances from Hartman, whose team-high 18 points were part of a much-improved offensive effort from the redshirt senior forward.

Still, IU’s coach will know Davis’ impact must be replaced via team effort. Even his guards will need to chip in.

“I think rebounding,” redshirt senior guard Josh Newkirk said, when asked how Indiana’s backcourt can contribute. “Rebounding can definitely be one of the things the guards can pick up on. We lost the rebounding game (at Wisconsin), and we all five collectively need to be better.”

Minnesota is dealing with its own frontcourt subtraction, but for entirely different reasons. Gophers starter Reggie Lynch will miss out for more unsavory reasons. The reigning Big Ten defensive player of the year was officially confirmed suspended Friday by Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle following a university investigation into alleged sexual misconduct.

According to a report from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Lynch “faces suspension and a complete ban from campus until at least 2020 after a school investigation found him responsible in a sexual misconduct incident.” That same report said Lynch plans to appeal, but Coyle announced in a news conference Friday that Lynch will remain suspended from athletic competition for the time being.

Even without Lynch, the Hoosiers must contend Saturday with Minnesota forward Jordan Murphy, whose 16-straight double-doubles to start this season are one off the NCAA record set by Tim Duncan.

Murphy leads the Big Ten in rebounds per game, and is second in scoring.

“He’s also a very, very rugged, physical, driving guy around the basket,” Miller said of Murphy. “He’s tough to handle.”

Miller won’t have to worry about Lynch now, but he’ll still have plenty on his mind. Indiana has its own big absence to address.

“Obviously we’re moving forward as a group,” Miller said, “and as we head to Minnesota, we know we have a heckuva challenge.”

Follow IndyStar reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.

INDIANA (8-7, 1-2) AT MINNESOTA (13-3, 2-1)

Tipoff: 5:15 p.m., Saturday, Minneapolis.

TV/Radio: ESPN2/93.1-FM.