IU basketball point guard Tayton Conerway has built an impressive college basketball resume.<\/p>\n
The reigning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, the Texas product produced 861 points, 247 rebounds, 243 assists, and 164 steals in two seasons playing at Troy.<\/p>\n
But his path to Division I was unconventional.<\/p>\n
The 6-foot-3 Conerway spent three seasons at the junior college level before coming to Troy, playing in environments at Grayson College and then Ranger College far different than Bloomington.<\/p>\n
Just a couple months into his first season at the high major level, Conerway can tell he\u2019s stepped onto a new stage, with kids running up to him for pictures, and restaurants staying open late to make sure he got a meal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember being that kid,\u201d Conerway said.\u00a0 \u201cThe community, they know what\u2019s going on.\u00a0 They\u2019re built into the basketball team.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just Conerway\u2019s path that is a bit unique.\u00a0 His head coach is learning to adjust to his point guard\u2019s playing style.<\/p>\n
Perhaps if Conerway was a freshman, IU coach Darian DeVries would try to mold him a bit more.\u00a0 But with Conerway\u2019s proven track record and early results this summer at practice, DeVries is learning to let his veteran floor general do things his own way.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s done some really good things in practice, and he\u2019s a little unique, and he may be one of the most creative guys with the ball in terms of the way he delivers passes,\u201d DeVries said.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s very unconventional. He\u2019s one of those guys, I told the coaching staff, like, you have to let him just go a little bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo his credit, though, a lot of times you open up the stat sheet after end of practice, it will be six assists\/one turnover type stuff. It\u2019s almost impressive that he\u2019s able to kind of do it the way he does it and not turn the ball over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Keeping turnovers low is a non-negotiable for DeVries.\u00a0 His last four teams at Drake were all top-40 among all Division I teams when it comes to offensive turnover rate.\u00a0 It\u2019s a point of emphasis and an underpinning of his success as a head coach.<\/p>\n
And while nothing dramatic, Conerway was a bit on the high side, with a 20% turnover rate (2.7 per game against 4.8 assists) last season with Troy.\u00a0 While he intends to let Conerway go, DeVries\u2019 words suggest there\u2019s a limit to just how much rope he\u2019ll give.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s almost sometimes, I think, bored with the simple play. He likes a little razzle dazzle with it,\u201d DeVries said.<\/p>\n
Conerway is every bit as impactful on the defensive end of the floor, where he generated more steals (2.9) than turnovers per game last year.\u00a0 He\u2019s had 48 multi-steal games over the last two years.<\/p>\n
DeVries credits Conerway\u2019s quick hands as standing out.\u00a0 There\u2019s also a toughness element that has been a hallmark of DeVries\u2019 point guards through the years, and something that is noticable about Conerway on the floor, and in his words.\u00a0 He embraces the grittiness of the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust having a smaller team, we know we\u2019re going to have to be tougher than everybody,\u201d Conerway said.\u00a0 \u201cWe want every game to be like \u2018Man we don\u2019t want to play them again.’\u201d<\/p>\n
If there\u2019s a question mark about Conerway, it has been his ability to make threes at a high rate.\u00a0 He\u2019s made just 29.2% over the last two seasons including 27% last year.\u00a0 He\u2019ll have to improve that rate to keep defenses honest and hold off those competing with him for minutes including Conor Enright and Jason Drake.<\/p>\n
And making threes won\u2019t be any easier against high major length and athleticism.<\/p>\n
In so many ways, Conerway knows he has entered a brave new world.\u00a0 The lights are brighter, and the competition is stiffer.<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s exactly the challenge he wanted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to get on a bigger stage and show people that I can do it here just like I did it there (at Troy),\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
And with his coach\u2019s backing, he\u2019ll attempt to prove his ability in his own unique way.<\/p>\n