Indiana A Deep Tournament Threat?

      Not many teams can do what Indiana did this season, in fact, just four teams in the last ten years have defeated three top-five teams. And the Hoosiers managed to rise from the depths of the Big Ten and knock off then-No. 1 Kentucky, No. 2 Ohio State and most recently, No. 5 Michigan State. But all of the wins were at home, where the team is 17-1, and they are a pedestrian 6-6 away from Assembly Hall and not to point out the obvious, but the NCAA Tournament is not in the state of Indiana this year.

        In all three of those big wins over top five opponents, freshman center Cody Zeller, and versatile forwards Christian Watford and Victor Oladipo scored in double-figures; in fact, this trio has all hit the 10+ point barrier eight times this season and the Hoosiers' are 8-0 in these games.

        Zeller has been one of the biggest difference makers in the country this year, using his size and agility to beat opposing bigs up the floor to get easy buckets, but not afraid to mix it up and score in the low-blocks; he is the leading candidate for Big Ten Freshman of the Year and is expected to be named to the Freshmen All-American team as well. Victor Oladipo has elevated his game this sophomore season after some inconsistent play last year; he has scored in double-figures seven straight games, averaging 15.6 points during this span. And Christian Watford is in the process of finding his jump shot again, scoring 22 points in the past two games after scoring 3 total points in the two games prior. His ability to get to the foul line and hit perimeter jumpers is crucial to this team's success in the postseason.

        This year's Indiana Hoosiers have the talent to buck the trend that has plagued them and finally win their first postseason game since 2006-07.


By President Corey Ruff - 3 - 1 - 12