[JNixonParticipant]

Volume 2! After making a list last year, I think I’ve come better organized and smarter for this list. This promises to be a very good year of college basketball! I think with the lockout looming and that bored guy making the stupid threads it comes at no better time to do this countdown!

35: Indiana Hoosiers

Frontcourt- Jr. Christian Watford, their top dog, is an under the radar prospect with intriguing skills. At 6’8 225 with decent athleticism, his physical tools are definitely adequate for the PF/SF he is, and he’s still getting better. A mismatch ploy from either forward spot, he can hit the college 3, drive the lane in straight-lines against slower PF’s and smaller SF’s, and post some too. While he’s a talented offensive player with upside on this end, he struggles with a lack of toughness and strength. He’s a well below average rebounder and defender who isn’t a shot-blocking threat at all , and he hasn’t been efficient yet in his career (40% from the field over his career) because he falls in love with the jumper and because of his lack of strength and explosiveness. He’s an interesting and developing prospect to keep an eye on for the next 2 years because of his offensive upside. Look for Watford to get closer to 45% from the floor than the 42% he was at last year, while upping his rebounds. He isn’t the only talent in the frontcourt either. At PF, 6’9 245 Derek Elston, a Jr., underachieved last year. He didn’t play confident, but he’s a guy who can stick shots facing up and who rebounds alright. Fr. Cody Zeller, a McDonald’s All-American, is in the fold at the PF/C spot. Zeller is a long 6’11 and athletic guy who has a similar game to his brother Tyler, who is a C at UNC. Zeller shows promise as a finisher at the rim with his run-jump athleticism and length, and he has a soft touch, but he’s pretty skinny and weak and will need time to get stronger physically. He should contribute some for Indiana, who needs a C, but he’ll likely struggle to do so consistently with his developing skills and strength. 6’5 210 Soph. SF/SG Victor Oladipo is another intriguing player and prospect for Indiana. Oladipo has a very solid Fr. season for Tom Crean, and he’s a freakish athlete who plays with energy. He’s a great dunker and finisher at the rim, and he can make momentum changing plays. He’s defense is promising, but he has to get better with his handle and jump shot to really be the prospect and player he can be. He reminds of Dahntay Jones, and he should put up about 12 ppg, 5 rpg, and 1 spg for Indiana next year while still being efficient from the floor. He’s a potential breakout player and prospect nationally. 6’9 Sr. C Tom Pritchard will get backup minutes. Indiana has a lot of raw talent in their frontcourt, and they probably will one of the better frontlines in the Big 10 next season, but the real power of their frontline will be seen in 2012-2013.

Backcourt- There is also intrigue around the Indiana backcourt. Maurice Creek has been slowed by his fractured knee injury that he suffered as a Fr., but 6’5 Sr. Verdell Jones is the most productive member of the guards. Jones is a thin, long combo guard with solid handle and raw shot-making skills. He’s a solid athlete, but he lacks strength and girth, and he’s not a pure shooter or a very good defender. Jones also has been highly turnover prone over his career, which is to say he’s overused and not strong enough to handle the load he’s carried. Creek, a 6’5 205 SG, used to be the star of this core and looked like a future NBA guard in the 1^st half of his Fr. season, but his injury set him back. He’s a skilled guard who can score from the mid-range area, defend and get to the rim with his solid handle, but he was never a great athlete and injuries only further pronounced that. Hopefully 2 years removed from surgery will get him back to his old level, and if it does Indiana will be much better off. 6’0 Jr. Jordan Hulls has been the primary PG for Indiana for the past 2 years, and he probably will once again next year. Hull is a lacking athlete and easily more steady than spectacular on both ends, but he shoots very well, runs the offense, and takes care of the rock. Providing depth at the SG spot will be Oladipo as a swingman, and Will Sheehey. Sheehey is a very good athlete who needs to improve his jump shot and skill level, but he also looks promising too, and he should be able to play around 15-20 mpg next year to raise his averages to about 7 ppg and 4 rpg on the wing. Indiana has a lot of experience in the backcourt, and their talent is catching up with other Big 10 teams now. They should continue to improve.

Overview- Tom Crean is finally getting the talent and players he needs to compete in the rugged, slow Big 10. They probably will be a lot better next season, but this year will be a promising start. Watford is a developing talent and star in the Big 10 conference, Oladipo is an energetic freak athlete with promise on both ends, Jones is a talented combo guard who should be aided by the emergence of the young talent and not have to carry as much of a load, and Creek is the wild card who could really make things go for the Hoosiers if he’s beack 100%. Crean is a solid coach, and I think Indiana is on the rise again after the scandal. Look for them to be a 1 and done tourny team if Creek is healthy (which I’m hoping he’ll be), and an NIT team if he still shows ineffect. Either way they’re progressing.

 

[providencefriars1Participant]

I agree, Indiana should be much improved this year especially because their recruiting has improved significantly. They have the top rated class for 2012 and have 4 ESPNU top 100 guys.

[providencefriars1Participant]

I agree, Indiana should be much improved this year especially because their recruiting has improved significantly. They have the top rated class for 2012 and have 4 ESPNU top 100 guys.

[Stojakovicfor3Participant]

Finally someone mentions Christian Watford. Great all-around game.I think he’s a first round pick.

[Stojakovicfor3Participant]

Finally someone mentions Christian Watford. Great all-around game.I think he’s a first round pick.

[Toronto16Participant]

This coming college basketball season is going to be one of the best in history.

[Toronto16Participant]

This coming college basketball season is going to be one of the best in history.

[JoeWolf1]

I have a lot of faith in Creen as a coach, I agree with your prediction of them kind of going over the hump after being a bad team for the past couple years. I think they’ll be playing post season basketball, which I think is enough to get Creen off the hot seat at least for another year. 

Kelvin Sampson really set that program back, I still shake my head at how arrogant he was in doing the exact same things that got him fired at OU in the first summer he was at Indiana.  

[JoeWolf1]

I have a lot of faith in Creen as a coach, I agree with your prediction of them kind of going over the hump after being a bad team for the past couple years. I think they’ll be playing post season basketball, which I think is enough to get Creen off the hot seat at least for another year. 

Kelvin Sampson really set that program back, I still shake my head at how arrogant he was in doing the exact same things that got him fired at OU in the first summer he was at Indiana.  

[hiphopismylifeParticipant]

No excuse for them not to have a winning record this year. The league is down and they have evryone back, and then some.

Nice job JNixon, but Zeller will contribute ALOT and could very well be their best player before the end of the year. I dont know if this team will take the next step with Watford as its best player because he never appears to play to win. Been watching him this summer and he still plays a lazy game.

Will Sheehey is a guy to look out for. He looks much better than he did during the season, with a quicker release on his jumpshot and more confidence. Saw him play in the Indy Pro Am and he went right at Lance Stephenson.

Oladipo should start and could take a huge leap forward this year. He has the tools to be as good a wing defender as anybody in the nation. Seeing him he does in fact look to have improved his handle and jumper and is emerging as a guy who can get his own shot now. He’s very aggressive and IU lacked that at times last year, especially when playing with a lead. I think your predictions for his production next year are spot on.

Also watch out for Remy Abell, a new guard out of Louisville who fits Tom Crean’s old Marquette mold of guards (McNeal, Matthews, Mason, etc.). Hes a physical, athletic, 6’4 combo guard who will get immediate minutes beacking up all three perimeter spots. He could do what Oladipo did last year, only at the 1/2 more than the 2/3. This team will finally have some serious perimeter athleticism this year and stop looking like an undermanned  mid major squad. They should really display some promise before their great class comes in in 2012.

Haven’t seen Creek so theres no telling where he’ll fall next year. Last year he was pretty much forced into being a spot up shooter and could barely move. Even if he’s not his old self i’d like to see him fully healthy for a change.

Great job on this

[hiphopismylifeParticipant]

No excuse for them not to have a winning record this year. The league is down and they have evryone back, and then some.

Nice job JNixon, but Zeller will contribute ALOT and could very well be their best player before the end of the year. I dont know if this team will take the next step with Watford as its best player because he never appears to play to win. Been watching him this summer and he still plays a lazy game.

Will Sheehey is a guy to look out for. He looks much better than he did during the season, with a quicker release on his jumpshot and more confidence. Saw him play in the Indy Pro Am and he went right at Lance Stephenson.

Oladipo should start and could take a huge leap forward this year. He has the tools to be as good a wing defender as anybody in the nation. Seeing him he does in fact look to have improved his handle and jumper and is emerging as a guy who can get his own shot now. He’s very aggressive and IU lacked that at times last year, especially when playing with a lead. I think your predictions for his production next year are spot on.

Also watch out for Remy Abell, a new guard out of Louisville who fits Tom Crean’s old Marquette mold of guards (McNeal, Matthews, Mason, etc.). Hes a physical, athletic, 6’4 combo guard who will get immediate minutes beacking up all three perimeter spots. He could do what Oladipo did last year, only at the 1/2 more than the 2/3. This team will finally have some serious perimeter athleticism this year and stop looking like an undermanned  mid major squad. They should really display some promise before their great class comes in in 2012.

Haven’t seen Creek so theres no telling where he’ll fall next year. Last year he was pretty much forced into being a spot up shooter and could barely move. Even if he’s not his old self i’d like to see him fully healthy for a change.

Great job on this

[gatorheelsParticipant]

 I’m not sold on Indiana this season.  I would rank them in the 45 to 50 range. I think they will be improved but still not a real good team.  I think they make the NIT.  

[gatorheelsParticipant]

 I’m not sold on Indiana this season.  I would rank them in the 45 to 50 range. I think they will be improved but still not a real good team.  I think they make the NIT.  

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