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Indiana Basketball: Hoosiers a Dark Horse to Reach Final Four (Video)

By Brian Rosen

Jan 2, 2016; Lincoln, NE, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Max Bielfeldt (0) and forward Troy Williams (5) and the rest of the team huddle on the court against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2016; Lincoln, NE, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Max Bielfeldt (0) and forward Troy Williams (5) and the rest of the team huddle on the court against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Led by senior captain Yogi Ferrell, Indiana basketball is primed to make a run in the NCAA Tournament. 

The Indiana Hoosiers have the potential to make the Final Four. Yes, that’s right. Those Hoosiers.

This is a team that was shellacked by Michigan State on February 14 and lost to 5-9 Penn State on February 6. The Hoosiers also lost a key player in guard James Blackmon Jr. for the year in late January, and are now without guard Robert Johnson for the foreseeable future, who is out with an ankle sprain.

The Hoosiers – who are 22-6 and in first place in the Big Ten – also control their own destiny. Winning the next three games labels them Big Ten Regular Season Champions. This sounds more optimistic, and rightfully so.

Led by senior guard Yogi Ferrell, Indiana is a lethal offensive team. Ferrell averages 16.6 PPG and 5.5 APG. On nights when he struggles to connect with nylon, he is constantly facilitating the game for his teammates. He’s also one of the best defenders on the team. Indiana routinely scores in the 70s and 80s, including nine of their last 12 games. When Ferrell isn’t carrying the load, there are numerous others who step up.

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Indiana came into the year wondering where its post production would come from; turns out the answer was playing in Ann Arbor, Michigan for the past four years. Transfer Max Bielfeldt has been a diamond in the rough for Tom Crean, averaging 10.3 points and 5.8 rebounds over Indiana’s past four games.

Freshman Thomas Bryant is having a successful first year himself, scoring 11.6 PPG to go with 5.5 RPG. Bryant has put up double digits in points in 6 of his last 8 games, despite not playing more than 29 minutes a game to date.

Troy Williams is the best athlete the Hoosiers boast. After a no-show against Michigan State (0 points, 1 assist), Williams responded by scoring 18 and 19 points in the Hoosiers’ past two battles. O.G. Anunoby, aside from having the best name in the Big Ten, serves as a rim-rattling forward:

These four players make up the core of an electric team. Indiana basketball is the heart and soul of Indiana University, and Yogi Ferrell is one of the best point guards to run the show in Assembly Hall of recent memory.

In his final season, Ferrell will push his teammates to work harder than ever down the stretch. The talent is there, and the Hoosiers work every day to realize their potential. Indiana knows it can outscore anyone it faces; the question is whether or not the defense will show up. If Indiana loses in the tournament, chances are it won’t be for a lack of points scored.

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After wins against No. 4 Iowa and No. 17 Purdue, Indiana is sitting as a 5-6 seed with an opportunity to rise higher. It finishes the season with games at Illinois, at Iowa, and vs. Maryland. A strong performance in those three, as well as the Big Ten Tournament, will have the Hoosiers primed for a dark horse run to Houston.

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