Indiana Basketball: James Blackmon Jr. has returned to full form

James Blackmon Jr. has returned with vengeance for Indiana basketball this season.

James Blackmon Jr. is back, and he let us all know with an empathically impressive statement against 3rd ranked Kansas in Hawaii.

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For those of you who are unaware, Blackmon has had somewhat of roller coaster career in the candy stripes. He started off by committing to Indiana while he was in high school. He then de-committed and rumor had it that he was going to play for his father’s alma mater (and IU enemy) Kentucky. This event angered fans but they were later pleased to find out that he reneged and committed back to the Hoosiers.

Blackmon was praised for staying in state and helping a previously 17-15 squad make the NCAA Tournament. If there is one thing Hoosier fans love, it is a player who decides to stay in state and play for their beloved squad. Unfortunately, the following year things came crashing down for Blackmon as he tore his ACL 13 games into the season.

This wouldn’t be a cause for too much concern for most players, other than rehabbing and coming back the following season. Things were different for Blackmon.

See, while Blackmon was a starter in 2015-16 he averaged 15.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, shot 60.2 percent from the floor and drilled 46.3 percent of his three pointers. The problem was, while he was in the lineup, IU disappointed in the Maui Invitational, placing 5th.

The Hoosiers followed this up with an embarrassing 94-74 loss to Duke.

After Blackmon was injured, IU seemed to go on a tear, which eventually resulted in a Big Ten outright title and a trip to the Sweet 16.

Many IU fans claimed that his absence is what led to these season saving events. This isn’t a completely wrong statement, as his departure did open up room for players such as OG Anunoby and Juwan Morgan to receive expanded roles. However, making the statement that IU was better off without Blackmon is a bit overboard. Losing a dynamic scorer and shooter will never make your team better.

Indiana fans made a lot of noise in the offseason concerning Blackmon, and all of that noise was smothered with one great performance on Saturday night. Blackmon was an assassin against the Jayhawks, knocking down big shot after big shot, including a massive three in overtime that helped stave off a Kansas win.

It is true that Blackmon had an underwhelming first half in which he scored only four points and still looked a step (or three) slow on defense. However, this all changed in the second half. His defense looked a lot better and his offensive production was mesmerizing.

What’s most impressive about this performance is that after not playing basketball in a regular season game since Kennesaw State back on December 22nd, he came out and dropped 26 points on the 3rd ranked team in the country. This is a team in Kansas that is expected to go to the Final Four, and a team that has won 12 straight conference championships.

Despite the circumstances, he played like the best player on Indiana’s roster.

Next: Previewing Baylor versus Florida Gulf Coast

James Blackmon Jr. is back. The noise has officially subsided, now Hoosier fans have to hope that he can keep them quiet all the way into March.