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Indiana Hoosiers: Yogi Ferrell Evolving Into Leader

By Jacob Rude

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Last season, Yogi Ferrell and the Indiana Hoosiers struggled, often looking like an inexperienced squad lacking a leader. At times, Ferrell accepted the role, while other times he shied away. Even during this season, IU had a let-down against Eastern Washington and a scare against UNC-Greensboro. They had a talented point guard who never quite made the jump to leader.

On Saturday, with the Hoosiers in need of another notable non-conference win for their future tournament resume, they found the opportunity against the Butler Bulldogs. However, four minutes into the contest, Ferrell found himself lassoed with two fouls and on the bench. Forced to watch his teammates struggle on without him, Ferrell played just four more minutes in the first half and watched Kellen Dunham light up Indiana to the tune of 18 points.

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“Obviously, for any guy, it is frustrating,” Ferrell said of his early foul trouble. “Everyone wants to get out there and compete. I was trying to help my team from the bench, telling where to be and what to look for.”

Ferrell came out in the second half determined to make his mark. Tasked not only with leading the Hoosier offense, he was also asked to guard Dunham, no small task in itself.

In short, Ferrell dominated for the Hoosiers. Scoring all 20 of his points in the second half, the Indianapolis-native played 19 minutes and was the catalyst for a big Hoosiers victory. Possibly most impressive of his performance, though, was helping hold Dunham to 2 of 7 shooting for 5 points, rendering him essentially a non-factor the final 20 minutes.

“Guys were trying to tell me to take over the game and I was trying to drive, kick, and do whatever it takes to find my teammates,” Ferrell said of the second half.

Midway through the second quarter, Ferrell took over for the Hoosiers. First, with IU trailing 53-47, it looked like Butler may finally be pulling away until Ferrell buried a three pointer and a lay-up, closing the deficit to one. After another run from the Bulldogs pushed the lead back to five, Ferrell poured in 7 of the next 9 points for Tom Crean’s charges, the last one sending the majority of Bankers Life Fieldhouse into hysteria with Ferrell finishing at the rim plus a foul.

In just under five minutes, Ferrell had ripped off 12 points and saved the game for the Hoosiers. The Hoosiers hung around with Butler, but it was Indiana who made the final run, capping off a 10-0 spurt with a pull-up three-pointer from Ferrell, giving IU it’s biggest lead at 11 points with just over three minutes remaining.

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“We need his leadership on the court and off,” Crean said of Ferrell, “and in the second half, he brought it at a high level.”

Fellow Indiana-native and familiar rival, Dunham of Butler also noted the development of Ferrell into not only a better player, but a better leader.

“He’s very good, but his leadership has come a long way and you can see him commanding his guy’s out there,” Dunham said. “I see a lot of improvement in his game and I’m very happy for him.”

The win was Indiana’s second over a then-ranked opponent, the other being SMU, while also holding a win over previously-ranked Pittsburgh as well. The Hoosiers only losses have come against Louisville and the upset against Eastern Washington. The Hoosiers have one more tough match-up next weekend when they host the Georgetown Hoyas before starting the tough Big Ten portion of their schedule.

At least now, they have a leader to take them into battle.

Next: College Basketball: Holiday Hoops Preview

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