IU Looking Like a Dance Partner

February 15, 2012.  Boomington, IN


Northwestern (15-10, 5-8 Big Ten) showed grit and gumption and all those other words for a middle of the road team fighting to stay a float in the Big Ten.  Indiana (20-6, 8-6 Big Ten) countered with Cody Zeller, the return of Verdell Jones and a very loud Assembly Hall crowd.  Indiana was at home, ranked in the top 20, facing a lessor opponent.  No big deal, right?  Wrong.


Let's look back:  Indiana went 6-25 in Crean's first season in 2008-09.  Folllow that with 10-21 in 2009-10 and 12-20 in 2010-11. Verdell Jones III said it best after the game when he said 


"You know beating Kentucky was good, beating Ohio State was good, but finally getting to the 20 mark and over (and) getting us that much closer to our ultimate goals is a great relief.  I think getting that monkey off of our shoulders will help us over the next 4 or 5 games because we don't have to worry about 20 wins".  


Jones had missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, but was back for this one and rightfully so.  Jones was on the 08-09 team that suffered through the 6-25 season.  Twenty wins meant a lot to him, Tom Crean, and this team and it showed.  


It showed, apparently, in the last few games.  Who wouldn't be tight after dominating through the first 12 games including knocking off the Kentucky Wildcats who were ranked #1 and the Hoosiers bitter rival?  The Hoosiers must have stopped, checked the W/L columns and said "Oh my, we're gonna do this!"


IU may have been tight against Northwestern but fought through it and fought hard at the end for the win.  John Shurna had 29 points for the Wildcats three days after dropping 30 on Purdue in that loss.  Indiana countered with 23 points from Cody Zeller and 12 points each for Victor Oladipo and Christian Watford.  But the Senior was the clutch performer for the 20th win.  


Verdell Jones III scored all of his 6 points in the last 4:04 of the game.  Watford was the only other Hoosiers to make a bucket in that time.  Jones' last shot at 31 seconds to go was the dagger that IU needed to finish off the Wildcats.  Only an errant foul by Jordan Hulls at :03 gave the Wildcats the last point they scored.  


Indiana wins 71-66 and gets to 20 wins for the first time in 5 years.  


When Tom Crean entered the press room after the win, he looked a little lighter and there were sightings of a monkey fleeing the building.  


Crean smiled and said 


"Tonight was about us finding a way to get our 20th win."


When asked if this 20 win season was unique in any way he said 


"..it's unique because of what we've gone through and we've got people in that locker room that had to endure a lot."


Rebuilding a storied program:
Step 1.  Build your talent funnel with a steady stream of high quality talent.  Check
Step 2.  Bring in tough, quality big men to bang with the Big Ten's best.  Check
Step 3.  Beat the #1 team in the country with a 3 pointer at the buzzer.  Check
Step 4.  Get to 20 wins beating #2 Ohio State at home and Purdue on the road.  Check
Step 5:  Finish the season strong and have a good outing at the Big Ten Tournament.
Step 6:  Accept your long awaited bid to the NCAA tournament field.  


Congratulations Indiana.  Get your dancin' shoes ready.


by Toby Davis, Director