Look Who's 7-0!!!

Where to begin?  How about the ending?  More specifically, let's start with the final 7:38 in the game at NC State in the B1G/ACC Challenge.

With 7:38 to play on the road, the Hoosiers found themselves down by 7 at a score of 63-56.  It was NC State's largest lead of the game and their arena was rocking.  In fact, it felt even worse because IU had jumped out to an 11-point lead in the early-going, so NC State had outscored out Hoosiers by 18 in the middle part of the game.  To this point, NC State had absolutely dominated IU on the boards.  Also, I don't recall the specifics but I know the Wolfpack had hit their first 10 free throws while the Hoosiers had barely been to the line at all. 

So, Indiana down 7 with 7 minutes to play on the road.....game over, right?  That's what I thought.  In fact, there was no doubt in my mind.  This game was over.  My goodness, IU had only won their 2nd road game in their last 31 tries just a couple weeks ago at Evansville.  Now they're trailing by 7 at the under-8 timeout on the road (no magical FLAGS coming out to save the day) against an ACC opponent.

This game was over.  But then this happened on their final 17 possessions of the game:

1. Watford 2-2 FTs
2. Zeller 2-2 FTs
3. VJIII turnover

Ok, big deal, we hit 4 straight free throws which is good, but then a Jones turnover halts any momentum.  So, what's the big deal?  Read on.

4. Zeller DUNK
5. Oladipo DUNK (not a typo, 2 straight dunks for your Indiana Hoosiers)
6. Zeller spin move in the post and double-pump layup
7. Zeller hangs in the air for a beautiful tip-in (this Zeller kid is good)
8. Watford 3-pointer
9. Watford 2-2 FTs
10. Oladipo 1-2 FTs
11. Hulls 2-2 FTs

Let's pause and take a look at the above info.  At this point, IU had given up a few buckets as well, but turned that 7-point deficit into a 6-point lead with a 20-7 run.  They scored on 10 of 11 possessions, including 2 dunks, a 3-pointer, and going 9-10 from the line.  Zeller had 8 points and Watford had 7 points during that span.  This is also the time where these two guys started holding their own on the glass as well.

But even with that turn-around and a 6-point lead, it certainly was not over yet.  NC State made a free throw and then tipped in the missed 2nd FT to cut it to 3.  IU's next possession would be their only other empty possession of the final 17 possessions.

12. Oladipo dunk blocked (great move, but even greater block by CJ Leslie)

On the other end, Watford went up for a block of his own but was whistled for goal-tending.....1-point game.  Uh-oh.  Have the Hoosiers run out of steam?  A big question remained -- could the Hoosiers win a close game in the final two minutes on the road against an ACC team?  Well, the most surprising part of that answer was not only could they pull off the win, but they finished so strong in the final two minutes that the final score wouldn't even indicate that it was indeed a close game down the stretch.

Clinging to a 76-75 lead, here's how the Hoosiers finished the final 1:37.

13. Hulls for THREE!!!!! (this shot was a thing of beauty, pure beauty)
14. Sheehey 1-2 FTs
15. Oladipo 2-2 FTs
16. Hulls 2-2 FTs (his 51st & 52nd in a row, by the way)
17. Oladipo EXCLAMATION POINT! (click here to watch the reverse dunk)

Ho-hum, just a 10-0 run to put this one away and give the Hoosiers their 7th straight double-digit win to open the season.

Let's summarize those final 17 possessions that started with a 7-point deficit and ended with an 11-point victory:
* Scored on 15 of 17
* 14-16 FTs
* 2-2 from the arc
* 3 dunks
* 30-12 over final 7:38

Mighty impressive.

Jordan Hulls was outstanding -- not just shooting the basketball, but he had command of the team and this game.  20 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals.

Watford didn't look great early on, but came up huge in the second half.  He was the biggest reason that IU finally kept NC State off the glass down the stretch.  His late 3 was big and he hit his free throws in the clutch.  16 points and 9 rebounds.

And, of course, there was Cody Zeller.  This was easily the most formidable front line he has faced this year.  While there were certainly times he looked like a freshman (which he is, by the way) including one difficult stretch early in the 2nd half, but this kid adjusts and always finds a way to contribute to #winning.  As noted above, his best stretch came when the Hoosiers needed it most.  19 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal.  As far as the Zellers go.....WE GOT THE BEST ONE!

Note to Mike Patrick:  It's Oladipo, not Odalipo.  Say it with me....O-LA-DI-PO.  In fact, you can chant it.  Go ahead, chant it, clap 3 times, repeat.

And a final note, it was great to see some Carolina Hoosiers make it out to this game.  In fact, I know one reader of this blog was there.....facebook told me so.  Good work, McDoogz!  I haven't seen you in over 20 years, so I clearly thought now would be the time for a cheezy nickname.  That's why I have a blog.


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If we needed more of a reason to be excited about this team, let's backtrack a bit further for a brief look at the Butler game.

This game wasn't exactly pretty, especially in the 1st half, but it was another indication that this team may have actually turned the corner.  The final 7 minutes of the NC State game proved a lot to me, but I was already excited following the Butler game.

The Butler game was electric and I don't know that I have ever seen two teams play harder.  Of course, that effort and excitement led to some extremely sloppy play.  It seemed every possession included a loose ball and bodies flying all over the place.  The scary part of that was that it looked just like the Butler tournament games of the past 2 seasons.  I was concerned that this favored Butler and the Hoosiers could be in trouble in this one. 

IU held a 3-point lead at half, but this looked like the exact way that Butler wanted to play.  Butler was playing incredibly scrappy and seemed to be their exact formula for their style of winning basketball. 

HOWEVER, the Hoosiers not only matched Butler's intensity, they exceeded it.  And then something happened in the second half that made it clear the balance of power in the state of Indiana has shifted back to Bloomington.  That something was that IU simply had more talent.  Yes, finally, we have a talented roster again and I believe it was the difference against Butler.  Both teams were playing hard and getting after it, but IU simply had the superior talent and it clearly showed in the second half.

And again, IU didn't just grind this one out against Butler, they stomped on their throat in the second half and pushed the lead over 20 points.  It was impressive. 

The clear-cut star of this game was Will Sheehey with 21 points off the bench.  Sheehey also came up big on the defensive end of the floor by shutting down Chrishawn Hopkins in the second half after Hopkins lit it up in the first half (primarily against Oladipo).

Oh yeah, that Zeller kid did not have his best game.  But even when he struggled at times, check out the stat line he still puts up -- 16 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, 3 steals, and 8-10 from the line.  And there was this:




One final note related to Butler -- you have to have respect for Brad Stevens and what he has done at Butler.  HBO's Real Sports recently did a segment on Brad Stevens.....it's a must watch if you have HBO On Demand.

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Coming up:

IU hosts Stetson on Sunday and it sure is nice to now be able to chalk these types of games up as victories.  That certainly has not been the case the past 3 years.  The most interesting part of this game is that IU will be honoring the '87 Championship team.  It sounds like most of the big names will be there -- Alford, Smart, Garrett, Thomas, and even Calloway who later transferred to Kansas.  One notable that will likely be missing.....the man in the red sweater.  Man, it seems like right now would actually be the perfect time for Knight to return.  With the fan base at a fever pitch right now about this year's team, that place would go berserko if Knight came strolling out.  Glad that the two biggest stars appear to be able to make it -- Alford and Smart -- especially given their coaching schedules.

Then, you know what's next.  That's right, Kentucky.  They look to have a decent squad this year and may be carrying the #1 ranking into Assembly Hall.  Terry Hutchens provides this:

* Indiana has played 17 games against the No. 1 team in the nation. Indiana is 5-12 in those games.

* The last time IU played a No. 1 team was Connecticut in the 2005-06 season. IU lost that game, 88-80 at home.

* The last time IU beat a No. 1 team was the 2001-02 Sweet Sixteen when the Hoosiers knocked off Duke in Rupp Arena, 74-73. The year before that, IU beat Michigan State on Kirk Haston‘s 3-pointer at the buzzer, 59-58.

* IU has played Kentucky six times when the Wildcats were No. 1 in the nation and Indiana is 1-5 in those games.

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Rankings and Ratings

* Two weeks ago, IU received 2 votes in the Coaches Poll.  Last week, IU received 3 votes in the Coaches Poll.  Nothing yet in the AP Poll, but I would guess the Hoosiers will be getting a few more votes in both polls next week (assuming a win over Stetson on Sunday).

* SI's Luke Winn has IU at #24 in his most recent Power Rankings. 

* IU is 17th in Pomeroy's Ratings.

* IU is 15th in Sagarin's Ratings.

* In the cbssports RPI, the Hoosiers are 45th.

* RealTime RPI has IU 43rd.

* Strength of Schedule - Seeing anything from 193rd to 305th.  Regardless, time to cheer for the teams we've beaten to help this number a bit.  I suppose playing #1 Kentucky will cause the SOS # to move a lot.

* Indiana is listed as "First Four Out" in Joe Lunardi's Bracketology.

* IU is 8th in the nation in FG%.

* IU is 9th in the nation in 3PT%.

* IU is 10th in the nation in Scoring.

* IU is 22nd in the nation in Steals per game.

* Cody Zeller is 10th in the nation in FG%.

* Jordan Hulls is 23rd in the nation in 3PT%.

* Jordan Hulls does not have enough FTs to qualify for the nation's leaders, but he is 11-11 this season and has made 52 in a row!


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Tweet, tweet:

Here are some recent #iubb tweets, most coming after the big win over NC State:

@grosensteinGreg Rosenstein:

Zeller joking about his parents leaving early: "Maybe they shouldn't have come at all. We might have won by 20." #iubb

@dj_white3DJ White

Yessssir Hoosiers. We are back. Big Win

@insidethehallAlex Bozich

RT @kbikoff: Hoosiers showed a lot of fortitude tonight, the kind I didn't know they had.

@ids_sportsIDS Sports

RT @sean_morrison IU made a statement in the state against Butler. They made a statement nationally tonight. #IUBB

 

@ReggieMillerTNTReggie Miller

Tom Cream has the Hoosiers back, very nice......young kids play HARD!!!

 

@pdiprimioPete DiPrimio

In case you've forgotten, and Purdue students haven't, they end every timeout with the chant -- "IU sucks!" Then they cheer. Rivarly lives

 

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Full Games of Yogi Ferrell and Hanner Perea:

 

I haven't had time to check these out myself, but saw these links and thought I would pass them along.  If anyone has time to watch them, I'd love to hear a report.

 

Yogi:  http://www.highschoolcube.com/schools/imagine-college-prep-high-school-st-louis-missouri/video/2011-state-farm-tournament-of-champions-varsity-basketball-imagine-college-prep-vs-park-tudor-school-201236

 

Hanner 1: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL072756E15249A78A&feature=viewall

 

Hanner 2: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE2C468B927FCF31B&feature=viewall

 

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Online IU Post-Game Shows:

 

Just can't get enough IU coverage on a game?  Check out these two post-game shows -- available to listen (or watch in one case) live or recorded.

 

* Assembly Call IU Postgame Show:  http://assemblycall.com/

 

* Spreecast IU Postgame Show from Crimson Cast:  http://www.spreecast.com/events/crimsoncast8

 

I've checked both of these out after the last two games and both are good and usually have some guests like Alex Bozich from Inside the Hall to talk about the game.

 

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GO HOOSIERS!