Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Support the IDS in College Media Madness! Donate here March 24 - April 8.
Friday, March 29
The Indiana Daily Student

sports

?Starting center in question with Ohio State coming to Bloomington

Junior Hanner Mosquera-Perea holds his head after being called for a foul in the second half of IU's game against Georgetown on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Hanner Mosquera-Perea’s start-and-stop career might have hit another stop. Or at least, it may be on the verge of hitting one.

The junior forward wasn’t the only reason IU lost 70-50 to Michigan State on Monday, but his performance in East Lansing, Mich., certainly didn’t help the Hoosiers. He had zero points and just two rebounds in 10 minutes of play.

The incumbent starter heading into the season, Mosquera-Perea spent the last two seasons in the shadows of Cody Zeller and Noah Vonleh, both now in the NBA.

IU Coach Tom Crean made it no secret that he felt the 2014-15 season was Mosquera-Perea’s chance to step into the spotlight as IU’s next big man.

Only now, heading into IU’s (11-4, 1-1) noon game Saturday against Ohio State (13-3, 2-1) at Assembly Hall, that step is uncertain. A season full of peaks and valleys ventured into another valley in IU’s 20-point loss to Michigan State, and afterwards, Crean made it no secret Mosquerea-Perea’s starting role was in jeopardy.

“You know, Hanner Perea was certainly not ready to play tonight and now he will be in for a dogfight at that position because Emmitt Holt was,” Crean said. “(Holt) didn’t play well but he was a little more ready to play.”

Crean hasn’t made any finite comment about a lineup change, but he is considering it with Holt seemingly pegged as the potential ?starter.

The problem for Mosquerea-Perea has been consistency, or a lack thereof.

Just before his forgetful game against Michigan State, he had a career day against Nebraska where he recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 ?rebounds.

The game before that, he had just two points against Georgetown off 1-of-5 shooting and six rebounds. Just before that, against New Orleans, he had 12 points off 6-of-8 shooting and six ?rebounds.

It’s that type of inconsistency from Mosquera-Perea, combined with promise from Holt that has left the starting spot up for grabs against Ohio State.

“He’s a work in progress,” Crean said. “I guess I gotta start going with that line because that’s really what it is. That’s why I don’t walk into our press conferences before games and after games raving about the latest thing Hanner did because it’s a new deal.”

Whoever gets their number called will matchup with Ohio State’s Amir Williams, who has also been plagued by inconsistency.

The former McDonald’s All-American has averaged 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in a little more than 20 minutes per game this year.

But in three Big Ten games, the 6-foot-11 center has averaged just 5.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. He did have five blocks in Ohio State’s 74-72 overtime win against Minnesota on Tuesday.

The expectations for Mosquerea-Perea have been high.

He knows that.

Crean has been consistent with praising Mosquerea-Perea after his good games, but always with the caveat that it’s all part of a bigger process where consistency is king.

Monday was a stumble in that process and it came during the crucial beginning slate of the Big Ten season.

Whether or not it costs Mosquerea-Perea a starting job will come to fruition Saturday afternoon.

“There will be some guys chomping at the bit to grab that spot,” Crean said.

Get stories like this in your inbox
Subscribe