It's October, and that means Hoosier Hysteria and the start of the IU men's basketball team's season is right around the corner. Let's take a look at the Hoosiers' 2010 roster and what to expect from its top players.
Overview: Elston is a 6-9, 235-pound sophomore forward from Tipton, Ind. He played in all 31 games in 2009, starting in seven. He averaged 5.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, including a season-high 17 points with 8 rebounds in the regular season finale against Northwestern. Elston was ranked the 90th best player in the 2009 class by Scout.com after averaging 19.7 points and 10.8 rebounds per game as a senior at Tipton High School.
Best case: Elston takes his game to another level, giving the Hoosiers a legitimate post threat on the offensive side and a tenacious rebounder on both ends of the court. He racks up major minutes, either as a starting or main bench presence, establishing himself as one of the Hoosiers' more consistent players. He continues to grow into his body as the season progresses, giving him better than a puncher's chance at succeeding in the post during Big Ten season. He significantly improves his statistical numbers- mainly by putting back missed shots and the occasional 3-pointer - and continues his great hustle play to give other teammates second opportunities.
Worst case: Elston doesn't progress as a low-post player, struggling to find a shooting touch around the paint and allowing opposing players to grab rebounds over his head. He slides behind Bobby Capobianco and Tom Pritchard in the forward rotation and plays less than the 15 minutes per game he averaged last season. The diving for loose balls and hard-nosed rebounding he was known for disappears, and he falls out of favor with head coach Tom Crean.
Outlook: Like his fellow 2009 freshmen classmates, Elston seemingly has a high ceiling he is nowhere close to reaching yet. The 2010 season should provide ample opportunities to progress, even if players like Guy-Marc Michel and Christian Watford keep him from being a starting forward. He was one of the most impressive freshmen last year, and probably the team's most consistent rebounder off the bench. That should continue, and the extra muscle he packed on in the offseason should allow him to grind out tough baskets. It probably won't be a breakout season by national media standards, but, with his development, Elston will give the Hoosiers a much-needed tough inside presence for 31 games.
