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: Hulls is a 6-0, 175-pound point guard out of Bloomington High School South, where he won Indiana Mr. Basketball as a senior. He averaged 6.4 points per game as a freshman in 2009, shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. Hulls was ranked No. 80 overall in Scout.com's 2009 recruiting class after averaging 15.8 points per game in a state championship season.
Best case: Hulls blossoms as the team's starting point guard, and he benefits greatly with the additions of Matt Roth and Maurice Creek to the lineup. His assists numbers skyrocket, and his 3-point shot becomes deadly as teams are forced to focus on other outside threats. His leadership he showed in high school comes full force, and he wills his team to one or two more victories than it would normally have.
Worst case: Hulls doesn't progress as a sophomore and becomes a turnover machine, making Verdell Jones or Jeremiah Rivers the team's point guard options. He struggles with his shot, allowing opposing teams to double up on Roth and Creek. Hulls becomes more of a liability on the court due to his size, forcing coach Tom Crean to replace him with bigger bodies.
Outlook: If any player from the 2009 freshman class is ready to take a major leap next season, it's Hulls. He exploded in the regular season finale against Northwestern with 24 points, shooting 8-of-12 from long distance - the second-most 3-pointers made in Hoosier history. Hulls' voice on the floor should grow louder as he establishes himself as a team leader, and he should take a stranglehold on the starting point guard spot he held for the last nine games of last season. Hulls is one of the main faces of IU's immediate future, and his development will be a key piece in the Hoosiers' 2010 win total.
