Hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving, whether it's with your loved ones or the in-laws.
I kid, I kid.
I figured I'd do something fun and take a look at what would happen if each member of the IU basketball team was a part of your Thanksgiving dinner table. So from my home to yours, have a happy Thanksgiving and remember to always count your blessings.
Now put down that fork and have a healthy helping of Hoosier Thanksgiving...
Victor Oladipo: gravy
Pure flavor. Pretty much everything is better with gravy and Oladipo makes everyone around him turn it up a notch. Sure, I could praise Oladipo for being IU's most reliable defender or an improved scorer with more tools to work with, but I want to focus on what Oladipo does for team morale. This kid always has his motor running in sixth gear, but last year it felt wasted on a losing team. At times, the sophomore guard's energy came across as undisciplined and unrefined. This season, that same enthusiasm is being put to good use, rallying the crowd and igniting crucial stretches. He lifts his teammates up and it shows both on the court and off it.
Will Sheehey and Derek Elston: stuffing
An invaluable addition off the bench. Let's face it, the stuffing is never going to be the centerpiece of the meal -it's just not. Sure, it's delicious and deserves a spot on your plate, but nobody is going to be fighting over the first bite of stuffing. The sixth and seventh "starters", Sheehey and Elston will rarely lead the Hoosiers in scoring or minutes in any given game, but their roles are paramount. Off the bench, this pair can score efficiently and in bunches. When the offense looks sluggish, Sheehey and Elston can be counted on to provide that spark to start a scoring stretch (see Sheehey's 10-point burst against Gardner-Webb).
Cody Zeller: turkey
The centerpiece.It's hard to imagine what this year's team would be without Zeller. Thus far, the big man in the middle has exceeded my expectations, leading the Hoosiers in scoring as a freshman and being named the Big Ten's Freshman of the Week twice. Turkey is Thanksgiving and Zeller is Indiana basketball. His story is the time-honored story of small-town Indiana kid winning Mr. Basketball and coming to Bloomington to lead the Hoosiers to victory. I think Zeller handles Butler's 6-foot-11 center, Andrew Smith, but the big test will come against Kentucky's Anthony Davis. How thankful should you be for Zeller? Check out how fellow five-star freshman center Andre Drummond is doing for UConn.
Verdell Jones III: green beans
Nobody really wants to admit they like green beans. The veggie get passed around the dinner table with hardly any takers and you only end up eating them when your mom tells you to. Verdell Jones' popularity seems to fluctuate from game-to-game and although he's a senior, I think Jones is still adjusting to his role on this particular squad. In 23 minutes of play against Gardner-Webb, he attempted just one field goal, but recorded four assists and three boards. Of IU's starting five, Jones has attempted the second-fewest shots this season -odd for your starting shooting guard. However, Jones has the most assists on the team with 23. This tells me the senior is becoming more disciplined, not forcing shots and becoming more of a distributor. We'll see how -and if- his play progresses as the season goes on.
Christian Watford: mashed potatoes
Fills you up and fills up the stat sheet. Don't let the low season averages fool you, Christian Watford has the potential to beat the opposition in so many different ways on any given night. After an injury got Watford off to a slow start, the junior forward hit his stride, putting up 19 against Savannah State and 15 points with 8 rebounds in Evansville. He has missed just one foulshot this season, going 12-of-13 from the charity stripe, but needs to show this consistent play when IU actually begins to play opponents that pose a real challenge.
Jeff Howard, Kory Barnett, Taylor Wayer: pumpkin pie
The sweetness at the end.
