IU Basketball Notebook - Dec. 3
(12/03/10 11:24pm)
CREAN TALKS ABOUT NCAA RULING ON GUY-MARC MICHEL
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Crean looks for frontcourt to improve offensive effort
(12/03/10 5:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After his team’s 88-76 loss to Boston College on Wednesday, IU coach Tom Crean was asked about the offensive production of his big men.His answer? It has to be better.“We need to get more out of the front line across the board,” Crean said. “It’s got to start on the physicality of rebounding and being better defensively. We’ve got to be more of a force.”Without 7-foot center Guy-Marc Michel — who was ruled ineligible by the NCAA on Tuesday — the Hoosiers have less low post depth than they might like.Michel’s absence makes junior forward Tom Pritchard and sophomore forwards Derek Elston, Christian Watford and Bobby Capobianco — all 6-foot-9 — the tallest players on the team. Other than Watford — who plays more of a small forward position — the other three play a more traditional “big man” role.And while those three have improved on the defensive end this season compared to last year, their offense has been stagnant.The Hoosiers (6-1) will look for them to get more involved in Saturday’s 6 p.m. matchup against Savannah State (1-7) at Assembly Hall. Pritchard, Elston and Capobianco each average fewer than five points per game this season. In IU’s loss to Boston College, Pritchard attempted one shot from the floor and finished with two points and three rebounds despite playing 21 minutes.Elston and Capobianco combined for seven points. Crean said offense will come as a result of being more physical inside and rebounding, and he used a Boston College player as an example.“(Joe) Trapani didn’t have a ton of rebounds, but he kept a lot of balls alive,” Crean said. “We’ve got to be able to do that. We’re not as big, maybe, as they were, but we got to be as aggressive.”In the Hoosiers’ first six games, these interior problems were not glaring issues because the opposing frontcourt players were not as big or tough inside, and the IU guards were good enough offensively to carry the team to victories. But Wednesday’s loss featured a true test of the season: centers and power forwards from a major conference. Crean said the Eagles’ ability to limit IU’s big men was a main reason for Boston College’s victory.With a matchup against Kentucky a little more than a week away and the Big Ten schedule looming, the Hoosiers’ frontcourt will be facing more tough challenges. The Wildcats, for example, boast three players taller than 6-foot-8, including star freshman forward Terrence Jones.Crean, though, said his big men have worked hard all year and will learn from a game like Wednesday night. “They are a pretty good learning team that wants to get better,” Crean said. “We’re not as aggressive on the backboards as we need to be. But the level of play went up tonight to prove that to us, and that will be good for us.”
IU defense struggles in loss
(12/02/10 5:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Much of the talk this offseason for IU had been on a re-emphasis on defense. So far this season, it’s shown.But in the Hoosiers’ 88-76 loss to Boston College on Wednesday at Conte Forum, it was nowhere to be found. The Eagles’ point total is the most IU (6-1) has given up this year. Before its first road game of the season, the previous high was 66 to Northwestern State on Nov. 26.Boston College (5-2) also shot 51 percent from the field for the game and out rebounded the Hoosiers 32-27. After his team’s loss, IU coach Tom Crean said the end result came down to two factors: poor on-ball defense and rebounding. “The two biggest issues for us were that we did not guard the dribble well enough, and we were not physical enough on the backboards, especially in the first half,” Crean said. “I’m proud of the way we came back. But we’ve got to do a much better job on the glass.” These issues were most clearly shown in the first half, in which the Hoosiers ended the first 20 minutes down 14 points.From the get-go, the Eagles attacked down low. Forward Joe Trapani made a couple of big layups, and Boston College’s frontcourt out-muscled junior forward Tom Pritchard and sophomore forward Christian Watford for rebounds. Many of those rebounds led to second-chance points. The Eagles ended the contest with 21 such points.“I think one of the bigger stories of the game was the 21-12 on the second-chance points,” Crean said. “That hurt us.” Boston College’s low-post presence opened up shots from the perimeter in the first half. Guards Reggie Jackson and Biko Paris combined for 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting.And while second-half offense was a major improvement for IU — 63 percent shooting allowed the Hoosiers to tie the game late — the defense was much of the same. Paris continued his hot shooting and ended with 19, while Jackson finished with 27. Jackson’s all-around game caught Crean’s eye. “Reggie Jackson is the toughest matchup that we’ve seen thus far,” Crean said. “Without a doubt, one of the tougher guys we’ve faced going into my third year at Indiana. “I had a strong appreciation for him going into the game but an even greater one now leaving the game.”Junior guard Verdell Jones said Jackson and Paris could have been contained with better on-ball defense.“That’s one of our biggest weaknesses right now,” Jones said. “We got to keep the dribble in front of us. We’ll watch film on that tomorrow, and it’s something we will have to work on in practice.” Despite the large deficit early, the Hoosiers’ offense did a good job scoring in the second half. But many times after a big basket was made, the IU defense would let up on the next possession and allow the Eagles to take any momentum right back.“We weren’t rebounding the ball well and weren’t guarding the ball well,” Watford said. “That’s all it was. That was the ball game.”
New recruits to change the face of IU basketball
(12/01/10 5:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Even as the Hoosiers struggled on the court the last two seasons, IU coach Tom Crean told fans to trust him.Better times are ahead. Success will be in the near future.They now understand what he was talking about.Since August, the Hoosiers have landed commitments from nine of the nation’s top high school basketball players. Seven of those players were raised in Indiana and the two others played AAU basketball for an in-state program. “Maybe it’s taken a little longer than they had hoped, but the tide is turning,” Scout.com recruiting analyst Evan Daniels said. “IU is cool again. It’s the place to go in the state of Indiana.” Last Wednesday, 2012 guard Kevin ‘Yogi’ Ferrell (Park Tudor School, Indianapolis) became the third Rivals.com five-star player to commit to the Hoosiers in the last month. Forward for 2011 Cody Zeller (Washington High School, Washington, Ind. ) and 2012 forward Hanner Perea (La Lumiere School, LaPorte, Ind.) join Ferrell on that list. Every other recruit committed to IU for the next four years — and the Hoosiers have at least two in every high school class — is highly touted.Daniels said IU is “just now reaping the benefits in a big way.”“It’s flat-out impressive what Tom Crean and his staff has been able to accomplish,” Daniels said. “I think they have been building up to this point for quite some time. They have been working on relationships and maintaining visibility across the state with the top players since they got the job.”“They made some headway with some of the right guys, and it’s paying off.”The Hoosiers, though, are not just landing talent from anywhere. They are quickly becoming the go-to school for Indiana’s top players, one of Crean’s main goals since becoming coach in 2008. The state of Indiana has been a hotbed for some of the nation’s best basketball talent for decades. Former IU basketball coach Bob Knight, while he did land out-of-state players during his time in Bloomington, was able to bring many of the best. Mike Davis, who coached the Hoosiers from 2000-06, struggled to do the same and faced strong criticism in that aspect.Crean, though, has made recruiting Indiana a top priority since he stepped on campus. “Indiana and Tom Crean have taken back their home state,” ESPN recruiting analyst Dave Telep said. “There were people invading them from all areas of the Big Ten. Now there is a border patrol.“You are not going to get in that border without Tom Crean or his staff knowing about it.” Both Telep and Daniels said much of its recent success has come from the strong bonds formed between IU coaches and the top AAU programs. One of those is Indiana Elite, which has seven players — Zeller and Austin Etherington in 2011; Ferrell, Perea, Ron Patterson and Peter Jurkin in 2012; Collin Hartman in 2013 — all who have committed to the Hoosiers. Mike Barnett, a director of Indiana Elite and father of IU player Kory Barnett, said Crean’s hard work is finally paying dividends. “I think the sky is the limit for this program,” Barnett said. “Crean’s really had to sell people on faith, but I think the product that is going to be on the floor is going to sell a lot of what he has had to get people to envision. They’ll be able to watch it for real, right in front of their eyes.”
IU center Michel ruled ineligible
(12/01/10 12:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Guy-Marc Michel, a junior center who transferred to IU during the offseason from North Idaho College, was ruled ineligible Tuesday by the NCAA. The 7-foot center played for a French club team from 2005 to the 2007-08 season. In the final year, he played five games with French Pro A League team SLUC Nancy, which is considered a professional team by NCAA standards. Michel’s participation on the team occurred before a NCAA rule allowing prospective student-athletes to compete on a professional team while maintaining amateur status was instituted.Another issue for Michel is the NCAA allows every Division I athlete five years of competition after they first enroll in college.He enrolled in a French university in 2006, which started that five-year clock. The NCAA determined that Michel would have to sit out one year (for signing a professional contract) and 10 games (two games for every one played for SLUC Nancy). By that time, his five-year eligibility would have ended.Julie Cromer, IU senior associate athletics director for compliance, said Michel worked with the NCAA throughout the investigation process that began on Oct. 15.“We worked hand-in-hand with him throughout the time,” Cromer said. “He volunteered information. The more information we collected, we went back to him to confirm. He was involved with us from the beginning of the process.” Cromer said while Michel lost eligibility, IU will still honor the scholarship for the 2010-11 season, and he can receive all benefits a Division I student-athlete has. This includes access to athletic facilities and the ability to receive academic support. IU coach Tom Crean said in a statement that he was “disappointed by this decision.”“Everyone involved in this process agrees that Guy did not intentionally do anything that would have jeopardized his ability to play here or at any of the number of institutions that also recruited him,” Crean said in a statement. “We will regroup, assess all our options and do whatever we can for Guy, who has demonstrated to us that he deserves to be part of the IU program.”
In-state recruits Davis, Hartman commit to IU
(11/22/10 12:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU got more than a win against Evansville on Sunday afternoon.Two of the top players in the state for the class of 2013 — Devin Davis of Warren Central High School and Collin Hartman of Cathedral High School — decided to commit to coach Tom Crean and the Hoosiers.“We couldn’t find a reason not to go to IU,” Hartman said of his and Davis’ choices. “I think it’s going to be great. We’re great friends off the court, so that chemistry will help when we get to IU.” Davis, a 6-foot-5 forward, is a four-star player, according to Rivals.com and ranks as ESPN’s No. 48 overall recruit in the 2013 class.He could not be reached for comment late Sunday night. Hartman, a 6-foot-6 forward, is also a four-star player, according to Rivals.com.The Hoosiers — with 2011 forward Cody Zeller (Washington, Ind.) and 2012 forward Hanner Perea (LaPorte, Ind.) — have now added four major in-state commitments in the past month. Both Hartman and Davis were at Assembly Hall on Sunday for an unofficial visit. After the game, Hartman and his mother, Melissa, began driving home to Indianapolis. But within 10 minutes of leaving Bloomington, Hartman asked his mother to turn the car around. He wanted to let Crean know his college plans. “I’ve been thinking about it for two or three weeks,” said Hartman, who also considered Purdue and Butler. “I just couldn’t find a reason not to choose IU. This was the place I wanted to go.”Hartman said he really loved how family-oriented the IU program is and said Assembly Hall “has a great atmosphere and a lot of energy.”He also credited Crean as a major reason for committing.“Coach Crean is just a genuine guy,” Hartman said. “He’s trying to push everyone to be better in all ways of life. That’s the kind of coach I was looking for.”Hartman’s mother grew up an IU fan and said her entire family roots for the Hoosiers. Sunday afternoon, though, was the first time she was at Assembly Hall for a game.She said during the game she had visions of her son possibly playing for the Cream and Crimson.“I just got emotional within myself thinking Collin could actually go to school here,” she said. “Honestly, he would get a great education at any of those schools, but the chemistry just fit at IU. It’s unbelievable.”
Top 2013 targets Devin Davis, Collin Hartman commit to IU
(11/21/10 11:35pm)
IU received commitments from two of the state's top 2013 basketball players this afternoon, the IDS has confirmed.
IU senior Rivers contributes outside box score
(11/19/10 5:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU senior guard Jeremiah Rivers isn’t one to fill up the stat sheet. He’s not necessarily the best scorer on the court, nor the best passer. But throughout the first few games of the season, Rivers has done the little things — tough defense and rebounding — that has helped enable the Hoosiers to start the season 3-0.Rivers will look to continue his strong start when IU plays Evansville at 1 p.m. Sunday at Assembly Hall. “It’s really about patience,” Rivers said. “Seeing what the offense is giving me, seeing what the defense is giving me. By studying film, getting in the gym and just another year of basketball, it really helps you mature as a player.” While he has not been a starter this season, Rivers has been one of the most effective players for the Hoosiers. In the first three games, when he has been on the court, IU has a 41-point advantage on its opponents.After his team’s win against Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 12, IU coach Tom Crean said one of the best ways to figure out if someone made an impact is by looking at that player’s plus/minus.The first name he brought up was Rivers.“Jeremiah Rivers made some tremendous plays tonight,” Crean said. “That’s how he has to play for us. He has to rebound the ball, he has to drive the ball, he has to defend the ball, he has to create open shots for others. “That’s really a microcosm of where our improvement has got to come from.” Rivers said much of the improvement stems from extra time in the film room. He was hurt for part of this summer, and because he couldn’t play on the court, he watched past games to see what he needed to work on.Rivers also had his father, current Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, point out little things to look for. “When you aren’t on the court, you got to figure out something else to do to help the team,” Rivers said. “For me, it was really getting in there and watching film. It really helped me with the little things — the intangibles — so I learned a lot from myself.” The Winter Park, Fla., native hopes to show those new skills against Evansville on Sunday. The Purple Aces (2-0) are undefeated this season thanks largely to an exceptional defense. In its two games, Evansville has held opponents to 38 percent shooting and has forced 33 turnovers.Rivers said his team has worked hard in practice this week and will be ready for the Purple Aces. “We just want to keep adding wins and building our repertoire,” he said. “For us, it’s just about taking one game at a time. We’re not looking forward to anything down the line. “It’s about paying attention to the task at hand, and that’s Evansville on Sunday.”
Sheehey, Oladipo provide spark in IU victory
(11/17/10 5:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU coach Tom Crean has emphasized many times that no spot in the rotation is guaranteed. You have to earn your way onto the court. In IU’s 71-54 win against Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday at Assembly Hall, Victor Oladipo and Will Sheehey did just that. The freshmen combined for 18 points — nine each — while providing major sparks for the Hoosiers (3-0) off the bench.“Coming off the bench, we’ll do whatever it takes for our team to win,” Oladipo said. “Coach (Crean) puts us in there because he believes we can help this team. I think Will and I are capable of doing that.”In the first two games this season, Sheehey played a total of 10 minutes. In those games, he made a few plays, scoring six points. Sheehey, though, was on the court for 11 minutes against MVSU on Tuesday. He finished with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting and hauled in five rebounds. “I was just feeling more comfortable,” Sheehey said. “With every game, every practice, Coach has just helped me get a better feel for the game.” Sheehey showed early on why he was recruited out of Sagemont High School in Florida. He attacked the rim at will and did not seem bothered fighting for rebounds down low against MVSU players clearly bigger than him.He really made his mark toward the end of the game.With less than a minute left, Sheehey intercepted a pass at midcourt and raced down for a two-handed dunk that brought the Assembly Hall crowd to its feet.Sheehey put the finishing touches on his breakout performance with five seconds remaining in the game. Junior guard Daniel Moore threw an alley-oop pass that Sheehey laid in while being fouled.“I wasn’t sure that Dan was going to throw a lob, so I kind of timed it wrong,” Sheehey said. “I wasn’t expecting it to go in, but it did.”Crean said he was proud of the effort Sheehey gave Tuesday against the Delta Devils. “I’m really happy that Will Sheehey was able to come in and get confidence inside of the game because he was ready for that,” Crean said. “He needed that type of breakout game.” But Sheehey wasn’t the only freshman to have a major contribution in IU’s victory.Guard Victor Oladipo continued his strong start to the season by adding nine points of his own on 3-of-5 shooting from the field. He was so efficient, in fact, that in the minutes Oladipo was on the court, IU had a 30-point advantage on MVSU. “I was just playing defense,” Oladipo said. “I know the offense is going to come to me. I just got to be consistent and do whatever it takes to help my team. I think I did that tonight.”
Jones leads Hoosiers in Sunday victory
(11/15/10 5:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU junior guard Verdell Jones spoke this offseason about increased confidence and a hunger to improve as a leader.He showed both of those attributes Sunday.Jones — who missed the exhibition games because of an ankle injury — paced the Hoosiers with 27 points as they defeated Wright State, 67-44, at Assembly Hall. “The speed of the game felt a lot easier, the ankle felt better, the jumper felt a lot better,” Jones said. “Everything just felt good tonight.”IU coach Tom Crean admitted that he did not think Jones would be at this stage this quickly. He was proven wrong.“I was a little concerned that it would take a little time for him to get back in the flow, especially after the other night, but he blew that theory out of the water,” Crean said. “It was a great confidence builder for him. He came out and played like a veteran, played within himself, made plays for others with a lot of room for improvement.” Though he struggled early on in the playmaker role — Jones finished with six turnovers and only two assists — he took it upon himself to put the ball in the basket. From the opening tip, he did a good job of penetrating the Wright State (0-1) defense. When IU (2-0) was down 4-0 minutes into the game, Jones worked his way below the basket and put in a layup on a feed from IU sophomore forward Christian Watford.Minutes later with the Hoosiers trailing, 10-8, Jones hit a big 3-pointer to give his team its first lead of the game. Jones also played well on the defensive side, causing multiple turnovers and hauling in six rebounds. Jones, though, was not the only player to have an efficient offensive game. Watford continued his strong start to the season despite a tough first half. He had only three points — all from the free throw line — on 0-for-3 shooting.His second half was a different story. Watford attacked the rim at will and found a groove on mid-range shots. In the last 20 minutes, he was 6-for-7 and finished with 17 points.“I knew my points were going to come eventually through the offense,” Watford said. “I tried not to worry about it and get others involved and keep rebounding the ball well.” But while the offense came alive Sunday night, it was the defense that made the biggest impact against the Raiders.Even with 21 turnovers and a period of more than six minutes without a point in the second half, IU’s lockdown defense kept the game out of reach of Wright State.Raiders guard Vaughn Duggins (15 points) was the only player on his squad in double-digit scoring. Wright State shot only 32.6 percent from the field and was doubled on the glass. IU ended the game with 40 rebounds compared to 20 by the Raiders, which was the biggest differential in Crean’s tenure at IU.“For them to defend that way for 40 minutes — this team, where defense in the past has not been where it needs to be — I’m proud of it,” Crean said. “It’s something to build toward.”
Zeller commits to Hoosiers for 2011
(11/12/10 5:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>WASHINGTON, Ind. — After months of speculation, the wait is finally over.Cody Zeller, the No. 20 overall player in the 2011 class according to Rivals.com, announced Thursday that he wanted to play basketball at IU. “Over the course of time, I just knew it was the right thing for me,” Zeller said. “It was a tough process, but I enjoyed it. It’s something you can only do once in a lifetime.”Zeller, a 6-foot-10-inch power forward from Washington High School, chose the Hoosiers instead of Butler and North Carolina. He cited the IU players and coaching staff as the biggest deciding factors in his choice. Zeller also cited proximity to home, the Kelley School of Business and basketball facilities such as Cook Hall as other reasons. Zeller, though, said one of the most important factors for committing to IU was the notion that he could help bring the school back to prominence. “It’s real exciting,” Zeller said. “Obviously growing up in the state, I want (IU) to be good. I think I can help them out.” Zeller’s coach at Washington, Gene Miiller, said he believes his player can help return IU to the pinnacle of college basketball.“Indiana is a great program where basketball is extremely important,” Miiller said. “Hopefully Cody will help them turn it around to be the top-notch program we expect it to be. ”Zeller’s commitment is arguably the most important in IU coach Tom Crean’s tenure in Bloomington. First and foremost, Crean’s getting one of the country’s premier post players. Zeller is an exceptional defender and can score in the post and on the perimeter. And while Crean has brought in top recruiting classes and secured commitments from some of the nation’s best, the addition of Zeller is unlike anyone else.Both of Zeller’s brothers — Luke and Tyler — were named Indiana Mr. Basketball and did not choose IU for college. But his older brothers were not the only highly touted in-state players to go elsewhere in recent years.Since former coach Bob Knight was fired in 2000, many in-state products decided to go to other schools. Crean, however, has made it a priority to get the best Indiana players to commit to IU. Zeller was the main target.“As I said to him this afternoon when I got the call right before his announcement, from the moment I got here, Cody Zeller has been a priority to the program,” Crean said. “When I look at Cody Zeller, I see a great teammate. I see a young man that’s got mental toughness that’s not normal. I see a young man that’s got an endurance and a will about him that is going to pay dividends at Indiana and for many, many years after that.”Austin Etherington, a 6-foot-6-inch small forward from Hamilton Heights (Arcadia, Ind.) High School, committed to IU in August 2009. He and Zeller play for the Indiana Elite AAU program. Etherington said Zeller will have an immediate impact after coming to Bloomington.“It’ll be huge,” Etherington said. “He’ll be able to do everything he’s doing right now on the next level, and I think he will be successful at it.” Zeller committing to IU also could pay dividends with other top players throughout the state.Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell fits that mold perfectly. The Park Tudor (Indianapolis) High School guard — who is the No. 2 point guard in the 2012 class — plays on Indiana Elite with Etherington and Zeller, and all three are good friends.Now that he is committed, Zeller said he plans on recruiting Ferrell to join him in Bloomington. “Hopefully we can get Yogi and a couple of those guys to follow in my footsteps,” Zeller said. “Obviously, I want to play with the best players that I can.”Zeller said he is glad the long process is over so he can concentrate on his senior year. “There was a lot of pressure, but I tried not to pay too much attention to it,” Zeller said. “I’m glad the high school season will be starting up soon. I can get this out of the way so I can focus on winning another state championship.”
Yogi Ferrell talks Zeller commitment
(11/12/10 4:22am)
I spoke earlier tonight with Park Tudor guard Yogi Ferrell (Rivals.com No. 17 overall) about his initial reactions to Cody Zeller selecting IU this afternoon.
Verdell Jones fills role as team's most experienced player
(11/12/10 3:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As the rest of his team competed against Franklin College in its first exhibition game of the year, Verdell Jones sat on the bench in a gray IU sweat suit.With a sprained ankle keeping him out of the lineup, the junior guard did what he could to help the Hoosiers. He stood up and cheered. He yelled on-court adjustments. He gave high fives at timeouts. But for most of the game, Jones had a serious look on his face. He wanted to play. He also — and more importantly — wanted to lead his team.And with the regular season here, Jones will finally get his chance.“I’m trying to be more vocal and really take charge of that leadership role,” Jones said. “This is especially true in practice. I think the young guys have really followed me in that aspect.”NEW TEAM, NEW LEADERWithout its top 10 scorers from the 2007-08 season — three graduated, one left early for the NBA and six others were either dismissed from the team or transferred — IU was forced to give significant minutes to new additions.Jones was no exception.One year after leading Champaign (Ill.) Central High School to the Class 3A semifinals, he was named the starting point guard of a Big Ten team.Despite averaging 11 points and 3.6 assists while starting 25 games during IU coach Tom Crean’s first season, Jones said he wasn’t as much of a leader as he could have been. His sophomore season, he said he improved but still did not take full control of the team.This season, though, he’s gained a new sense of confidence that has enabled him to improve as a mentor for his teammates. “I think the point guard is an extension of the coach, so you have to be a leader,” Jones said. “I’m much more confident going into this year than when I was a freshman and sophomore. I keep trying to build each year.”Jones said he’s tried to put an emphasis on working with the younger players. A couple times each month, he’s taken freshmen players out to eat. He’s also had them over to his place to watch sporting events and hang out. “Last year, I started with the freshmen, and I’m doing the same thing again this year,” Jones said. “I think the closer we are off the court, the closer we will be on it.”ON-COURT IMPACTSophomore guard Maurice Creek remembers the time this season when he noticed a change in Jones’ leadership ability. At a practice in late September, he said there was a small incident that Jones quickly resolved.“Verdell brought all of the guys together and told us, ‘Stick together as a family and never get away from that,’” Creek said. “That’s when I saw him becoming the leader that we need.” Sophomore forward Christian Watford echoed Creek’s sentiments about Jones.“Actions speak louder than words, and that’s what he’s trying to do,” Watford said. “When practice is starting to go downhill and coaches are starting to get mad, he instantly calls us together and picks us up. Everything goes smoother from then on.”Jones not only worked this offseason on being better as a leader, but also as a more well-rounded player. He met often with new IU strength and conditioning coach Je’Ney Jackson to add more muscle — 15 pounds since March — to his frame. He also spent countless hours shooting in the gym.Last season, Jones started all 31 games while averaging 14.9 points and 3.4 assists per contest. Even with these statistics, Crean said he can see a better year ahead for Jones if the right adjustments are made.“We’re excited about his upside,” Crean said. “The keys for him are to take care of the ball better, be better defensively, and run our club along with Jordan Hulls and Maurice. He’s such a good scorer — he has very good vision, a very good feel for the game. If that maturity continues to develop, I think he’ll be very good.” LONG-TERM GOALSThough he praised Jones for his overall improvements, Crean said he does not like to single out any player over another. Individuals do not win games; teams do, he said.The third-year coach said he is happy with the unity this season’s squad is showing.“For everyone in the offseason, you are responsible to make sure you are getting better,” Crean said. “When guys bring people with them along the way, that’s really important. It can’t happen one or two times — it has to happen over a period of time. That’s where your consistency in leadership comes. “Hopefully that will emerge in all of them.” Jones, like Crean, is not a fan of promoting one player above the rest. He said he realizes the importance of coming together as a unit, and that’s why he’s made such strides in the offseason to better not just himself, but all of his teammates. Once that is done, he said, the success will follow.“My personal goal is to help us win and get to the postseason,” Jones said. “I’m tired of losing, and I know Indiana Nation is tired of losing. This is going to be a big year for the team.”
Creek, Oladipo share bond
(11/12/10 2:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When IU guard Maurice Creek came to Bloomington from Oxon Hill, Md., as a freshman, he had a hard time adjusting.He wasn’t used to the small-town feel. He wasn’t used to being so far away from his family and friends. But as time went on, Creek adapted to his new surroundings and became close to his teammates. That learning experience paid off not only for the now-sophomore, but also for his close friend and current freshman guard Victor Oladipo.“I think he had the same problems early on,” Creek said of Oladipo, who is also from a Washington, D.C., suburb in Maryland. “He’s talked about wanting to go home and being homesick, but he eventually felt us coming together as a team. He saw the family being built, and he didn’t want to go home anymore.”Creek, though, doesn’t only want to provide the occasional guidance to Oladipo; he wants to act as his mentor.TOGETHER AGAIN Creek and Oladipo’s relationship extends back about eight years. Both played for the same AAU program, Triple Threat, and became good friends. And even though they attended different D.C. area high schools, their relationship remained intact. Creek and Oladipo continued to play AAU together and hang out off the court. Once Creek committed to IU before his senior year at Hargrave Military Academy — then at South Kent Prep (Conn.) — Oladipo quickly became interested in the Hoosiers.“We already kind of knew he was going to go wherever Coach (Tom) Crean went,” Oladipo said. “When Coach Crean came here and he committed here, we definitely talked about playing together. They were always on my list from then on.”Oladipo, then a star guard on powerhouse DeMatha Catholic, ended up taking an official visit to Bloomington in early September last year.Though he was with the IU coaching staff during his time on campus, Creek ultimately was the reason Oladipo committed a few days later.“When I came on my visit, he made me feel at home,” Oladipo said. “He let me know if I came here, I would play and help this team get back to where it belongs. He basically drew me to love Indiana.”‘LIKE MY BIG BROTHER’Creek and Oladipo are very similar players on the court. Both are 6-foot-5 guards who like to slash to the rim. Both can create their own shots and hit from long range.But the similarities do not stop there.Their personalities are very alike, making it hard for them to stay away from each other off the court. “I’m always at his apartment — going out to eat and just kicking it,” Oladipo said. “He’s like my big brother, my best friend. We’re very close.”Creek said he loves having Oladipo on the team because they share the same type of personality and background. He also enjoys teaching Oladipo the right way to go about things.The sophomore guard said he tries to give Oladipo guidance in all different areas of life. Creek will point out things in practice that the freshman should work on. While back home in Maryland during breaks earlier this year, they hung out and — per Creeks advice — lifted weights and shot together.“He looks up to me like I’m his older brother,” Creek said. “I try to take care of him. We have that brother-to-brother connection.” Junior guard Verdell Jones said Creek has done a great job helping Oladipo transition to the college level.“He’s trying to take him under his wing,” Jones said of Creek. “Even in practice, when Vic gets frustrated, Mo will go talk to him and calm him down. They’re real close and always acting goofy together.” WORKING TOWARD A COMMON GOALCrean joked that Creek had better not give away too much knowledge because Oladipo is “right there nipping at his heels.”The third-year coach, though, said he hopes the guards’ tight bond resonates throughout the team.“They have a really good relationship, a great friendship,” Crean said. “But again, our situation has got to be where the team continues to grow and become closer all of the time. Those two are going to be mainstays in our program. “You hope that continues to develop, and other people are a big part of that, as well.”Creek worked hard this offseason to get healthy after missing most of last year with a knee injury. Before that point, he led all college freshmen in scoring with 16.4 points per game. Oladipo came to Bloomington known for his athleticism and energy. In the little IU fans have seen from him, he’s lived up to those expectations.Both players believe they can have a significant impact on the success of the team this season. But regardless of how the year goes, one thing is certain: it will be achieved together.“We’re like family,” Creek said. “No matter what happens, we got each other.”
IU survives Division II Ferris State in overtime with 78-65 win
(11/08/10 11:49pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Welcome to IU basketball, Victor Oladipo.Despite the Hoosiers trailing most of the game, the freshman guard’s late heroics — a four-point play and a last-second blocked shot — were the difference in IU’s 78-65 overtime win against Ferris State on Monday at Assembly Hall.“The game is never over until the last buzzer buzzes,” Oladipo said. “I’m doing all in my power to do whatever it takes to help my team win.” With 10.7 seconds remaining in regulation, Oladipo hit a falling away 3-point basket while being fouled to draw the score to 61-60. He followed by making a free throw to tie the game. On the next possession for Ferris State, Oladipo came from behind from the left side of the baseline and blocked sophomore guard Kenny Brown’s shot into the stands. Moments later on the inbounds play, Bulldog forward Jerrell Sanders made a shot, but it was reviewed and disallowed.With all the momentum on their side, the Hoosiers dominated in overtime. IU sophomore forward Christian Watford began with a turnaround jumper to put IU up 63-61. On the next possession, sophomore guard Maurice Creek hit a 3-pointer from the right corner to give his team a 5-point lead. The Hoosiers cruised the rest of the extra period to take the 13-point win. Oladipo said “a lot of energy” was the difference in overtime.“Mo Creek hit a big shot, Christian hit a big shot, Jordan (Hulls) hit a big shot,” Oladipo said. “It just seemed like big shots were coming from everywhere. After that, the intensity just skyrocketed.”Although IU earned the victory, it did have some misfortune.Early in the second half, IU junior guard Matt Roth — who missed most of last season with an injury — hit the ground hard. After lying on the hardwood for a few minutes, he was helped up and taken to the locker room. IU coach Tom Crean said last week he hoped the exhibition opponents provided the challenge his team needed to prepare for the regular season. He got it on Monday night. For most of the game, IU appeared outplayed. Ferris State controlled the interior in the first half, outrebounding IU 18-16. Bulldog center Justin Keenan, had his way down low.Poor shooting early on by IU – 35.7 percent in the first half — and hot shooting by Ferris State (59.1 percent) put the Hoosiers down 35-32 at halftime. IU also struggled against Ferris State’s tough zone defense.“We figured they were going to do some zone, but not as much,” Watford said. “We just had a hard time executing. But we’ll get through it.” Much of the second half was the same. Poor shot selection and casual passes led to fast break points by FSU. With 7:30 remaining in the game, the Hoosiers faced their biggest deficit, 13 points. But the resiliency in IU didn’t allow the deficit to grow. IU senior guard Jeremiah Rivers’ layup with 2:45 remaining cut FSU’s lead to eight. Creek hit a 3-pointer moments later that pushed FSU’s’ lead to 59-53.Creek missed a 3-pointer with one minute remaining, but Oladipo got the offensive rebound and was fouled. He calmly hit two free throws to put the Hoosiers within four points. His clutch plays down the stretch eventually sent the game to overtime.Crean said while it wasn’t his team’s best effort, the comeback said a lot about his squad’s heart.“The bottom line for those guys tonight is they kept going,” Crean said. “I love the fact that a young team — young in the fact that they haven’t won — there was no panic over there. I loved it. That’s something that we got to build on.”
Transfer Michel will not play until NCAA clears him
(11/04/10 4:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The NCAA is looking into the amateur status of junior center Guy-Marc Michel, IU Athletics announced in a statement. Because of the investigation, Michel, a 7-foot transfer from Northern Idaho College, did not play in IU’s exhibition opener against Franklin College on Wednesday. Michel will be out indefinitely until the matter is resolved. “Prior to attending North Idaho Community College, Guy participated in club basketball in France, where he finished high school and enrolled in some college courses,” IU coach Tom Crean said in the statement. “In three years with the French club, Guy participated as a member of an amateur team. In his third year, he was ‘called up’ for limited participation with a team that included professional players.”While the NCAA has looked into the experiences of international student athletes for a long time, it has recently become a larger issue. The most prominent occurrence of late has been Kentucky freshman center Enes Kanter. Kanter’s status is being investigated because reportedly he was compensated for playing on a club team in Turkey.Crean said he is optimistic that Michel’s situation will end in a positive manner.“We are hopeful for a positive resolution to Guy’s case within the coming weeks,” Crean said. “While he is not eligible to compete at this time, he will continue to improve in practice, and he’ll continue doing very well in the classroom until the process is complete.”— Greg Rosenstein
Men's basketball opens exhibition schedule with contest vs. Franklin
(11/03/10 5:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With his most experienced team since taking over as IU coach, its no surprise Tom Crean is ready to begin the season.He’ll get his wish tonight, as the Hoosiers take on Franklin College at 7 p.m. at Assembly Hall in the first exhibition game of the season.“We’re excited to play, I don’t think there’s any doubt,” Crean said. “It comes fast as a coach. I’ve said it every year and I’ll probably continue to say it for as long as I coach, you are never where you want to be when you play the first game. But we are anxious to be able to play.” In Franklin, IU faces a team that finished 8-18 last season. The Grizzlies will bring experience to Assembly Hall, as its top three scorers from last season – junior center Will Conoley, junior guard Clay Starrett and junior center Zach Merschbrock – all return. One reason the Hoosiers scheduled Franklin for the exhibition matchup was because of their ties to Bloomington. Head coach Kerry Prather holds bachelor and master’s degrees from IU. Assistant coach Jarrod Brett also has a master’s degree from IU while fellow assistant Adam Martin is a Bloomington native. Crean said Franklin will provide a challenge that will make his team better in the long-run.“We think they are going to be a worthy opponent,” Crean said. “It’s been fun to watch them on film because they do a good job playing inside and out. They’re going to put some pressure on our pick-and-roll defense, which I’m excited about.”One major advantage the Hoosiers have compared to Franklin is size. The tallest player on the Grizzlies is Conoley, who stands at 6-foot-6. In contrast, IU has seven players that height or taller. Despite the size difference, sophomore forward Derek Elston believes Franklin will be a good test for the first game.“They like to get out and run, they have a lot of kids that are scrappy,” Elston said. “We’ll see how we match up with them. We’ll see how our toughness is compared to last year.”And similar to their coach, the IU players are excited to finally play someone from a different school.“It’s great to finally get out there and show people what we’ve been working on,” sophomore forward Christian Watford said. “I’m looking forward to it and it should be fun.”
Crean meets with media - News/Notes
(11/03/10 3:13am)
Some of the media met with IU coach Tom Crean this afternoon in to talk about Wednesday night's exhibition opener against Franklin (Ind.) College.
Five-star 2012 basketball recruit Perea commits to IU
(11/01/10 4:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Hanner Perea did not want to wait any longer.After a weekend visit to Bloomington, in which he saw the IU men’s basketball team scrimmage and the football team face Northwestern, the No. 10 overall men’s basketball player in the class of 2012 decided he wanted to commit to the Hoosiers. “I’ve been thinking about going to IU for a few days now,” Perea said. “I told my family everything about IU and that I wanted to come here for college. They said, ‘If that’s what you want to do, go ahead and commit.”Perea, a 6-foot-8 power forward at La Lumiere School in LaPorte, Ind., is the highest-ranked prospect to choose IU since Eric Gordon in 2006. The Colombia native selected the Hoosiers over Baylor. He becomes the third player in the class of 2012 to commit to IU. Perea joins Broad Ripple (Indianapolis) shooting guard Ron Patterson and United Faith Christian Academy (Charlotte, N.C.) center Peter Jurkin. And similar to other recent IU commitments, Perea said the deciding factor in his decision was IU coach Tom Crean.“He’s a great coach, and I really like his coaching style,” Perea said. “I know he’s going to help me get better in any way he can. He’s going to make my dreams come true.”In terms of juniors in high school, Perea is one of the most dominant in the nation. He has upper-level post skills and utilizes his 7-foot-4 wingspan to block shots.Mike Pegram, publisher of IU’s Rivals.com website, said he has seen Perea play more than 40 times in person. He described Perea as arguably the best athlete in the class of 2012. “He is probably the guy that has been called a ‘freak athlete’ as many times as I’ve ever seen from recruiting analysts,” Pegram said. “He has an amazing combination of unique reach and jumping ability. The national scouts are just awed by his athleticism.”Perea said while he is known mostly as a post player, he has worked this offseason on improving his range.“Right now I’ve been working on extending my game,” Perea said. “Most of my work is done around the basket — rebounds, blocked shots and dunks. I want to get better with my shot and my dribble so hopefully when I come to IU, I am going to be much better.”Perea said IU’s recent struggles on the court did not play a part in his decision. He thought primarily about the future of the program and what players might be joining him in Bloomington.He grew up with Jurkin and played alongside him for two years while at United Faith Christian Academy. Perea also has a good relationship with many of the players IU is currently pursuing, including AAU teammates Cody Zeller (No. 20 overall in 2011 class) and Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell (No. 17 overall in 2012 class).Perea said Crean has done a great job recruiting the state of Indiana and believes this recruiting effort will help achieve major success in the coming years.“He’s been trying hard to bring everyone together,” Perea said. “He’s building everything back up.”
Hanner Perea commits to IU
(10/31/10 6:49pm)
Hanner Perea, the No. 10 overall player in the class of 2012, has commited to IU according to mutiple sources. Evan Daniels of Scout.com was the first to break the news.
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