Indiana University Athletics
Wednesday, December 9
Bloomington, IN
7:00 PM
Indiana University
vs
IPFW
Preview: IPFW Comes To Assembly Hall on Wednedsay
12/8/2015 6:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball
OPENING TIP
• Indiana University is in its 116th season of men's basketball and will face IPFW in Assembly Hall on Wednesday. The Hoosiers are coming off a 92-59 win at home against Morehead State, while the Mastodons, lost 96-79 at Utah on Saturday.
• IPFW is enjoying its finest start to a season since first playing a Division I schedule in 2001-02. The Mastodons' recent six-game winning streak was the second-best in the program's DI history (7). Saturday's game with the Hoosiers will wrap up a three-game, six-day road trip for IPFW.
UP NEXT
• The Hoosiers host McNeese State on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
HEAD COACH TOM CREAN
• Tom Crean is in his eighth year of leading the Hoosiers. Over the last four+ years, IU is 99-48 and leads the Big Ten with 19 regular season wins over ranked opponents during that time. During that same span, the Hoosiers have appeared nationally ranked in at least one major poll during the season. He has also seen a Big Ten best three players selected in the NBA lottery over the last three years and has recruited a McDonald's All-American in each of the last five years. In addition, he has seen seven of his players score 1,000 points or more in an IU uniform. Since 2011, the Hoosiers have averaged 23 wins per season compared to 20 averaged at IU from 1995-2008. Seven players have scored 1,000 points in their career under Tom Crean at Indiana. Christian Watford (1,730), Yogi Ferrell (1,514), Verdell Jones III (1,347), Jordan Hulls (1,318), Cody Zeller (1,157), Will Sheehey (1,120) and Victor Oladipo (1,117).
WOODEN AWARD
• The John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy's announced its Preseason Top 50 in November. Chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who are the early front-runners for college basketball's most prestigious individual honor. IU has three players on the Preseason Top 50 list that was announced on Tuesday. The Hoosiers are represented by senior guard Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell, junior forward Troy Williams and sophomore guard James Blackmon, Jr.
VERSATILE CONTRIBUTORS
• The Hoosiers have seven players averaging at least seven points per game including sophomore James Blackmon, Jr. (16.4), senior Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell (15.0), Troy Williams (12.8), freshman Thomas Bryant (11.8), senior Nick Zeisloft (8.2), senior Max Bielfeldt (8.2) and sophomore Robert Johnson (7.8).
COMMON OPPONENT
• The Hoosiers defeated Austin Peay, 102-76, in their second game of the season, while IPFW won at Austin Peay, 80-77 two days later.
A WIN WOULD
• Give the Hoosiers 100 wins since the start of the 2011-12 season. It would be the first time that IU has notched 100 wins in a similar span since 1999 to 2004 when IU won 101 games in five full seasons.
FORCED TURNOVERS
• Against Morehead State, the Hoosiers tied a season-high by forcing 23 turnovers against the Eagles. IU leads the Big Ten in steals per game (8.4) and in turnovers forced per game (15.0).
FERRELL PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
• Senior All-Big Ten guard Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell has been named second team Preseason All-American by The Sporting News and USA Today, in addition to garnering third team honors from Athlon Sports and fourth team mention in Blue Ribbon Magazine. A first-team NABC and USBWA All-District selection last season, Ferrell was sixth in the Big Ten averaging 16.3 points and was fourth in assists at 4.9. Ferrell now has 1,514 points in his IU career, which ranks 16th in school history. He trails Archie Dees by 32 points for 15th and Randy Wittman by 35 for 14th. He now has 497 career assists in his IU career, which ranks fourth in school history. He trails Tom Coverdale who is third with 500. He has made 206 threes in his IU career, which ranks third in school history. He had his 23rd career 20+ point effort with 22 against St. John's. Against Austin Peay, he had 22 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Against Creighton, he had 15 points, a career-high nine rebounds and six assists. For the season, he has 59 assists and just 20 turnovers in nine games. For the season, he is averaging 15.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists.
WATCH LISTS
• The Indiana Hoosiers were well represented on the preseason watch lists released by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this month. The watch lists recognize the top 20 players in the country at each of the five positions on the court. Here's who was recognized from Indiana:
Bob Cousy Award (Top PG): Kevin Yogi Ferrell
Jerry West Award (Top SG): James Blackmon Jr.
Julius Erving Award (Top SF): Troy Williams
K. Abdul-Jabbar Award (Top C): Thomas Bryant
IU'S MAJOR CONFERENCE RANKINGS (2011-PRESENT)
• 3-point percentage, 40.1 (1st)
• Field goal percentage, 47.6 (1st)
• Free throw percentage, 73.7 (2nd)
• Points per game, 76.8 (4th)
• Home wins, 69 (5th)
ODDS AND TRENDS
• The Hoosiers have notched 50 percent or better shooting in 12 out of 18 halves played so far this season.
• The nine turnovers committed at Duke on marked a season low for IU. The Hoosiers are averaging just 11.3 turnovers in the last three games.
• In the last three games, IU is averaging 92.7 points on 58.5% shooting from the field and 46.6% marksmanship from long distance.
• In the first six games of the season, IU was averaging 18.1 trips to the free throw line making 62.3% from the line. In the last three games, the Hoosiers are going to the line 26.0 times per game and making 75.6% of its charity tosses.
• No college basketball team has been a better three-point shooting team over the last 4+ years than IU. In their last 147 games, IU has made 40.1% of its long distance tries. Here are the career percentages of the Hoosiers top shooters from beyond the arc: Nick Zeisloft (47.0), Collin Hartman (42.7), James Blackmon, Jr. (40.2), Robert Johnson (40.9), Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell (39.0),
• In 73 career games, junior Troy Williams has averaged 10.5 ppg., 5.9 rebs on 53.9% shooting. He also has 112 assists. In his first 73 games, Victor Oladipo averaged 9.4 points, 4.6 rebounds on 51.0% shooting with 110 assists.
• In the last three games, Williams has made 14 of his last 17 field goal attempts. He also has been to the free throw line 23 times.
• In his last three games, sophomore James Blackmon, Jr., is averaging 20.7 points and has shot 52.5% from the field and 47.1% from long distance.
• Senior Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell is averaging 14.3 points and shooting 50.0% from the floor, 45.5% from three-point range and has 17 assists and just five turnovers since returning from Hawaii.
• Freshman Thomas Bryant has made 11 of his last 15 field goal attempts.
• Senior Max Bielfeldt has made 10 of his last 13 shots.
• Sophomore Robert Johnson has hit 10 of his last 18 shots and made four of seven three-point attempts.
• Junior Collin Hartman has made six of 11 field goal attempts and is three of six from three-point range in that time.
• Over the last two seasons, senior Nick Zeisloft is the top three-point shooter among major conference players making 47.0% of his three-point attempts (85 for 181).
Indiana associate head coach Tim Buckley Previews Game vs. IPFW
On the defense improving the last time out:
"I think our overall demeanor. We have to have that mindset where we are attacking, not gambling, but where we are aggressive and playing together. I thought our defense was tied together. We shrunk the floor. We had good rotations and everyone was covering for each other when there was a mistake or error made. We just have to continue to be alert and aware for 40 minutes."
On Mo Evans (IPFW leading-scorer) growth from High School:
"I would say he's always been a really good player. He probably didn't have the strength and the athletic explosiveness when he was in high school that he has now, which he obviously has built and developed there. I think he has become, not only a high level scorer, but a very high level point guard. I think he's averaging about four assist per game, so not only is he scoring the ball but he's also finding his teammates. If you over help or make a mistake he's going to get the ball in the right place. Their team as a whole do that really well, they move the basketball."
On the challenge that IPFW presents:
"Well, you talk about looking at the numbers they're an explosive team in starting both halves and they really get out and they score. I believe they were up 18-11 at Utah, went on a 9-0 run, so they can be a pretty explosive offensive team and I think a lot of that has to do with the way they move the ball and how well they shoot the ball, especially from three. I think 47% of their offence is coming from the three-point line, you don't want to be caught in long close-outs for all those possessions because they're very good at moving the ball and attacking, beating you. I think it's been really interesting to see the program grow because obliviously I was at Ball State when they first got it going in Division I and Doug Noll did a really good job there getting it up and off the ground, Dane Fife and obviously with Tony Jasick who ended up going down to Jacksonville. Now Jon Coffman, they've had really good leadership there and they continue to develop players, recruit good players and so I think their program continues to get better and better and it's probably why they're off to one of their best starts."
James Blackmon Jr.
On IPFW and playing at Fort Wayne next year:
"I know they are excited to come down here and play this year. I have played open gym with some of their players before and they are excited. So we are excited as well to not only play up there next year but to play them this year too."
• Indiana University is in its 116th season of men's basketball and will face IPFW in Assembly Hall on Wednesday. The Hoosiers are coming off a 92-59 win at home against Morehead State, while the Mastodons, lost 96-79 at Utah on Saturday.
• IPFW is enjoying its finest start to a season since first playing a Division I schedule in 2001-02. The Mastodons' recent six-game winning streak was the second-best in the program's DI history (7). Saturday's game with the Hoosiers will wrap up a three-game, six-day road trip for IPFW.
| IPFW (7-3) at rv/rv Indiana (6-3) Wednesday, Dec. 9 • 7:00 p.m. ET Assembly Hall (12.472) • Bloomington, Ind. Live Stats: IUHoosiers.com TV: BTN Plus & BTN2Go (Andy Wittry, Aaron Johnson & Allie Hausfeld) **Note: A replay of the game will air on BTN at 10:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 10** Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, Joe Smith) Series History: First Meeting Last Meeting: First Meeting |
UP NEXT
• The Hoosiers host McNeese State on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
HEAD COACH TOM CREAN
• Tom Crean is in his eighth year of leading the Hoosiers. Over the last four+ years, IU is 99-48 and leads the Big Ten with 19 regular season wins over ranked opponents during that time. During that same span, the Hoosiers have appeared nationally ranked in at least one major poll during the season. He has also seen a Big Ten best three players selected in the NBA lottery over the last three years and has recruited a McDonald's All-American in each of the last five years. In addition, he has seen seven of his players score 1,000 points or more in an IU uniform. Since 2011, the Hoosiers have averaged 23 wins per season compared to 20 averaged at IU from 1995-2008. Seven players have scored 1,000 points in their career under Tom Crean at Indiana. Christian Watford (1,730), Yogi Ferrell (1,514), Verdell Jones III (1,347), Jordan Hulls (1,318), Cody Zeller (1,157), Will Sheehey (1,120) and Victor Oladipo (1,117).
WOODEN AWARD
• The John R. Wooden Award presented by Wendy's announced its Preseason Top 50 in November. Chosen by a preseason poll of national college basketball experts, the list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who are the early front-runners for college basketball's most prestigious individual honor. IU has three players on the Preseason Top 50 list that was announced on Tuesday. The Hoosiers are represented by senior guard Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell, junior forward Troy Williams and sophomore guard James Blackmon, Jr.
VERSATILE CONTRIBUTORS
• The Hoosiers have seven players averaging at least seven points per game including sophomore James Blackmon, Jr. (16.4), senior Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell (15.0), Troy Williams (12.8), freshman Thomas Bryant (11.8), senior Nick Zeisloft (8.2), senior Max Bielfeldt (8.2) and sophomore Robert Johnson (7.8).
COMMON OPPONENT
• The Hoosiers defeated Austin Peay, 102-76, in their second game of the season, while IPFW won at Austin Peay, 80-77 two days later.
A WIN WOULD
• Give the Hoosiers 100 wins since the start of the 2011-12 season. It would be the first time that IU has notched 100 wins in a similar span since 1999 to 2004 when IU won 101 games in five full seasons.
FORCED TURNOVERS
• Against Morehead State, the Hoosiers tied a season-high by forcing 23 turnovers against the Eagles. IU leads the Big Ten in steals per game (8.4) and in turnovers forced per game (15.0).
FERRELL PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
• Senior All-Big Ten guard Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell has been named second team Preseason All-American by The Sporting News and USA Today, in addition to garnering third team honors from Athlon Sports and fourth team mention in Blue Ribbon Magazine. A first-team NABC and USBWA All-District selection last season, Ferrell was sixth in the Big Ten averaging 16.3 points and was fourth in assists at 4.9. Ferrell now has 1,514 points in his IU career, which ranks 16th in school history. He trails Archie Dees by 32 points for 15th and Randy Wittman by 35 for 14th. He now has 497 career assists in his IU career, which ranks fourth in school history. He trails Tom Coverdale who is third with 500. He has made 206 threes in his IU career, which ranks third in school history. He had his 23rd career 20+ point effort with 22 against St. John's. Against Austin Peay, he had 22 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Against Creighton, he had 15 points, a career-high nine rebounds and six assists. For the season, he has 59 assists and just 20 turnovers in nine games. For the season, he is averaging 15.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists.
WATCH LISTS
• The Indiana Hoosiers were well represented on the preseason watch lists released by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this month. The watch lists recognize the top 20 players in the country at each of the five positions on the court. Here's who was recognized from Indiana:
Bob Cousy Award (Top PG): Kevin Yogi Ferrell
Jerry West Award (Top SG): James Blackmon Jr.
Julius Erving Award (Top SF): Troy Williams
K. Abdul-Jabbar Award (Top C): Thomas Bryant
IU'S MAJOR CONFERENCE RANKINGS (2011-PRESENT)
• 3-point percentage, 40.1 (1st)
• Field goal percentage, 47.6 (1st)
• Free throw percentage, 73.7 (2nd)
• Points per game, 76.8 (4th)
• Home wins, 69 (5th)
ODDS AND TRENDS
• The Hoosiers have notched 50 percent or better shooting in 12 out of 18 halves played so far this season.
• The nine turnovers committed at Duke on marked a season low for IU. The Hoosiers are averaging just 11.3 turnovers in the last three games.
• In the last three games, IU is averaging 92.7 points on 58.5% shooting from the field and 46.6% marksmanship from long distance.
• In the first six games of the season, IU was averaging 18.1 trips to the free throw line making 62.3% from the line. In the last three games, the Hoosiers are going to the line 26.0 times per game and making 75.6% of its charity tosses.
• No college basketball team has been a better three-point shooting team over the last 4+ years than IU. In their last 147 games, IU has made 40.1% of its long distance tries. Here are the career percentages of the Hoosiers top shooters from beyond the arc: Nick Zeisloft (47.0), Collin Hartman (42.7), James Blackmon, Jr. (40.2), Robert Johnson (40.9), Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell (39.0),
• In 73 career games, junior Troy Williams has averaged 10.5 ppg., 5.9 rebs on 53.9% shooting. He also has 112 assists. In his first 73 games, Victor Oladipo averaged 9.4 points, 4.6 rebounds on 51.0% shooting with 110 assists.
• In the last three games, Williams has made 14 of his last 17 field goal attempts. He also has been to the free throw line 23 times.
• In his last three games, sophomore James Blackmon, Jr., is averaging 20.7 points and has shot 52.5% from the field and 47.1% from long distance.
• Senior Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell is averaging 14.3 points and shooting 50.0% from the floor, 45.5% from three-point range and has 17 assists and just five turnovers since returning from Hawaii.
• Freshman Thomas Bryant has made 11 of his last 15 field goal attempts.
• Senior Max Bielfeldt has made 10 of his last 13 shots.
• Sophomore Robert Johnson has hit 10 of his last 18 shots and made four of seven three-point attempts.
• Junior Collin Hartman has made six of 11 field goal attempts and is three of six from three-point range in that time.
• Over the last two seasons, senior Nick Zeisloft is the top three-point shooter among major conference players making 47.0% of his three-point attempts (85 for 181).
Indiana associate head coach Tim Buckley Previews Game vs. IPFW
On the defense improving the last time out:
"I think our overall demeanor. We have to have that mindset where we are attacking, not gambling, but where we are aggressive and playing together. I thought our defense was tied together. We shrunk the floor. We had good rotations and everyone was covering for each other when there was a mistake or error made. We just have to continue to be alert and aware for 40 minutes."
On Mo Evans (IPFW leading-scorer) growth from High School:
"I would say he's always been a really good player. He probably didn't have the strength and the athletic explosiveness when he was in high school that he has now, which he obviously has built and developed there. I think he has become, not only a high level scorer, but a very high level point guard. I think he's averaging about four assist per game, so not only is he scoring the ball but he's also finding his teammates. If you over help or make a mistake he's going to get the ball in the right place. Their team as a whole do that really well, they move the basketball."
On the challenge that IPFW presents:
"Well, you talk about looking at the numbers they're an explosive team in starting both halves and they really get out and they score. I believe they were up 18-11 at Utah, went on a 9-0 run, so they can be a pretty explosive offensive team and I think a lot of that has to do with the way they move the ball and how well they shoot the ball, especially from three. I think 47% of their offence is coming from the three-point line, you don't want to be caught in long close-outs for all those possessions because they're very good at moving the ball and attacking, beating you. I think it's been really interesting to see the program grow because obliviously I was at Ball State when they first got it going in Division I and Doug Noll did a really good job there getting it up and off the ground, Dane Fife and obviously with Tony Jasick who ended up going down to Jacksonville. Now Jon Coffman, they've had really good leadership there and they continue to develop players, recruit good players and so I think their program continues to get better and better and it's probably why they're off to one of their best starts."
James Blackmon Jr.
On IPFW and playing at Fort Wayne next year:
"I know they are excited to come down here and play this year. I have played open gym with some of their players before and they are excited. So we are excited as well to not only play up there next year but to play them this year too."
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
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Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
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