Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Ready For First Practice of 2016-17 season
9/30/2016 3:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
• The Indiana Hoosiers will begin their ninth season under head coach Tom Crean, the 2016 Big Ten Coach of the Year, when they take the floor for their first practice of the 2016-17 season this Friday.
• The Hoosiers find themselves in numerous Top 25 preseason polls entering the 2016-17 season, checking in as high as 10th (CBS), 11th (ESPN, Bleacher Report), 12th (Sports Illustrated, Athlon), 13th (Sporting News), 14th (NBC Sports, SB Nation) and 18th (USA Today, Blue Ribbon).
• The Hoosiers are 120-53 in the last five seasons, made four NCAA Tournament appearances, advanced to the Sweet Sixteen three times, finished ranked in the top 10 twice and captured Big Ten Regular Season Championships in 2013 and 2016.
• IU was 27-8 and won the outright Big Ten title with a 15-3 conference record. It marked the 22nd overall league title for the Hoosiers and 13th outright championship. Both are tied for the most in Big Ten history.
• The outright title is the team's second in a four year period with the last time that happened at IU was in 1980, 81 and 83. Crean (2) joins Michigan State's Tom Izzo and Ohio State's Thad Matta (3 apiece) as active Big Ten Coaches with multiple outright Big Ten Championships.
• The 2015-16 edition made its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in five seasons, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen for the third time in five seasons after the Hoosiers topped #10 Kentucky, 73-67, in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament in Des Moines. IU has been nationally ranked during each of the last five campaigns and the multiple trips to the Regional round are the first for IU since advancing in 1991, 92, 93, and 94.
• Since the 2011-12 season, IU is second in the nation with 23 regular season wins against ranked opponents.
• The 2015-16 Hoosiers were just one of three teams in the last 20 years in college basketball to average more than 80 points, shoot better than 50 percent from the field and 41 percent from three point range. The others are the 2001-02 Kansas Jayhawks and the 2000-01 Stanford Cardinal.
• The Hoosiers were 8-4 against Top 50 teams and were 17-0 at home last year, the first undefeated home season for IU since the 2006-07 campaign. The Hoosiers were 3rd in the country in field goal percentage (50.2), 5th in three-point field goal percentage (41.6), 7th in total three-point field goals (345), 11th in scoring (82.6), 12th in scoring margin (12.7), and 19th in assists (560). Their 345 three-point field goals also established a new school record and Big Ten record.
• In the last five seasons, IU has had the most potent offense in the Big Ten leading in points scored (77.7), field goal percentage (47.8), and three-point field goal percentage (40.2). The Hoosiers lead all major conference schools in field goal percentage and three-point percentage during that same time frame.
• Three players, Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell (2016), Cody Zeller (2013) and Victor Oladipo (2013) have been selected as All-Americans. In addition, Oladipo earned two National Player of the Year honors and was named National Defensive Player of the Year.
• Eleven of Crean's former IU players have signed professional contracts. Yogi Ferrell (Brooklyn), Troy Williams (Memphis) and Nick Zeisloft (Indiana) will all be taking part in NBA Training Camps to start the 2016-17 season. Noah Vonleh, the No.9 pick in the 2014 NBA draft, is with Portland, Cody Zeller, the No. 4 pick in 2013 is starting for the Charlotte Hornets, and Victor Oladipo, the No. 2 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, begins his first year with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
• Every senior who has played for Crean at IU has earned his degree. Seven, earned their bachelor's degree in less than four years. Twenty-five have earned bachelor's degrees and six have earned master's degrees. In 17 years as a head coach, 52 of his seniors have graduated.
• Eight players in his first six recruiting classes have scored 1,000 points in their career under Crean at Indiana. Yogi Ferrell (1,986), Christian Watford (1,730), Verdell Jones III (1,347), Jordan Hulls (1,318), Cody Zeller (1,157), Will Sheehey (1,120), Victor Oladipo (1,117) and Troy Williams (1,115) also have scored 1,000 points or more. From the Class of 2014, James Blackmon, Jr., is the next closest Hoosier to approach the mark. He has scored 714 points in a season and a half.
• Several players are coming off of surgeries. Junior James Blackmon, Jr. (knee) missed the final 22 games of last season, junior RobertJohnson (ankle) missed five games and was limited in NCAA Tournament wins against Chattanooga and Kentucky, senior Collin Hartman (knee) had surgery on September 26, sophomore Juwan Morgan (shoulder) played the final part of the season with a separated shoulder and junior Josh Newkirk (knee) had microfracture surgery in May, 2015 prior to transferring from Pittsburgh to Indiana. He sat out last season as a redshirt.
• Blackmon, Jr. declared for the NBA Draft and returned for his junior year. Sophomore's Thomas Bryant and OG Anunoby considered declaring but did not.
• The Hoosiers have three former head coaches on their staff with Associate Head Coach Tim Buckley (Ball State), Chuck Martin (Marist) and Rob Judson (Northern Illinois) all having run their own programs.
Player Highlights
Sophomore center Thomas Bryant was named Preseason All-American by Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook (first team) and NBCSports.com (second team). He averaged 14.4 points and 5.5 rebounds in postseason play. Had 19 points, five rebounds and two steals against Kentucky. He led the Big Ten in Field Goal Percentage.
Thomas Bryant - 2015-16 Season Honors
Junior guard Robert Johnson is the most experienced Hoosier having started 55 career games. Despite the ankle injury, Johnson made five of seven field goals and three of four three-pointers in 34 minutes of action against Chattanooga and Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament. He also had six assists with no turnovers against Chattanooga. He shot 44.7% from three-point range and is shooting 41.5% from long distance during his career at IU.
Senior forward Collin Hartman will begin rehab for his knee immediately. Over the last two seasons, he has averaged 4.9 points and has shot 40.8% from three-point range. He played three games in the NCAA Tournament with a fractured wrist and averaged 5.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.3 rebounds.
Sophomore forward OG Anunoby saw his playing time increase as conference play began. He averaged 5.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and shot 53.3% from the field and 40.9% from three-point range in Big Ten play. In the NCAA Tournament he tied for the team lead in blocked shots (3) and offensive rebounds (5) and made 10 of his 15 field goal attempts (66.7). He was named third-team Preseason All-American by The Sporting News.
Junior guard Josh Newkirk is eligible after sitting out a season following his transfer from Pittsburgh. With the Panthers, he averaged 5.9 points and 2.7 assists as a sophomore. In his career, he had 154 assists and 77 turnovers. He scored 16 points against Indiana in the 2014 Big Ten ACC Challenge.
Sophomore forward Juwan Morgan came on in the last nine games of the season despite the shoulder issues. He made four of seven three-pointers during that time frame and averaged 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds down the stretch for the Hoosiers.
Junior forward Tim Priller begins his third season with the Hoosiers and walk-on Quentin Taylor also is back from last year's Big Ten title squad.
Junior Freddie McSwain, Jr. is a Georgia native who comes to IU after averaging 14.0 points and 8.4 rebounds at Neosho County Community College. He is a tremendous athlete at 6-6, 215.
Freshman De'Ron Davis was Mr. Basketball in Colorado and was one of the most coveted power forwards in the county. He led his team to back-to-back state championships at Overland High School in Aurora, Colorado.
Freshman guard Curtis Jones is a Virginia native who come to IU from the same school that produced Thomas Bryant, Huntington Prep. IU fans got to see him up close in the Derby Classic when he scored 25 points.
Freshman guard Devonte Green is another big-bodied guard who was the Long Island Player of the Year as a senior when averaged 20.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.7 steals as a senior and shot 42 percent from behind the 3-point line
Freshman guard Grant Gelon, a graduate of Crown Point High School, will be counted on to stretch the floor with his shooting range. He averaged 14.5 points and shot 41.8% from long distance as a senior. He was an Indiana All-Star.
Redshirt sophomore Zach McRoberts is a former Indiana All-Star from Carmel and comes to IU after averaging 4.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game as a freshman in 14-15 at Vermont. He attended IU as a student last year and is a non-scholarship player.
Sophomore Johnny Jager is a Bloomington native who played his freshman year at Wabash. An Indiana All-Star from South High School, the same school where Jordan Hulls played, he averaged 15.0 points and 5.5 assists. He also is a non-scholarship player.
• The Hoosiers find themselves in numerous Top 25 preseason polls entering the 2016-17 season, checking in as high as 10th (CBS), 11th (ESPN, Bleacher Report), 12th (Sports Illustrated, Athlon), 13th (Sporting News), 14th (NBC Sports, SB Nation) and 18th (USA Today, Blue Ribbon).
• The Hoosiers are 120-53 in the last five seasons, made four NCAA Tournament appearances, advanced to the Sweet Sixteen three times, finished ranked in the top 10 twice and captured Big Ten Regular Season Championships in 2013 and 2016.
• IU was 27-8 and won the outright Big Ten title with a 15-3 conference record. It marked the 22nd overall league title for the Hoosiers and 13th outright championship. Both are tied for the most in Big Ten history.
• The outright title is the team's second in a four year period with the last time that happened at IU was in 1980, 81 and 83. Crean (2) joins Michigan State's Tom Izzo and Ohio State's Thad Matta (3 apiece) as active Big Ten Coaches with multiple outright Big Ten Championships.
• The 2015-16 edition made its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in five seasons, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen for the third time in five seasons after the Hoosiers topped #10 Kentucky, 73-67, in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament in Des Moines. IU has been nationally ranked during each of the last five campaigns and the multiple trips to the Regional round are the first for IU since advancing in 1991, 92, 93, and 94.
• Since the 2011-12 season, IU is second in the nation with 23 regular season wins against ranked opponents.
• The 2015-16 Hoosiers were just one of three teams in the last 20 years in college basketball to average more than 80 points, shoot better than 50 percent from the field and 41 percent from three point range. The others are the 2001-02 Kansas Jayhawks and the 2000-01 Stanford Cardinal.
• The Hoosiers were 8-4 against Top 50 teams and were 17-0 at home last year, the first undefeated home season for IU since the 2006-07 campaign. The Hoosiers were 3rd in the country in field goal percentage (50.2), 5th in three-point field goal percentage (41.6), 7th in total three-point field goals (345), 11th in scoring (82.6), 12th in scoring margin (12.7), and 19th in assists (560). Their 345 three-point field goals also established a new school record and Big Ten record.
• In the last five seasons, IU has had the most potent offense in the Big Ten leading in points scored (77.7), field goal percentage (47.8), and three-point field goal percentage (40.2). The Hoosiers lead all major conference schools in field goal percentage and three-point percentage during that same time frame.
• Three players, Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell (2016), Cody Zeller (2013) and Victor Oladipo (2013) have been selected as All-Americans. In addition, Oladipo earned two National Player of the Year honors and was named National Defensive Player of the Year.
• Eleven of Crean's former IU players have signed professional contracts. Yogi Ferrell (Brooklyn), Troy Williams (Memphis) and Nick Zeisloft (Indiana) will all be taking part in NBA Training Camps to start the 2016-17 season. Noah Vonleh, the No.9 pick in the 2014 NBA draft, is with Portland, Cody Zeller, the No. 4 pick in 2013 is starting for the Charlotte Hornets, and Victor Oladipo, the No. 2 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, begins his first year with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
• Every senior who has played for Crean at IU has earned his degree. Seven, earned their bachelor's degree in less than four years. Twenty-five have earned bachelor's degrees and six have earned master's degrees. In 17 years as a head coach, 52 of his seniors have graduated.
• Eight players in his first six recruiting classes have scored 1,000 points in their career under Crean at Indiana. Yogi Ferrell (1,986), Christian Watford (1,730), Verdell Jones III (1,347), Jordan Hulls (1,318), Cody Zeller (1,157), Will Sheehey (1,120), Victor Oladipo (1,117) and Troy Williams (1,115) also have scored 1,000 points or more. From the Class of 2014, James Blackmon, Jr., is the next closest Hoosier to approach the mark. He has scored 714 points in a season and a half.
• Several players are coming off of surgeries. Junior James Blackmon, Jr. (knee) missed the final 22 games of last season, junior RobertJohnson (ankle) missed five games and was limited in NCAA Tournament wins against Chattanooga and Kentucky, senior Collin Hartman (knee) had surgery on September 26, sophomore Juwan Morgan (shoulder) played the final part of the season with a separated shoulder and junior Josh Newkirk (knee) had microfracture surgery in May, 2015 prior to transferring from Pittsburgh to Indiana. He sat out last season as a redshirt.
• Blackmon, Jr. declared for the NBA Draft and returned for his junior year. Sophomore's Thomas Bryant and OG Anunoby considered declaring but did not.
• The Hoosiers have three former head coaches on their staff with Associate Head Coach Tim Buckley (Ball State), Chuck Martin (Marist) and Rob Judson (Northern Illinois) all having run their own programs.
Player Highlights
Sophomore center Thomas Bryant was named Preseason All-American by Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook (first team) and NBCSports.com (second team). He averaged 14.4 points and 5.5 rebounds in postseason play. Had 19 points, five rebounds and two steals against Kentucky. He led the Big Ten in Field Goal Percentage.
Thomas Bryant - 2015-16 Season Honors
- Third Team All-Big Ten
- Big Ten All-Freshman Team
- Single-Season FG Pct. (1st - 68.3% - All Games)
- Single-Season FG Pct. (1st - 68.4% - Big Ten Games)
Junior guard Robert Johnson is the most experienced Hoosier having started 55 career games. Despite the ankle injury, Johnson made five of seven field goals and three of four three-pointers in 34 minutes of action against Chattanooga and Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament. He also had six assists with no turnovers against Chattanooga. He shot 44.7% from three-point range and is shooting 41.5% from long distance during his career at IU.
Senior forward Collin Hartman will begin rehab for his knee immediately. Over the last two seasons, he has averaged 4.9 points and has shot 40.8% from three-point range. He played three games in the NCAA Tournament with a fractured wrist and averaged 5.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.3 rebounds.
Sophomore forward OG Anunoby saw his playing time increase as conference play began. He averaged 5.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and shot 53.3% from the field and 40.9% from three-point range in Big Ten play. In the NCAA Tournament he tied for the team lead in blocked shots (3) and offensive rebounds (5) and made 10 of his 15 field goal attempts (66.7). He was named third-team Preseason All-American by The Sporting News.
Junior guard Josh Newkirk is eligible after sitting out a season following his transfer from Pittsburgh. With the Panthers, he averaged 5.9 points and 2.7 assists as a sophomore. In his career, he had 154 assists and 77 turnovers. He scored 16 points against Indiana in the 2014 Big Ten ACC Challenge.
Sophomore forward Juwan Morgan came on in the last nine games of the season despite the shoulder issues. He made four of seven three-pointers during that time frame and averaged 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds down the stretch for the Hoosiers.
Junior forward Tim Priller begins his third season with the Hoosiers and walk-on Quentin Taylor also is back from last year's Big Ten title squad.
Junior Freddie McSwain, Jr. is a Georgia native who comes to IU after averaging 14.0 points and 8.4 rebounds at Neosho County Community College. He is a tremendous athlete at 6-6, 215.
Freshman De'Ron Davis was Mr. Basketball in Colorado and was one of the most coveted power forwards in the county. He led his team to back-to-back state championships at Overland High School in Aurora, Colorado.
Freshman guard Curtis Jones is a Virginia native who come to IU from the same school that produced Thomas Bryant, Huntington Prep. IU fans got to see him up close in the Derby Classic when he scored 25 points.
Freshman guard Devonte Green is another big-bodied guard who was the Long Island Player of the Year as a senior when averaged 20.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.7 steals as a senior and shot 42 percent from behind the 3-point line
Freshman guard Grant Gelon, a graduate of Crown Point High School, will be counted on to stretch the floor with his shooting range. He averaged 14.5 points and shot 41.8% from long distance as a senior. He was an Indiana All-Star.
Redshirt sophomore Zach McRoberts is a former Indiana All-Star from Carmel and comes to IU after averaging 4.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game as a freshman in 14-15 at Vermont. He attended IU as a student last year and is a non-scholarship player.
Sophomore Johnny Jager is a Bloomington native who played his freshman year at Wabash. An Indiana All-Star from South High School, the same school where Jordan Hulls played, he averaged 15.0 points and 5.5 assists. He also is a non-scholarship player.
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