Indiana Basketball: The Time Is Now For Crean’s Hoosiers

Jan 31, 2015; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward

(5) dunks the ball during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

In Bloomington, hopes and expectations are always high for Indiana Hoosier basketball. That’s no different this season. With the team’s multitude of scholarship freshmen, success will be expected by Hoosier nation. And for success to happen, everything must come together for a dream season.

Indiana’s expectations are high for a reason. The return of Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell, Troy Williams, James Blackmon Jr. and Robert Johnson. The additions of Thomas Bryant, Max Biefleldt, OG Anunoby and Juwan Morgan. But don’t forget the Hoosiers also gained addition by subtracting three players, Emmit Holt, Hanner Perea and Devin Davis.

However, what did not change over the last couple of months, after he had Hoosier faithful sweating bullets before he announced he would be returning for his senior season, is Ferrell is still the engine that will keep this team running.

Ferrell and the Hoosiers might achieve something the 2012-13 team didn’t, a national championship. We all know basketball is a guard-driven game. This is why Ferrell is the crucial piece to a team that is a dark horse to contend for a Big Ten championship and more.

He has been Indiana’s leading player in the past two seasons. But now, he’s the central to everything that this might achieve in March. This proved true at Hoosier Hysteria.

“He’s a very good basketball player who’s got to take even more responsibility for what goes on with his teammates on the court, especially when it’s not going right for him.”

Next: Two Players To Watch in 2016