5 Reasons Why This IU Team is Different

[BlueDevil]

Here are 5 reasons why I believe this Indiana squad is different than any other Tom Crean squad.

(In no particular order)

1. Tom Crean let his guard down and was open to change. It's been stated several times that CTC has cut down on practice times and cut down earlier in the year due to the injury to JBJ. I believe this has proven to be a major success as IU enters the BTT riding a 5 game winning streak and appearing to be playing their best basketball at the right time. I think if you look at past seasons IU fades late and looks gassed towards the end of the year due to long strenuous practices. I believe Crean has also been more consistent with substitutions and has improved on in game adjustments that has been a factor in IU picking up wins in games they would normally lose under CTC.

2. IU bought in on the defensive side of the ball. This team can really play some defense. Indiana really started off this year like years past with 0 intent to play anything that resembles a defense and it definitely cost them in Maui. It seemed like the turning point for me was when James went down with his knee injury that the D really picked up. I've always been a believer that Troy was also a liability on defense and those 2 together on the court really made it tough on the defensive side of the ball. With JBJ out of the picture (he's a really good talent and I'm not dogging him) it allowed for more of a defensive presence, especially on the perimeter. With Troy still on the floor I think it is much easier to hide only 1 liability instead of 2. The team seems much more vocal and willing to play defense.

3. Indiana finally has leadership. Indiana finally has the leadership it has been searching for. IU fans have grumbled for the last couple years that there really is no leader on the team and it was obviously true. Yogi, Max, Nick, and yes Ryan and Jackson too have all stepped up majorly and led this team in the turnaround. You could just feel how much these guys have turned into great leaders during the senior speeches post game yesterday. I really think all 5 of these guys have been very instrumental in leading this team to a B1G title and a 25-6 record heading into where it really matters. I think for the majority of IUs fan base, this year is pure excitement heading to to tourney time rather than the usual "we are fading, will we make the tournament?" Or "this team won't make it past the first weekend."

4. Yogi Ferrell went from a perceived ME guy to a WE guy.

For mainly his sophomore and junior campaigns Yogi Ferrell came off to many as a stat stuffer that didn't have the winning mentality everyone thought he had when he came on campus in 2012. Boy has he proven everyone wrong with his play this year. Yogi Ferrell has elevated himself to IU Legend status in my opinion. Yes he doesn't have a title but the jury is still out on this year as Indiana is one of the hottest teams in the country entering tourney play. It has been so much fun to see Yogi grow and develop over the last 4 years in Btown and it won't be the same without 11 on the floor next year. He has had a 1st team All-American type season.

5. Indiana's freshmen class is contributing NOW.

What a class this has turned out to be in only year 1. I had my doubts just like many on OG and Juwan as we already knew what IU was getting in Thomas Bryant. These guys have been major impact guys all year long especially in Big Ten play. Who know OG Anunoby would be the type of player he has been this year bringing great energy and poise off the bench. Juwan Morgan has been huge down the stretch in Big Ten play and I hope he heals up quickly. Thomas Bryant has grown leaps and bounds since the beginning of the year and has been super efficient on offense. Harrison Niego has also given IU solid minutes off the bench that allows Yogi to get a few minutes of rest here and there. He seems like a guy that Tom trusts and brings great energy when he comes into the game. These guys are all hustle guys and look forward to seeing how they continue to develop.

I'm certain there are other factors and reasons but these are 5 that have stood out to me.

[Bittersince87]

Nice topic.

[MartintheMopMan]

Point 5 is huge. The biggest difference between this team and past teams is the ridiculous depth. We can feel comfortable when a starter needs a rest and when there are 5 forwards on the court we are willing to give the benefit of the doubt instead of freaking out because the bench is just so deep. If you send a message to this board on December 3 saying "BTW, you'll end your season without RoJo and JBJ" who here would predict winning the Big Ten by two games instead of a record like... well, like Rutgers? It's incredible to me that we have numerically the shallowest team of the Tom Crean era (11 eligible scholarship players including Priller), then we lost two more scholarship players and are currently rolling with 8 rotation scholarship guys and we're still undeniably deep.

[Bittersince87]

1. Remember when we left their offense with so many wide open threes? Nope that is completely fixed now. We're also cutting more passing angles to create more turnovers. Beautiful . Finally we're not giving their guards space after they set a pick on top of the key. Awesome. Defense is what is different from previous teams and I'm glad that's changed.
2. Yogi is better at making decisions. I think he now understands the flow of the game better and decide when he should attack the rim and when he should pass.
You also notice that he's no longer jumping off without a purpose? He's causing less turnovers. I'm glad to see it and it's a thing of beauty. Excited to see what happens.

[Walking Boot of Doom]

To your point #2, Troy even looks a little better defensively. Much more effort for him. He still loses his man anytime they run a screen against Troy, but the effort is much improved. 

[BlueDevil]

To your point #2, Troy even looks a little better defensively. Much more effort for him. He still loses his man anytime they run a screen against Troy, but the effort is much improved.

I would agree.

[Chips&Dipo]

I think this may be the best freshman class Crean has had

[Bittersince87]

I think this may be the best freshman class Crean has had

true. Good mannered and all throw everything they got on the court. This is all you can ask.

[drock161]

It amazes me how versatile some of our players are. Max doesn't back down when battling bigs down low but can also swing out and hit a 3. Bryant has had a couple of decent looking drives from the top of the key this year, OG plays lock down defense on anyone. We played a line up of 5 forwards for a decent stretch yesterday with Morgan at the point. A freshman forward played point and didn't look half bad doing it, and that line up went pretty well! Troy's 3 point shot is improving, Hartman is all over the place, and Rojo has a great shot and a pretty good drive. And Yogi is just... well, Yogi!

It's really fun seeing all of our players be able to produce from multiple spots. That's part of our success spacing the floor and makes us such a nightmare for other teams to play!

[hoosierpap]

#4 and team chemistry, which do have some correlation. Teams with bad chemistry can't do jack esp on defense and IU fans have suffered for the last few years as a result. You clean that up, voilà! 

[USMCHoosier]

Here are 5 reasons why I believe this Indiana squad is different than any other Tom Crean squad.

(In no particular order)

1. Tom Crean let his guard down and was open to change. It's been stated several times that CTC has cut down on practice times and cut down earlier in the year due to the injury to JBJ. I believe this has proven to be a major success as IU enters the BTT riding a 5 game winning streak and appearing to be playing their best basketball at the right time. I think if you look at past seasons IU fades late and looks gassed towards the end of the year due to long strenuous practices. I believe Crean has also been more consistent with substitutions and has improved on in game adjustments that has been a factor in IU picking up wins in games they would normally lose under CTC.

2. IU bought in on the defensive side of the ball. This team can really play some defense. Indiana really started off this year like years past with 0 intent to play anything that resembles a defense and it definitely cost them in Maui. It seemed like the turning point for me was when James went down with his knee injury that the D really picked up. I've always been a believer that Troy was also a liability on defense and those 2 together on the court really made it tough on the defensive side of the ball. With JBJ out of the picture (he's a really good talent and I'm not dogging him) it allowed for more of a defensive presence, especially on the perimeter. With Troy still on the floor I think it is much easier to hide only 1 liability instead of 2. The team seems much more vocal and willing to play defense.

3. Indiana finally has leadership. Indiana finally has the leadership it has been searching for. IU fans have grumbled for the last couple years that there really is no leader on the team and it was obviously true. Yogi, Max, Nick, and yes Ryan and Jackson too have all stepped up majorly and led this team in the turnaround. You could just feel how much these guys have turned into great leaders during the senior speeches post game yesterday. I really think all 5 of these guys have been very instrumental in leading this team to a B1G title and a 25-6 record heading into where it really matters. I think for the majority of IUs fan base, this year is pure excitement heading to to tourney time rather than the usual "we are fading, will we make the tournament?" Or "this team won't make it past the first weekend."

4. Yogi Ferrell went from a perceived ME guy to a WE guy.

For mainly his sophomore and junior campaigns Yogi Ferrell came off to many as a stat stuffer that didn't have the winning mentality everyone thought he had when he came on campus in 2012. Boy has he proven everyone wrong with his play this year. Yogi Ferrell has elevated himself to IU Legend status in my opinion. Yes he doesn't have a title but the jury is still out on this year as Indiana is one of the hottest teams in the country entering tourney play. It has been so much fun to see Yogi grow and develop over the last 4 years in Btown and it won't be the same without 11 on the floor next year. He has had a 1st team All-American type season.

5. Indiana's freshmen class is contributing NOW.

What a class this has turned out to be in only year 1. I had my doubts just like many on OG and Juwan as we already knew what IU was getting in Thomas Bryant. These guys have been major impact guys all year long especially in Big Ten play. Who know OG Anunoby would be the type of player he has been this year bringing great energy and poise off the bench. Juwan Morgan has been huge down the stretch in Big Ten play and I hope he heals up quickly. Thomas Bryant has grown leaps and bounds since the beginning of the year and has been super efficient on offense. Harrison Niego has also given IU solid minutes off the bench that allows Yogi to get a few minutes of rest here and there. He seems like a guy that Tom trusts and brings great energy when he comes into the game. These guys are all hustle guys and look forward to seeing how they continue to develop.

I'm certain there are other factors and reasons but these are 5 that have stood out to me.

So much in there to agree with, no need to nitpick. Very nice post.