Indiana Set To Get Offensive vs. Indiana Wesleyan

   

Do you like points? Do you see offense as a gateway to paradise, meaning the more points scored the better?

Great news. Tonight’s exhibition game between Indiana and Indiana Wesleyan figures to be a light-up-the-scoreboard basketball event.

IU was the Big Ten’s best scoring team last year at 77.3 percent, returns all five starters and brought in super-fast point guard Yogi Ferrell to really ratchet up the pace. It will play an Indiana Wesleyan team that averaged 75 points last year, and just put up 91 against St. Xavier of Illinois on Tuesday night.

In other words, expect a blistering pace, which is just the way junior guard Victor Oladipo likes it.

“It’s pretty cool, because we like to play that way too,” Oladipo said. “Get up and down the floor. Not shoot too many shots, we don’t want to go crazy, but shoot good shots and get up and down the floor. It’s going to be interesting. They’re a good team and we’re looking forward to playing someone else.”

IU is everybody’s choice as preseason No. 1, and has a great chance of making it to next spring’s Final Four.

Oladipo sees the improvement.

“We’re more confident. There’s better togetherness. We were really together last year, but I think this year, we’re more together than we’ve ever been because we know we’re going to always have the target on our backs.”

A big key is the veterans bringing the freshmen up to speed. Oladipo said that hasn’t been a problem.
“Our communication has gotten way better since the first day, especially with our younger guys,” Oladipo said. “They’ve come a long way in doing that and being leaders and they realize that they have a high road and we expect to play everybody.”

Oh, for those who like defense, IU will show plenty of that, as well. As all the Hoosiers know, if that doesn't improve, they have no national title chance.

*****

Here’s a no-brainer -- Jordan Hulls can shoot. But how does he rate nationally? According to CBS Sports, he No. 3.

For his caeer Hulls averages 44 percent from three-point range. Last season he was at 49 percent, 72-for-146.

Think about that. Most guys would love to shoot 49 percent from anywhere except the free throw line. It reflects Hulls’ sharpshooting as well as his ability to take good shots. You almost never see him take a challenged three-pointer unless he’s trying to beat the shot clock.

So who are the two guys ahead of him?

Butler’s Rotnei Clark is No. 1. He shot 44 percent from beyond the arc as a junior, 42 percent as a sophomore and 39 percent as a freshman. That was done while he was at Arkansas. Now he’s at Butler.

Baylor’s Brady Heslip is No. 2. He shot 46 percent last year on three-pointers, and made 100 of them. He hit nine when Baylor beat Colorado in the NCAA tourney.

Anyway, Hulls has had a good couple of days. He also is a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award. That stands for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School. Candidates must excel in three areas: community, classroom, character and competition.

Hulls is one of 30 men’s candidates. There will be 10 finalists with a vote by national media, coaches and fans set to pick a winner, which will be named at the Final Four.

Also, CBS Sports has Cody Zeller as the nation’s best shooting big man, and he’ll get to prove it this year from beyond the arc as well as in the paint. Ferrell was picked at the No. 33 point guard.