|
#25 Indiana Hoosiers
Big Ten
2004-05: 15-14, 10-6,
4th
2004-05 postseason:
NCAA
By
Joel Welser
There won’t be any
excuses for Indiana this year. The fabulous freshmen from a year
ago are now experienced sophomores and a couple transfers from
Auburn will have the Hoosiers competing in the Big Ten. If there
is any failure to make the NCAAs, the Mike Davis naysayers will
have plenty of ammunition.
Who’s Out:
The importance of the loss of Bracey Wright is debatable. Wright
averaged 18.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists as a junior
before opting to play professionally. Those numbers will be
missed, but the argument can be made that Wright forced up too
many bad shots. IU has the potential to become more of a team
without Wright. Pat Ewing, Jr. averaged 4.0 points and 3.8
rebounds last year. Ewing earned five starts, but will continue
his collegiate career at Georgetown. Little used Mark Johnson,
Mike Roberts and Ryan Tapak have exhausted their eligibility.
Who’s In:
The incoming freshmen aren’t bad,
but the big impact newcomers are transfers from Auburn. Marco
Killingsworth and Lewis Monroe are both expected to start and
take the Hoosiers back to the promise land. Killingsworth is a
great talent. Two years ago, the 6-8 forward led the SEC in
shooting percentage and averaged 13.7 points and 6.7 rebounds
per game. Monroe will compete with returnee Marshall Strickland
for the starting point guard spot. Monroe averaged 6.1 points
and 3.8 assists two years ago at Auburn. The frontcourt will
receive some more depth with Ben Allen, Cem Dinc and Kyle Taber.
Allen has tremendous experience playing for the Australian
Under-21 National Team. The 6-10 center averaged 23.5 points,
15.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks at the Australian Institute of
Sport, which has a history of developing quality big men. Dinc,
a 6-10 245 pound power forward, uses his size and strength very
well on the boards and the defensive end. Kyle Taber redshirted
last year and the 6-7 forward won’t see much action this season.
Earl Calloway has the experience and skills to earn plenty of
minutes running the point. Calloway, who played at New Mexico
State before transferring to Georgia Perimeter Community
College, will give Mike Davis plenty of options in the
backcourt. Wing Joey Shaw is a tremendous shooter all the way
out to the arc. He’s extremely athletic and has nice height at
6-6. He’ll need to bulk up a bit, but Shaw will be a good player
for Indiana in the years to come.
Who to Watch:
D.J. White is the returning leading
scorer and rebounder with 13.3 and 4.9 respectively. White will
finally have some quality players around him this year in the
frontcourt with Marco Killingsworth. Sean Kline and James Hardy
are the only other returning forwards and both are quality
players, which makes this arguably the best frontcourt in the
conference. Kline has battled injuries his whole career, but the
senior is a solid player if healthy. Hardy won’t be available
until after the Hoosiers football team returns from their bowl
game…well he actually won’t miss much of the season at all.
Projected
Conference Rank:
The Big Ten is deep, but there is
no reason why this squad can’t finish 4th in the
conference. With Robert Vaden, Marshall Strickland, A.J. Ratliff
and Roderick Wilmont adding depth to the backcourt and the super
talented frontcourt, anything less than an NCAA berth is a huge
disappointment.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NCAA
Projected Starting
Five:
Lewis Monroe, Senior,
Guard, DNP last season
Marshall Strickland,
Senior, Guard, 7.4 points per game
Robert Vaden,
Sophomore, Guard, 10.2 points per game
D.J. White, Sophomore,
Forward, 13.3 points per game
Marco Killingsworth,
Senior, Forward, DNP last season
|
