That’s A Wrap: Jordan Hulls

  • 03/26/2010 8:34 pm in

Big Ten Basketball Tournament - First RoundWelcome to “That’s A Wrap,” our attempt to um, wrap up the 2009-10 season. Sit back. Relax. Grab some popcorn. Get your read on.

Final Stats (31 games): 6.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.5 apg, 40.6% FG, 80% FT.

The book on the season of Jordan Hulls can be written in a similar fashion to many of his freshman peers throughout the country.

There were spectacular moments — eight 3-pointers — in the regular season finale versus Northwestern, which snapped an 11-game losing streak.

And there were not-so-spectacular moments — two points and four turnovers — in a 25-point loss at Ohio State in IU’s first conference road game.

But more importantly for the point guard Indiana hopes will develop into one of its key contributors over the next few years, Hulls showed improvement as the season rolled along.

The Hoosiers were a better team, from a turnover standpoint, with Hulls at the point rather than Jeremiah Rivers. The freshman turned it over 14.8 percent of the time compared to 21.6 percent for Rivers.

Hulls was Indiana’s best 3-point shooter, knocking down 47 of 117 attempts, good for an impressive 40.2 percent. While many wondered how the unorthodox release on his jump shot and stature would translate against bigger and quicker guards in the Big Ten, the adjustment was, for the most part, seamless.

(He also shot free throws at an 80 percent clip, which will be a huge plus down the road in close games.)

So where, you ask, are the areas in which Hulls needs the most work on his game? Strength and quickness are the two areas that stand out, but the same can be said for nearly the entire Indiana roster. Tom Crean would tell you that. Hulls would tell you that. Jeff Watkinson would tell you that. Any fan that watched a game this season would also tell you that.

I would add that Hulls needs to become more assertive in looking for his shot. Verdell Jones, Christian Watford, Rivers and Devan Dumes all put up more shots and all shot a lower percentage. As Gus Johnson would say, “Rise and Fire,” Jordan.

The Bottom Line: While he may never emerge as an All-Big Ten player, Hulls is the type of player that every program needs to build success. He’s solid, but not outstanding, in just about every facet of the game. He’s also a proven winner with the potential to lead and make others around him better. And since the ship appears to have sailed on Rivers as the starting point guard in Bloomington, look for Hulls to begin running the show full-time next winter.

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