Watch and listen to the postgame comments of Christian Watford, Cody Zeller and Jordan Hulls following Indiana’s 86-75 win at N.C. State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in the embedded media player below:
HD Video: Hulls, Watford and Zeller on win at N.C. State
by Greg Rosenstein in Video | November 30th, 2011
HD Video: Tom Crean on win at N.C. State
by Greg Rosenstein in Video | November 30th, 2011
Watch and listen to the postgame comments of Indiana coach Tom Crean following the Hoosiers’ 86-75 win at N.C. State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in the embedded media player below:
The Minute After: N.C. State
by Ryan Corazza in The Minute After | November 30th, 2011
Thoughts on an 86-75 win over N.C. State:
Christian Watford and Verdell Jones were dribbling into traffic and turning the ball over. C.J. Leslie was blocking Cody Zeller. The Hoosiers were failing to get the free-throw line and ball movement had disappeared.
You could feel it slipping away as Tom Crean called timeout with his Hoosiers facing a seven-point deficit at the 7:43 mark in the second half.
But they punched back.
Victor Oladipo, who was quiet most of the night due to foul trouble, rose to the occasion. He slashed to the basket for scores off the left wing. He got out and transition and received a flagrant-1. He hit free throws. And with four fouls, he showed no fear in picking up a fifth, blocking Lorenzo Brown’s shot at the 4:17 mark and recording two steals — the last of which he highlighted with a reverse slam with 20 seconds to go. The sophomore’s energy has been so crucial to the ebb and flow of Indiana’s games this season. Tonight, on the ropes, they needed him in a big way. And he delivered.
Cody Zeller was there, too. Early in the second half, Indiana looked to feed him the ball early and often. But in a hostlie road environment, Zeller, well, looked like a freshman. He sped up his game; he tried to do a little too much. But there he was in those final few minutes scoring around the rim. A dunk, a lay-up, a put-back off an Oladipo miss. He hit two free throws in the closing minutes, too. In the end, it was another efficient shooting night for the Washington native (8-of-14 for 19 points), as he also ripped down nine boards.
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ESPN The Magazine: Leap of Faith
Last October, not even a visionary could have seen with certainty that Zeller would end up in a Hoosiers uniform. Recruiting analysts speculated that the Washington, Ind., native would sign with North Carolina to play alongside his brother Tyler, who was a junior there at the time. Or maybe he’d play in Indianapolis, where Butler was coming off its first national championship appearance in 2010. Instead, this year’s No. 14 recruit signed with Indiana, a program that hasn’t had a winning season since Kelvin Sampson was forced out in 2008 amid NCAA violations.
“My brothers were a big help in the recruiting process,” says Cody, whose oldest brother, Luke, played four seasons at Notre Dame. “They let me make my own decision because I’m the one who has to live with it. I was focused on finding a school that had good players and coaches. So far, I love my decision.”
Hoosiers face toughest test yet at N.C. State
by Justin Albers in Opponents | November 29th, 2011
Indiana faced and easily passed its first road test of the season on Nov. 16 at Evansville.
But that game was only a couple hours away from Bloomington against a team with inferior talent.
When the Hoosiers (6-0) travel to North Carolina State (5-1) for a 7:15 p.m. tip Wednesday night in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, the test will be much stiffer.
“I don’t think we will have 2,000 people from Washington, Ind. at this,” Indiana coach Tom Crean said Tuesday, referring to the fans from Cody Zeller’s hometown who made the trip to Evansville. “It will be different, but it’s good. The Big Ten is like that. … We’re going to have to play. Let’s go see where we stand and let’s go in there knowing the task is high.”
The Wolfpack feature remarkably balanced scoring, with six players averaging at least 10.2 points per game. C.J. Leslie, a former McDonald’s All-American, is the leader of the group.
After contemplating a move to the NBA after last season, the 6-foot-8, 206-pound Leslie opted to return to school. He missed the first three games of the season due to suspension, but has averaged 16.7 points per game off the bench in the last three – including a season-high 20 points in N.C. State’s only loss to No. 19 Vanderbilt on Nov. 19.
Leslie likes to attack the rim and rarely settles for an outside shot. He hasn’t attempted a 3-pointer this season. He also uses his length to his advantage defensively as he has recorded seven steals and blocked seven shots in three games.
“It’s very hard to prepare for that. It’s like preparing for a 6-foot-8 Victor [Oladipo],” Crean said. “His second and third efforts are tremendous. His first effort is very good, his first step is very good, but it’s the second and third effort from him that I think separates him. … You have to constantly be aware of him.”
