Watford a Hoosier for life
The shot
Watford’s work ethic continued to develop as the days and months went by, and in his junior year, he produced the signature moment that put the Indiana program back on the national stage.
Trailing No. 1 Kentucky 72-70 in the closing seconds in Dec. 2011, Watford took a pass from Verdell Jones and buried a game-winning, buzzer-beating 3-pointer that will forever be remembered by Indiana fans everywhere.
“It was crazy,” Watford said. “I went back home, people all over my floor were going crazy. It was a great experience. I went out that night, had a terrific time.”
That shot changed everything. Few people expected Crean and the Hoosiers to turn the program around last season. Some doubted it would ever be at an elite level again. But when Watford hit that shot and beat Kentucky, everyone finally had a tangible sign that Indiana could compete with the best.
But as great as it was for Watford’s career, the shot also presented him with a problem. The closing seconds of the game were replayed time and again for the rest of the college basketball season, and some started to recognize Watford only for that one play.
“A lot of people recognize that shot, but I definitely don’t want to be defined by it,” he said. “That’s a big stepping stone, but you definitely don’t want to be defined by that as a player. You don’t want to be a guy that only hit that shot. You try to go forward and try to keep continue playing.”
The Kentucky shot will always be a big part of Watford’s legacy at Indiana, but it won’t be the only one. Watford has continued to develop as a player in the last season and a half, and he’s a big reason why the Hoosiers have already clinched at least a share of the Big Ten title.
Tasked with being Indiana’s primary option as a freshman and sophomore, Watford has learned to accept a lesser role in the last two seasons. The ball doesn’t stop when it hits his hands like it too often did earlier in his career, and he’s become a reliable and consistent outside shooter.
“I’ve definitely changed a lot,” Watford said. “I’ve never been part of a team with so much talent. People gotta change for the better of the program, in order to win. That’s the main key. You just gotta sacrifice some things, but it’s all for the better. Everything good comes with winning.”
Filed to: Christian Watford