After a week with little movement, six teams are in a new position in week seven of our Big Ten power rankings. The changes come in the bottom half of the rankings as the top four teams in the conference have begun to pull away from the pack.

12. Penn State (10-14, 2-9) (LAST WEEK: 12)…They played with a good Wisconsin team at home for awhile, but the Nittany Lions just don’t have enough late-game options to compete in the conference. Penn State has lost four straight and seven of eight.

11. Nebraska (11-11, 3-8) (LAST WEEK: 9)…The Cornhuskers dropped two winnable games this week, one at Northwestern and the other against Minnesota. Uncharacteristically, Nebraska has given up 69 or more points in five straight games.

10. Northwestern (14-8, 4-6) (LAST WEEK: 11)…They needed a good week, and the Wildcats got one. Back-to-back wins — including one at in-state rival Illinois on Sunday — has closer to the NCAA Tournament bubble.

9. Minnesota (17-7, 5-6) (LAST WEEK: 7)…The Golden Gophers could have continued their climb in the power rankings had they held onto a sizable lead at Iowa. Still, they’re a team to watch as we get closer to the Big Ten Tournament.

8. Iowa (13-11, 5-6) (LAST WEEK: 10)…They had their chance to fold after an ugly loss at Indiana and a dreadful start against Minnesota, but the Hawkeyes bounced back nicely for two wins this week. They’re on the road for the next two against Northwestern and Penn State, but both are winnable.

7. Purdue (15-8, 5-5) (LAST WEEK: 6)…The Boilermakers saw their chances for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid take a significant blow with a home loss to Indiana on Saturday. Purdue has dropped three of four and has a trip to Columbus to play Ohio State coming on Tuesday.

6. Illinois (16-7, 5-5) (LAST WEEK: 8)…Much like many of the teams in the Big Ten, Illinois is too inconsistent to be considered an elite team. The Fighting Illini beat both Ohio State and Michigan State at home, but their home loss to Northwestern was their fourth defeat in five games.

5. Indiana (18-6, 6-6) (LAST WEEK: 5)…A slow start at Michigan was worrisome, but the Hoosiers bounced back with a big win at Purdue. Now they’ve got to take care of business at home on Thursday against Illinois.

4. Wisconsin (18-6, 7-4) (LAST WEEK: 4)…The Badgers didn’t quite have enough to beat Ohio State at home, but they proved a lot by the way they competed.

3. Michigan (17-7, 7-4) (LAST WEEK: 3)…The Wolverines split games with Indiana and Michigan State last week. They continue to grow as a team, and freshman point guard Trey Burke looks more like a veteran with each passing game.

2. Michigan State (18-5, 7-3) (LAST WEEK: 2)…They struggled down the stretch in a disappointing loss at Illinois, but the Spartans returned to form with a big home win against rival Michigan. Still, the Spartans need to start playing better on the road where they’ve now lost three straight games.

1. Ohio State (20-3, 8-2) (LAST WEEK: 1)…After losing to Illinois on Jan. 10, the Buckeyes have won five consecutive games — including three against ranked teams. They beat a hot Wisconsin team at the Kohl Center on Saturday night.

Recent history playing away from Assembly Hall in the Big Ten suggested that Purdue had Indiana right where it wanted them. The Hoosiers had not beaten any conference team besides Penn State on the road since the 2007-2008 season.

But as the Paint Crew reached a fever pitch and momentum shifted to the Boilermakers, Indiana took a road they’ve rarely traveled in recent seasons away from Bloomington. The Hoosiers did what they couldn’t do in Lincoln, Madison or Ann Arbor: finish well down the stretch.

First it was a block by Will Sheehey on a shot by Lewis Jackson that would’ve cut the lead to two. And then it was Remy Abell’s 3-pointer from the corner at the 1:27 mark to put the game out of reach.

Both plays were made possible because Indiana put together its most complete effort from start to finish all season on the road. The Hoosiers were basically in control throughout the contest.

“To me, it looked like it meant more to them,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “Just right from the start, looking, you can see guys’ facial expressions, you can see guys body language, I thought they were more engaged.”

It hasn’t been that way as of late for Indiana on the road in the Big Ten.

The Hoosiers were never able to fully recover in slow starts at Ohio State and Michigan. At Nebraska and Wisconsin, Indiana couldn’t come up with the key plays Sheehey and Abell made in Mackey Arena on Saturday night.

“It’s big for us,” Indiana guard Victor Oladipo said. “It should boost our confidence a little bit. We should do stuff like that. We’re a really good team.”

With Verdell Jones out of the lineup with a bruised shoulder, Victor Oladipo and Abell both took on increased roles. Oladipo moved from the wing to primary ball handler and Abell, who has been used sparingly, played more like an upperclassmen than a freshman with limited experience.

Purdue couldn’t keep Oladipo out of the lane or off the foul line. The sophomore guard finished with a career-high 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists. As the game moved along, his confidence grew.

“I thought he did a good job of picking his spots and getting by us,” Painter said. “Obviously getting to the free throw line twelve times really helped them.”

Abell, who played a career-high 19 minutes and finished with a career-high 13 points, showed that he’s ready to shoulder a bigger role moving forward. The freshman from Louisville showed no hesitation when he received a pass from Christian Watford in front of the IU bench and knocked down a shot to push Indiana’s lead to nine.

“That’s a big shot for Remy,” Oladipo said. “He’s just growing every day and he’s becoming a great player. He just needs to continue to do what he’s doing and working hard. I’m proud of him.”

Yet, more important than the individual performances or plays is the fact that Indiana is responding to adversity with positive results late in the season. Losses snowballed late in Big Ten play the past few seasons. This team appears destined for a much different finish.

“You take your hat off to them. They’ve been at the bottom,” Purdue guard Lewis Jackson said. “They’ve lost to us three years in a row. They’re tired of hearing it. You just see the maturity and the fight over there and that’s a team that came together.”

It’s been awhile since we’ve had this. Sure, there have been competitive games in football and basketball over the last few years, but Indiana has rarely had more than pride on the line. The Hoosiers competed, stayed in the game, and then lost.

It was hardly even still a rivalry.

But the Hoosiers are back, and Purdue still has plenty left to play for. The Boilermakers are the only Big Ten team without a win over a ranked opponent.

For Indiana, Saturday night’s game at Mackey Arena could be viewed as a “must-win.” With the Hoosiers’ struggles on the road in the Big Ten, a fifth consecutive loss away from Assembly Hall would all but kill this team’s confidence the rest of the way. They’ve still got winnable road games against Iowa and Minnesota left, but lose this one, and those two look a whole lot tougher.

Indiana’s incredibly slow start at Michigan on Wednesday gave it little chance to come back. The Hoosiers had a similarly slow start at Ohio State before playing a better second half.

If they want to beat Purdue and alter their recent fortunes away from Assembly Hall, they can’t afford to fall behind by double-digits before they find their rhythm.

“I feel like we just got rushed in the beginning,” junior Derek Elston said Friday. “A lot of the guys weren’t playing their game. We let the defense kind of dictate what was going on. After a TV timeout, coach just kept harping that we have to keep playing our game no matter what, don’t let them speed us up, keep playing IU basketball.

“I think in the beginning we were trying to make that home run play when we just needed to make the single.”

So what’s the key to starting faster?

“Not turning the ball over and playing better defense,” said guard Jordan Hulls.

Seems simple enough. But it won’t be easy considering the game is just as meaningful — if not more — for the Boilermakers. With a game at Ohio State next and road games against Indiana and Michigan still to come, Purdue can’t afford to drop another home game.

“Every league game is being played at such a high level, they are all played like a rivalry game,” Indiana coach Tom Crean said in a release. “The coaches and players in the Big Ten all understand the importance of each conference game, and I wouldn’t expect anything different (Saturday) night.”

Both teams have so much to play for that the in-state rivalry factor is just icing on the cake.

That’s what Indiana-Purdue is supposed to be about. Saturday night, the rivalry finally returns.

As the conference’s top teams start to play each other, there should be more and more separation. Or it could just remain a jumbled mess. Who knows.

Without further ado, the sixth edition of Inside the Hall’s Big Ten power rankings.

12. Penn State (10-12, 2-7) (LAST WEEK: 12)…The Nittany Lions are in the midst of the most difficult stretch on their schedule, and they haven’t fared well. After falling at Indiana and at Ohio State, Penn State now faces games against Wisconsin, at Iowa, and at Michigan State.

11. Northwestern (12-8, 2-6) (LAST WEEK: 10)…The slide continued with a home loss to Purdue on Saturday. The Wildcats have lost three consecutive games since upsetting Michigan State.

10. Iowa (11-11, 3-6) (LAST WEEK: 9)…The Hawkeyes surprised everybody with road wins against Wisconsin and Minnesota to begin the conference season, but they’ve lost five of six and are sinking fast.

9. Nebraska (11-9, 3-6) (LAST WEEK: 11)…They’re not flashy, but the Cornhuskers keep getting better. Their win at Iowa last week may have turned the Hawkeyes’ season in the wrong direction.

8. Illinois (15-6, 4-4) (LAST WEEK: 8)…The Fighting Illini were 4-1 after an upset of Ohio State, but they’ve dropped three straight with a game against Michigan State still to come on Tuesday.

7. Minnesota (16-6, 4-5) (LAST WEEK: 7)…An overtime win against Illinois has the Golden Gophers back in the middle of the Big Ten pack. Even without Trevor Mbakwe, they’ve won four out of their last five.

6. Purdue (15-7, 5-4) (LAST WEEK: 6)…The Boilermakers don’t play again until Saturday when they host Indiana. That could be a critical game for the Boilers’ NCAA tournament hopes.

5. Indiana (17-5, 5-5) (LAST WEEK: 5)…The Hoosiers played well in a loss at Wisconsin, but couldn’t come up with any key rebounds late. They rebounded for a much-needed win against Iowa, but the lack of defense is still alarming.

4. Wisconsin (17-5, 6-3) (LAST WEEK: 4)…The Badgers are the conference’s hottest team. They’ve won five straight games, and they’re fresh off an impressive win against Indiana.

3. Michigan (16-6, 6-3) (LAST WEEK: 3)…The Wolverines are practically unbeatable at home, and they played with Ohio State on the road Sunday afternoon. Trey Burke is the real deal. Now if only Tim Hardaway Jr. would take better shots.

2. Michigan State (17-4, 6-2) (LAST WEEK: 2)…They took care of Minnesota at home, but will the Spartans suffer the same fate as Ohio State when they visit Illinois on Tuesday?

1. Ohio State (19-3, 7-2) (LAST WEEK: 1)…Michigan gave them a battle for a while, but the Buckeyes are starting to look like the unbeatable team many thought they could be before the season. They still have plenty have challenges left on the schedule, however, starting with a road contest against Wisconsin on Saturday.

But the Hoosiers didn’t need either of those wins in the way they needed their 103-89 victory against Iowa on Sunday.

The No. 16 Hoosiers had to prove they could step on an opponent’s throat as an overwhelming favorite. They had to prove they could break out of the funk they’ve been in. They had to prove that, to put it frankly, this isn’t the team that has missed the tournament in each of Tom Crean’s first three years in Bloomington.

They had to prove all of that to the selection committee and to the fans. But most importantly, they had to prove it to themselves.

This is a team full of guys who have been through the whole losing thing before. Lose to Iowa at home, and maybe those ugly nightmares start to come back. With road games against Michigan and Purdue coming next, this thing could have gotten away from Crean and Co. in a hurry.

But this isn’t the same old Indiana team. With their backs very much against the wall, the Hoosiers dominated an Iowa club that has owned them in recent history.

They scored 58 points in the paint, outrebounded the Hawkeyes 37-22, and scored 100 points in a Big Ten contest for the first time since 1995. Indiana built a big lead and then never let Iowa back in, something the Hoosiers have struggled to do at times this season.

The Kentucky and Ohio State wins put the Hoosiers back on the map. This one showed they aren’t ready to fall back off of it.

“Again, 17 wins, 17 different ways to win,” Crean said. “And I thought our team responded to the last couple of days. They were excited to play. They had tremendous energy and I think the energy of the crowd helped fuel them even more.”

Even more impressive than the win was the way in which the Hoosiers won it.

They didn’t do it with 3-pointers as they have so often in the past. They made only 4-of-16 shots from beyond the arc for the game, all of which came in the first half.

Instead the Hoosiers did it with interior passing, with uncontested dunks, and with unselfish play.

They did it without a big performance from Jordan Hulls, but with big performances from Derek Elston and Tom Pritchard.

Elston scored eight points and blocked a shot in a 68-second spurt in the first half, and Pritchard scored seven points, had a tip dunk and a steal, and took two charges.

“Everybody came out with that toughness that we needed, and we kind of ran with it,” Elston said. “Once we got in the flow, it was kind of hard to stop us.”

The Hoosiers are far from a finished product. They allowed Iowa to shoot 79 percent from the field in the second half and 63 percent for the game. If they want to move above the middle of the pack in the conference, their defense must get much better.

When he was asked about the second-half shooting percentage his team gave up, Crean shook off the question.

“I’ll worry about that later,” he said. “I’m glad we got the win.”

For this one time, that’s the right response. This game wasn’t about shooting percentages.

This game was about the Hoosiers’ getting their confidence and their edge back. It was about continuing to grow into the team the Hoosiers want to become instead of falling back into the team they used to be. It was about grabbing Iowa by the neck and never letting go.

They did all of those things, and they had fun doing it.

Indiana has had more impressive wins, but this one may just be the most important.

With the midway point of the Big Ten season approaching, Inside the Hall takes a look at the sleepers, contenders and the favorite to take home the conference’s player of the year award: 

THE SLEEPERS (LITTLE CHANCE TO WIN, BUT A MENTION IS WARRANTED)

Tim Frazier, Penn State — Frazier is basically a one-man show in State College and his numbers bear that out. He’s leading the Nittany Lions in points, rebounds and assists. His assist rate of 46.4 is second nationally. The reason he won’t be under real consideration? Penn State is headed for a bottom two finish in the Big Ten.

Robbie Hummel, Purdue — One of the better stories in all of college basketball this season, Hummel’s steady presence has the Boilermakers right in the thick of the conference race. His 15.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game both lead the team.

Meyers Leonard, Illinois — The sophomore big man gets the nod over his junior teammate Brandon Paul because he’s the more efficient player. Leonard is in the top 150 nationally in effective field goal percentage and is third in the conference in defensive rebounding percentage and block percentage.

Keith Appling, Michigan State — Questions lingered before the season about Appling’s ability to make the transition to point guard, but his play there has been steady thus far. He’s in the top ten in the league in assist rate and free throw rate. He’s also among the Big Ten’s best defenders and transition players.

John Shurna, Northwestern — Shurna may have cracked the contender list had his Wildcats not dropped two straight following an upset of Michigan State on Jan. 14. He’s the Big Ten’s leading scorer at 19.2 points per game and has knocked down 51-of-120 of his 3-point attempts (42.5 percent).

William Buford, Ohio State — Being the second-leading scorer on the league’s best team is enough to land Buford consideration. While his percentage from 3-point range is down almost seven percent from a season ago, Buford is contributing in other ways. He’s third on the Buckeyes in rebounding and second in assists. His leadership could determine the Buckeyes fate come March.

THE CONTENDERS 

Trey Burke, Michigan — Burke’s appointment to this list may come as a surprise, but he’s been the Wolvernines most reliable player all season. And Michigan is currently in a three way tie for first place. The freshman from Columbus, Ohio is fifth in the conference in assist rate (30.3), second on his team in scoring (14.6) and most importantly, has filled the gap left by Darius Morris’ early departure for the NBA Draft.

Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin — A little over two weeks ago, the Badgers looked overmatched after dropping three straight conference games. Now, they’re the league’s hottest team in large part because of Taylor’s improved play of late. In a pair of wins against Northwestern and Illinois last week, the senior point guard averaged 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists.

Cody Zeller, Indiana — The presence of Zeller has elevated the Hoosiers from the basement of the Big Ten to a top 25 national ranking. He’s leading the league in effective field goal percentage and is in the top ten in offensive rebounding percentage. Zeller is pacing IU in scoring (15.4 ppg) and rebounding (6.4), and is among the 25 finalists for the Wooden Award for national player of the year.

Draymond Green, Michigan State — It’s finally Draymond’s team to lead in East Lansing and the senior forward has the Spartans in a three-way tie for the conference lead. Green is the Big Ten’s second best defensive rebounder and the only player in the league who is averaging double figures on the glass (10.2 rebounds per game). He also leads the Spartans in scoring at 15.0 points per game and is second in assists with 3.5 per game.

THE FAVORITE

Jared Sullinger, Ohio State — Sullinger is a solid favorite at this point and may strengthen his position if the Buckeyes ultimately pull away from the pack in the conference standings. Consider these conference ranks for the Ohio State sophomore: effective field goal percentage (2nd), defensive rebounding percentage (1st), free throw rate (5th), steal percentage (8th), fouls drawn per 40 minutes (2nd). The scary part is that Sullinger may only continue to get better as his health and conditioning improve over the next two months.

(Photo credit: Jamie Owens of J. Scott Sports)

After another week full of upsets in the conference, we bring you our fifth edition of power rankings this season. Last week’s No. 1 (Illinois) lost to last week’s No. 12 (Penn State). Last week’s No. 11 (Nebraska) beat last week’s No. 4 (Indiana). And then both Penn State and Nebraska suffered blowout losses in their next games. If nothing else, this week of conference play proved once again just how difficult it is to win on the road in the Big Ten.

12. Penn State (10-11, 2-6) (LAST WEEK: 12)…Impressive home win against Illinois, but the Nittany Lions still have only one road victory this season. If they are going to get better, they need to find a second scorer after Tim Frazier.

11. Nebraska (10-9, 2-6) (LAST WEEK: 11)…Nice upset of Indiana, but the Hoosiers were as much responsible for giving that game away as the Cornhuskers were for taking it. They finished the week with a 34-point home loss to Ohio State.

10. Northwestern (12-7, 2-5) (LAST WEEK: 7)…The Wildcats have struggled since their upset of Michigan State on Jan. 14. It’s still hard to know what to make of this team. They’ve lost their last two games by a combined 43 points, including a 75-52 beatdown at Minnesota on Sunday.

9. Iowa (11-9, 3-4) (LAST WEEK: 8)…You never know what you’re going to get with the Hawkeyes. They won at Wisconsin and at Minnesota, and they beat Michigan at home. But they’ve also lost twice to Purdue and fell to the conference’s top two teams (Ohio State and Michigan State) by a combined 63 points.

8. Illinois (15-5, 4-3) (LAST WEEK: 1)…Well, the Fighting Illini didn’t last long in the top 25. They proved that their win against Ohio State was probably a fluke by falling at Penn State and at home against Wisconsin last week.

7. Minnesota (15-5, 3-4) (LAST WEEK: 10)…Don’t look now, but the Golden Gophers have won three games in a row after losing their first four on the conference slate. They dominated the Nittany Lions on the road — something few teams have done — and followed it up with an impressive 23-point win against Northwestern.

6. Purdue (14-6, 4-3) (LAST WEEK: 6)…Inconsistency is the best word to describe the Boilermakers. Win one, lose one, win one, lose one. They haven’t won back-to-back games since they opened the conference season with wins against Iowa and Illinois. They beat Iowa again last week, but then got hammered by 25 points at Michigan State.

5. Indiana (16-4, 4-4) (LAST WEEK: 4)…The Hoosiers bounced back nicely after a disappointing loss at Nebraska to beat Penn State, but they’ve still struggled of late. A Thursday night game at Wisconsin should be a good test for the overachieving Hoosiers.

4. Wisconsin (16-5, 5-3) (LAST WEEK: 9)…The Badgers have won four straight after a rough start, including a four-point win at Illinois on Sunday. Wisconsin is as hot and as dangerous as any team in the conference right now.

3. Michigan (15-5, 5-2) (LAST WEEK: 5)…The Wolverines suffered a disappointing loss at Arkansas on Saturday, but it still had to be a good week in Ann Arbor after they beat rival Michigan State. Michigan has to go on the road twice this week, to Purdue and Ohio State.

2. Michigan State (16-4, 5-2) (LAST WEEK: 2)…The Spartans needed a win badly after two road losses, and they got it against Purdue on Saturday. They were just a last-second shot away from beating Michigan and going 2-0 on the week.

1. Ohio State (17-3, 5-2) (LAST WEEK: 3)…The Buckeyes have won by at least 17 points in all five of their Big Ten victories, including four wins by 29 or more points. They are by far the most dominant team in the conference and, with two home games coming this week, they should own the top spot in our power rankings for quite a while.

The Inside the Hall Mailbag is a collection of questions tweeted to us via Twitter (@insidethehall) and sent to us via our Facebook page. Submit your questions and we’ll answer as many as we can. Now, onward … (Photo credit: Jamie Owens of J. Scott Sports)

Tim Skibbe via Facebook writes: Do you think all these close games in the Big Ten season are because of the parity in the league, or is it more because Indiana is playing up to the good competition and down to the level of the teams with lesser talent?

Alex Bozich: I think it’s a little of both. As we saw last night with Illinois going to Penn State and losing, it’s tough to win a road game in the Big Ten. Michigan, who currently sits atop the league standings, is 5-0 at home and 0-2 on the road. The Wolverines have yet to win a true road game this season. In the losses to Minnesota and Nebraska, which are by far the most scrutinized, both teams played with more poise down the stretch than Indiana. Minnesota controlled things throughout the second half and held off a furious rally by IU and in Lincoln, the Hoosiers had control and let things slip away. There’s no such thing as a good loss, but this group should be able to go back and look at both of those situations and extract valuable lessons.

Hoopstrainer via Twitter writes: With the addition of Luke Fischer to the 2013 class, is there another potential 2013 guy or is IU done with that class?

Alex Bozich: I’d be shocked if the 2013 class is complete. Even if the recruit that ultimately ends up in Bloomington isn’t on the radar at this point, there’s still plenty of time this spring and summer to get involved. Of the kids currently being mentioned, Bo Zeigler out of Detroit or BeeJay Anya out of DeMatha seem to be top targets. Zeigler has spoken highly to us about Indiana and Anya, who has a long list of schools to choose from, has done the same.

rick_park via Twitter writes:  Is there a root cause to the three-game losing streak or did we lose each game for different reasons?

Alex Bozich: Some of you probably feel like I’ve beaten this point into the ground, but I always go back to the points per possession the Hoosiers are allowing in Big Ten play. 1.11. Last in the conference. Indiana’s offense hasn’t been as elite in Big Ten play as it was in non-conference play, but Indiana must get back on track defensively. The perimeter defense especially is troublesome because it’s allowing opponents to get into the lane with little resistance. That’s leading to easy points in the paint and when the Hoosiers are able to react and collapse on penetration, the opposition is kicking the ball back out for open looks.

asokes via Twitter writes: when are we going to see more of remy abell? he always seems to be a spark off the bench.

Alex Bozich: Good question. It’s been a bit surprising that Remy hasn’t played more (just 16.7 percent of available minutes), but given the experience of the players in front of him, maybe it shouldn’t be. After every loss there’s second guessing as to why a particular decision was made or why a certain player isn’t playing more, but since we don’t see practice or what goes on behind the scenes, it’s tough to say. In limited minutes, Abell has been effective. His turnover rate (14.6) is low, he gets to the line at a healthy clip and his defense does provide a spark. Whether or not he gets a look these next few games will be interesting to watch.

CallMeG_Unit via Twitter writes: seems like all the talk about Jordan hulls being the leader has regressed to this point. Who needs to step up as well and lead

Alex Bozich: I’m not sure that’s a fair statement with regards to the regression part. I think Hulls has done a stellar job to-date leading this team. The results over the past three games have not been good, but the chemistry of this group is the best I’ve seen in the Crean era and I believe Hulls is a big part of that. But it’s not all on him. Verdell Jones is a senior that’s been through battles in this league. Victor Oladipo can lead defensively. Cody Zeller can lead by example. And Christian Watford has shown more grit and determination at times this year than we’ve ever seen before out of him. All of these things were clicking when IU started 15-1. Some of them have been missing at times throughout the past three games.

eric_c_cooper via Twitter writes: which of the McDs All American Nominations has the best chance of making the team? Yogi?

Alex Bozich: Yogi seems like the best possibility because he’s one of the top three point guards in the country, he’s got a state championship under his belt and the national analysts, who typically have a vote in determining the rosters, hold him in the highest regard of the group. I’d be shocked if he wasn’t selected.

JHub336 via Twitter writes: what do you think about people saying we could slide and miss the tourney?

Alex Bozich: It’s impossible to predict what’s going to happen the rest of the way. No one had Indiana at 15-4 at this point on record that I know of besides Dan Dakich. Right now Indiana is solidly in the tournament. If they beat North Carolina Central, they’ll own a perfect 13-0 non-conference mark that includes wins over Butler, N.C. State, Notre Dame and Kentucky. Obviously they can’t afford to keep stumbling in the Big Ten and expect to still get in, but they’ve got six more conference games at home and opportunities to try and win on the road as well.

12. Penn State (9-10, 1-5) (LAST WEEK: 10)…This may be the conference’s worst team, but the Nittany Lions are still plenty dangerous at home. Losses at Nebraska and at home against Minnesota have them back in the bottom spot this week.

11. Nebraska (9-8, 1-5) (LAST WEEK: 12)…As the season progresses, the  Cornhuskers are getting better and better. Case in point: Their two games against Wisconsin. They lost by 24 points at home in the conference opener, and then fell by only five points at Wisconsin on Sunday.

10. Minnesota (14-5, 2-4) (LAST WEEK: 11)…Two impressive wins for the Golden Gophers in a week, both on the road — at Indiana and at Penn State.

9. Wisconsin (14-5, 3-3) (LAST WEEK: 8)...Two wins at Purdue and against Nebraska, but the Badgers were passed because of some impressive wins by others teams in the conference. The Badgers lost at home to Michigan State. Northwestern beat the Spartans at home.

8. Iowa (11-8, 3-3) (LAST WEEK: 7)…A 16-point home win against Michigan was good, but it doesn’t erase the fact that the Hawkeyes lost their previous two games (Ohio State, at Michigan State) by a combined 60 points.

7. Northwestern (12-5, 2-3) (LAST WEEK: 9)…The Wildcats played well twice this week, and shocked the nation when they upset Michigan State at home. A 66-64 overtime loss at Michigan is nothing to hang their heads about, either.

6. Purdue (13-5, 3-2) (LAST WEEK: 6)…Only one game this week, but it was a home loss to Wisconsin.

5. Michigan (14-4, 4-2) (LAST WEEK: 4)…They’re good at home, but the Wolverines have struggled so far on the road. A 16-point loss at Iowa isn’t terrible, but it could be tough to swallow with games against Michigan State and Ohio State coming up in the next two weeks.

4. Indiana (15-3, 3-3) (LAST WEEK: 1)…A tough week for the Hoosiers. They lost at home against Minnesota, and then got hammered at Ohio State in a rematch of a game they won at home on New Year’s Eve. If the Hoosiers don’t play better defense soon, they may hover around .500 for a while.

3. Ohio State (16-3, 4-2) (LAST WEEK: 2)…The Buckeyes were dominant in their win against the Hoosiers on Sunday, but they didn’t look nearly as good in a 79-74 road loss against Illinois earlier in the week.

2. Michigan State (15-3, 4-1) (LAST WEEK: 3)…They stayed unbeaten in league play for the longest, but the Spartans’ loss at Northwestern was certainly shocking.

1. Illinois (15-3, 4-1) (LAST WEEK: 5)…Surprised to see the Illini in this spot? Who isn’t. But with Illinois’ win against Ohio State this week, combined with their win at Northwestern (where the Spartans lost), there’s really no other place to put the Illini. Until they play Michigan State on Jan. 31, that is.

So before hitting the exit in the south end of Assembly Hall, I took a quick peek around the corner to find a familiar face hoisting up shots.

It was Verdell Jones.

Headphones on. No expression on his face. Just Verdell, the ball, a student manager to rebound and the basket.

Roughly eighty minutes earlier, the buzzer sounded on arguably the worst stat performance of Jones’ Indiana career: 0-of-6 from the field, three rebounds, one assist, one steal and three turnovers in 23 minutes. Scoreless for just the second time in an IU uniform.

A bad game made worse by the fact that the Hoosiers, who had just three days ago soared to No. 7 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 Poll, lost for the first time this season at home to Minnesota.

The Golden Gophers, previously winless in Big Ten play, were coming off a 13-point loss at home to Purdue.

And in what may have been an even more shocking development than the loss for a team that has far exceeded expectations to-date, a smattering of boos were unleashed as Matt Roth was subbed out for Jones late in the second half.

Jones has been the most discussed and critiqued player on the roster for most of his time in Bloomington. Some of the criticism has been justified. Some of it has not.

The overriding theme, at least in the comments from this community, has been “Good Verdell” vs. “Bad Verdell.”

Most of the frustration around “Bad Verdell”, I believe, derives from the belief that he has, at times, tried to do too much. The reality is that’s the position Jones has been placed in for the majority of his career.

And while placing him in that position hasn’t produced a bevy of wins over the past three seasons, those fortunes have changed this season. Jones’ efficiency numbers are down, but lest we forget so quickly his 17 points earlier in the season at Evansville or 14 points, including 6-of-6 free throws, less than two weeks ago against Ohio State. Or how about the game-winning assist against Kentucky and the mid-range jumper to seal the win over Michigan.

With any player, you take the good with the bad.

Jones was not made available for comment last night, but Herald-Times columnist Ryan Kartje asked Tom Crean a question centered around the premise that the senior guard lost his confidence in last night’s loss.

“Did he tell you that? Did he tell you he lost his confidence or is that just your own assessment?” Crean said. “Because he was out there battling I thought. I don’t know if it’s confidence as much as his edge. Your seniors and juniors when you have two guards like Verdell and Jordan [Hulls] they’ve got to be on top of the teams’ game all the time. They may not be on top of their game because they’re going to have struggles in it. But they’ve got to be on top of the teams’ game.”

Whether or not any confidence was lost by Jones, a question only he can answer, the fact is Indiana needs him to play better to continue their ascent in the Big Ten. He knows that, which is why he was hard at work past midnight in Assembly Hall.

But beyond just Verdell or any one player, Indiana must regain its edge. Sure, it’s an overused buzzword as Crean admits, but it’s true. The edge was not there last night. Let’s see if it returns Sunday in Columbus.

Our third installment of the Big Ten power rankings are ready for your consumption and the movement this week comes in the middle of the pack as every team besides Michigan State now has a loss:

12. Nebraska (8-7, 0-4) (LAST WEEK: 11)…Welcome to the Big Ten, Cornhuskers. They have competed with both Michigan State and Illinois, but got hammered by Ohio State and Wisconsin. If they can’t beat Penn State at home on Wednesday, it could be a while before they get a conference win.

11. Minnesota (12-5, 0-4) (LAST WEEK: 9)…The Golden Gophers have competed, but they haven’t been able to finish. A home game against Iowa was one they needed to get.

10. Penn State (9-8, 1-3) (LAST WEEK: 12)…The Nittany Lions are pretty good at home, but they have yet to win on the road. A 20-point home win against Purdue was impressive, and they gave Indiana everything it could handle on Sunday.

9. Northwestern (11-4, 1-2) (LAST WEEK: 9)…A one-point loss to Illinois was only the Wildcats’ second home loss of the season. The Wildcats have a brutal upcoming schedule, with Michigan, Michigan State and Wisconsin over the next week and a half.

8. Wisconsin (12-5, 1-3) (LAST WEEK: 7)…Two home losses in a row? This must not be a normal Wisconsin team. Jordan Taylor is good, but he can’t do it alone. The Badgers are plenty capable of getting on a winning streak, especially with a relatively weak upcoming schedule.

7. Iowa (10-7, 2-2) (LAST WEEK: 6)…They don’t necessarily play pretty basketball, but the Hawkeyes have already earned road wins at Wisconsin and Minnesota.

6. Purdue (13-4, 3-1) (LAST WEEK: 4)…The Boilermakers struggled mightily at Penn State, but the Nittany Lions have been playing good basketball at home. A road win at Minnesota was a good redemption victory.

5. Illinois (14-3, 3-1) (LAST WEEK: 8)…They have yet to win in dominating fashion, but the Fighting Illini have taken care of the teams they were supposed to beat. A home showdown with Ohio State on Tuesday should tell us a lot about the Illini.

4. Michigan (13-3, 3-1) (LAST WEEK: 5)…The Wolverines are a legitimate top-15 team, and solid performances at Indiana and against Wisconsin only confirmed that fact. As the year goes on, Michigan should get better and better.

3. Michigan State (14-2, 3-0) (LAST WEEK: 3)…Wisconsin is never an easy place to win, but the Spartans nearly blew a late lead against the Badgers. Again, a good case could be made for Michigan State in either of the top two spots as well.

2. Ohio State (15-2, 3-1) (LAST WEEK: 2)…The Buckeyes are still probably the best team in the conference, but since Indiana beat them, I will keep the Hoosiers in the top spot this week. Ohio State won its two games by a combined 60 points this week — one at home (Nebraska) and one on the road (Iowa).

1. Indiana (15-1, 3-1) (LAST WEEK: 1)…A home win against Michigan was the Hoosiers’ third versus an opponent ranked in the top 15 this year. No team in the country boasts three better wins than Indiana’s against Kentucky, Ohio State and the Wolverines.

Before the season, some suggested the Big Ten was down a little bit this year. After the first week of conference games, it’s clear that it’s much deeper than many predicted it would be. Upsets by Iowa at Wisconsin and Indiana against Ohio State show that any team can be beaten on any given day.

So, without further ado, this week’s power rankings.

12. Penn State (8-7, 0-2) (LAST WEEK: 11)…An 18-point loss at Michigan isn’t terrible, but a 12-point loss at Northwestern is pretty bad. The Hoosiers will see the Nittany Lions in less than a week.

11. Nebraska (8-5, 0-2) (LAST WEEK: 10)…The Cornhuskers played Michigan State tough, but they’ve lost two home conference games by a combined 37 points to the Spartans and Wisconsin.

10. Northwestern (11-3, 1-1) (LAST WEEK: 8)…The Wildcats beat a weak Penn State team at home, but got hammered at Ohio State. They’ve lost both of their road games this season.

9. Minnesota (12-3, 0-2) (LAST WEEK: 9)…Even without star Trevor Mbakwe, the Golden Gophers have hung tough with two of the Big Ten’s better teams on the road. They pushed Illinois to double overtime before falling by nine, and lost by just five points at Michigan.

8. Illinois (12-3, 1-1) (LAST WEEK: 7)…The Illini’s double-overtime win against Minnesota raised some eyebrows, and a 15-point loss at Purdue raised even more. Illinois is talented, but is it good enough to be a conference contender?

7. Wisconsin (12-3, 1-1) (LAST WEEK: 3)…The Badgers’ 72-65 home loss to Iowa shows how deep the Big Ten is this year. Jordan Taylor’s numbers are down so far.

6. Iowa (9-6, 1-1) (LAST WEEK: 12)…Who had the Hawkeyes as a contender? They lost to Purdue by only three points at home and pulled a major upset at Wisconsin.

5. Michigan (12-2, 2-0) (LAST WEEK: 5)…The Wolverines may be unbeaten in conference, but they haven’t really played anybody. Their home wins against Minnesota and Penn State are good, but they don’t show whether or not Michigan is for real.

4. Purdue (12-3, 2-0) (LAST WEEK: 6)…Yes, the Boilermakers have climbed into the top four. Their win at Iowa looks more impressive after the Hawkeyes upset Wisconsin.

3. Michigan State (13-2, 2-0) (LAST WEEK: 4)…The Spartans looked impressive in beating Indiana, but they did it home where the Hoosiers haven’t won a game in more than 20 years. They also won at Nebraska.

2. Ohio State (13-2, 1-1) (LAST WEEK: 1)…The Buckeyes are extremely talented, but the Hoosiers exposed their lack of depth Saturday night. Plus, Jared Sullinger, Aaron Craft and Deshaun Thomas are still just sophomores.

1. Indiana (13-1, 1-1) (LAST WEEK: 2)…You could make a case for Michigan State in this spot given their win against the Hoosiers, but nobody in the conference — or the country — has two better wins than Indiana’s against Ohio State and Kentucky.

But not everyone was convinced the Hoosiers belonged amongst the country’s elite teams.

“He [Christian Watford] just hit a lucky shot,” Kentucky’s Doron Lamb said after the game.

The No. 15 Hoosiers’ 74-70 win against No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday night should eliminate the remaining doubters.

This team is for real.

“Give all the credit to Indiana,” said Ohio State star Jared Sullinger. “They played hard, and they got the 50-50 balls. They made us turn the ball over. Indiana played a great basketball game.”

Some of the shock factor is gone this time around because we’ve seen the Hoosiers do it before. But that doesn’t make this win any less impressive or significant.

The Hoosiers matched and sometimes exceeded the physicality of one of the nation’s most physical teams. They matched big Ohio State shots with bigger ones of their own. And they won a game in which they didn’t have Cody Zeller (fouled out) or Will Sheehey (left foot injury) down the stretch.

The win against Kentucky, by itself, could have been a fluke. Saturday’s night’s performance proves it wasn’t.

“Everyone is being asked to contribute a little more, especially defensively and minutes-wise when you have a player like Sheehey out,” said Indiana coach Tom Crean. “They did it. They never flinched when we were down throughout the game, especially the last five or six minutes. They made plays.”

Jordan Hulls made plays.

He looked as good as he ever has in the second half on Saturday, and he helped will the Hoosiers to victory. After Lenzelle Smith Jr. hit a 3-pointer in his face to put the Buckeyes ahead late, Hulls went down and hit an even deeper one in the face of William Buford.

Christian Watford made plays, even though he shot just 3-of-10 from the field. His late rebound and clutch free throws clinched the game for the Hoosiers.

Victor Oladipo made plays throughout. His two steals and dunk late in the first half completely changed the momentum of the game.

Zeller made plays, even though he played only four minutes in the second half. Remy Abell was huge defensively off the bench on Aaron Craft. Derek Elston guarded Sullinger as well as anybody when Zeller and Tom Pritchard were out.

And Verdell Jones, who has been here through it all, made plays. He had 15 points, six rebounds and three steals while playing with a hip flexor. His late steal and pass ahead to Oladipo gave the Hoosiers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

When asked how this year’s Indiana team is different than last year’s, Ohio State coach Thad Matta gave a typical answer.

“Obviously, with the addition of Zeller inside and they’ve got depth, he’s a great player,” he said.

Yes, Zeller makes a humongous difference for this team. But it’s not just about him. It’s about guys like Jones that, like Crean, have turned Indiana back into a program capable of knocking off the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the same month.

“He’s a grown man. I’m proud of him, and all those seniors,” Crean said, getting choked up like I haven’t seen before. “It’s really something. They have persevered. … Couldn’t be happier for those guys.”

The next step for the Hoosiers is to win a game against an elite opponent on the road. They’ll have a chance in less than two weeks when they visit these same Buckeyes.

Until then, though, they can take in the new year knowing they are indeed a legitimate contender in college basketball.

Only they could have predicted that.

With an assist from KenPom, here’s a look at where the Hoosiers’ strong start stacks up with their conference foes as the Big Ten season kicks off this evening:

OFFENSE

No team in the conference boasts a more efficient offense than the Hoosiers heading into Big Ten play. KenPom currently ranks them as the No. 7 offensive in the nation in terms of adjusted offensive efficiency (115.8), though Ohio State (11th, 114.3) and Wisconsin’s slow-tempo-look-for-the-best-shot offense (12th, 114.0) aren’t far behind. (Adjusted offensive efficiency is the number of points a team scores per 100 possessions, which KenPom adjusts for level of competition.) From there, Northwestern (20th), Michigan (30th), Michigan State (33rd), Minnesota (38th) and Purdue (40th) round out the top 40. Though Illinois has played somewhat well and has spent time in the Top 25, the Illini’s offense (108th) has held them back.

Indiana sports the second-highest eFG% (57.7, 6th in the nation) in the conference behind Michigan (58.2, fourth in the nation) and its 3-point percentage (45.9 percent) is tops in the conference and good for second in the nation. The Hoosiers’ free throw rate (FTA/FGA) of 50.5 also tops the conference.

As we’ve seen, the offense has been a multi-pronged attack: easy buckets in transition, efficient scoring from Cody Zeller down low, slashing and mid-range work from Victor Oladipo and Will Sheehey, lots of free throws and deadly 3-point accuracy no matter what the situation. Add in an offensive rebounding percentage of 36.7 percent (57th in the nation) and Indiana is getting second-chance opportunities as well.

But conference play will test all this, as several Big Ten teams sport some of the best defenses in the country.

DEFENSE

Indiana has cut down its fouling issues from last season. Zeller has provided a strong presence on the backline. The Hoosiers are playing a nice brand of team defense and are trusting each other. (For an excellent, detailed look at Indiana’s help defense, check out Sebastian Pruiti’s breakdown over at Grantland).

Add it all up, and the Hoosiers currently sport one of the better defenses in the country in terms of adjusted defensive efficiency (89.0, 18th in the country). (Adjusted defensive efficiency is the number of points a team allows per 100 possessions, which KenPom adjusts for level of competition.) Indiana is also holding opponents to an eFG% 42.9 percent (22nd in the country). Its steal percentage of 13.3 percent is 15th in the nation. This bodes well come Big Ten play, a conference traditionally known for grind-it-out defensive battles. But even still, Indiana finds itself behind three conference opponents in terms of adjusted defensive efficiency with others right around its mark.

KenPom currently has Wisconsin as the top team in the country in that department with Ohio State (2nd) and Michigan State (11th) also highly ranked — which also happen to be Indiana’s first two conference opponents. Purdue (19th) and Illinois (22nd) fall in right behind the Hoosiers.

ELSEWHERE

As noted around these parts before, if there’s a weakness to pick out about this Indiana team, it’s the Hoosiers giving up a bit too much to opponents on their offensive glass. Through 12 games, opponents have sported an offensive rebounding percentage of 32.2 percent, which slots Indiana at 160th in the nation and 11th in the conference — with only Northwestern (191st, 33.1 percent) behind them.

Indiana is also surrendering a defensive free throw rate of 35.0, which ranks 143rd in the country and 9th in the Big Ten. But this is offset some by the Hoosiers getting to the line at a strong rate (free throw rate of 50.5) themselves.

Inside the Hall Big Ten power rankings: Week 1

12. Iowa (8-5)…There’s just no other way to say it — the Hawkeyes are bad. A 77-61 home loss to the Campbell Fighting Camels is about as ugly as they come.

11. Penn State (8-5)…The Nittany Lions have had a number of close losses, not including a 85-47 blowout defeat against Kentucky. Guard Tim Frazier is averaging an impressive 17.2 points per game.

10. Nebraska (8-3)…The balanced Cornhuskers have an impressive double-overtime win over USC on their resume, but not much else. Guard Bo Spencer (16 ppg) is a player to watch.

9. Minnesota (12-1)…When the Gophers lost Trevor Mbakwe, they lost any real chance to compete in the Big Ten. Minnesota has six players averaging between 6.1 and 9.9 points per game, but without Mbakwe, the Gophers no longer have a player capable of carrying the scoring load.

8. Northwestern (10-2)…The Wildcats have beaten Georgia Tech and Seton Hall, and they lost to then-No. 21 Creighton by just eight points. John Shurna and Drew Crawford are each capable of putting up huge numbers on any given night, and the Wildcats have a group of role players to do the dirty work.

7. Illinois (11-2)...The Illini’s impressive performance against unbeaten Missouri is proof that they have the talent to compete with anybody in the conference. They’ve got plenty of depth with D.J. Richardson, Meyers Leonard and Brandon Paul, but Illinois is too inconsistent to be considered a power in the conference.

6. Purdue (10-3)…The Boilermakers have been disappointing in late-game situations without a reliable go-to player. Their loss to Butler at Conseco Fieldhouse was particularly bad. But with Robbie Hummel, Lewis Jackson, Kelsey Barlow and Ryne Smith all back, the Boilers will be around for awhile. If Jackson can make a free throw, that is.

5. Michigan (10-2)…Talented? Yes. But something tells me the Wolverines will find some way to underachieve. They beat a good Memphis team, but then lost to a fairly average Virginia club. Tim Hardaway Jr. has what it takes to be a star in the conference, and Zach Novak and Stu Douglass provide plenty of experience that should keep Michigan in the hunt.

4. Michigan State (11-2)…The Spartans aren’t as talented as they’ve been in recent years, but you can never bet against Tom Izzo. The experience of Draymond Green pushes the Spartans slightly ahead of Michigan. Michigan State is also battle tested. Even though the Spartans lost their only two games against ranked teams, they competed with both Duke and North Carolina.

3. Wisconsin (11-2)…The Badgers lost a lot of leadership and production in Jon Leuer, but they have star guard Jordan Taylor back. Taylor’s numbers are down a bit this year — he’s averaging just 12.2 points per game after putting up 18.1 per contest last season — but he usually heats up when Big Ten season gets rolling. Without Leuer, though, defenses have been able to key on Taylor, which has resulted in much poorer shooting numbers than a year ago. Taylor is shooting only 32 percent from 3-point range this season, down from 43 percent in 2010-11. Still, look for Taylor and the Badgers to hang around at the top of the conference standings and battle for a title late.

2. Indiana (12-0)…You could make a case for the Hoosiers in the top spot, but the Buckeyes are still the conference’s best when they have Sullinger in the lineup. At this point in the season, nobody has a more impressive win than Indiana’s against Kentucky. The Hoosiers do have a couple of question marks at they prepare to play Michigan State. First, how will Cody Zeller hold up against consistently good and physical competition? Second, how serious are the injuries to Will Sheehey and Verdell Jones? With such a young team, the Hoosiers can’t afford to lose anybody.

1. Ohio State (12-1)…The Buckeyes’ lone loss to Kansas came when they were without star big man Jared Sullinger. With Sullinger in the lineup, the Buckeyes are as good as any team in the country. Their dominating 85-63 win against Duke made that perfectly clear. Without him, though, Ohio State is beatable. Indiana native Deshaun Thomas is having a breakout season for the Buckeyes, and William Buford and Aaron Craft provide necessary experience. But the Buckeyes aren’t all that deep.

Do you remember the last Indiana team to start a season 11-0? Some of you may. Others, like myself, were not alive to witness it.

The answer is the 1975-76 national championship team — also the last team in college basketball to finish undefeated.

This year’s group of Hoosiers matched the feat last night with a 107-50 clubbing of Howard. An IU victory on Thursday against the University of Maryland — Baltimore County, which KenPom puts at a 99% probability, will match last season’s win total before conference play begins.

This is a start no one, save for the most extreme optimist, saw coming.

The Hoosiers are winning in a manner that suggests the turnaround in Bloomington has arrived a year earlier than expected. The only movement on this team’s mind is into the top 15.

The first sign was a blowout win at Evansville, which was just the second true road win in Tom Crean era. Indiana shot the lights out and their effective field goal percentage has remained in the top ten nationally ever since.

Up next was a grind-it-out statement win over two-time defending national runner-up Butler. Those suggesting Crean could be replaced by Brad Stevens at season’s end received their first call to silence.

IU backed that up with an 11-point win at North Carolina State after trailing by seven late in the second half. This was a game that teams in previous seasons wouldn’t have fought back and won. It also provoked a few votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Top 25 Poll.

Still, some asked, who has Indiana beaten?

Enter the Kentucky game. After surrendering a lead held for most of the game, Christian Watford hit one of the most memorable shots in Assembly Hall history. Chaos ensued. The Hoosiers delivered an effective field goal percentage of 50.9 against a top five defense and  held the Wildcats in check on the offensive glass. Another passing grade.

And most recently, Indiana answered the call against Notre Dame in Indianapolis following a week of final exams and celebration from the win over No. 1.

“It means a lot,” sophomore Will Sheehey said of Indiana’s best start in 36 years. “Even though we’re going to take it one game at a time, it’s nice when you look back at the games you’ve already won. Coach [Crean] talks about making history and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Before you print your boarding pass for a trip to the NCAA Tournament, remember this: Seasons are not made in the non-conference. They’re made in conference play.

That’s not to say the non-conference wins don’t hold significance. They do.

Rarely do you see a team completely bomb in the non-conference and go on to make noise the rest of the way. It just doesn’t happen. The tournament selection committee will place a star next to the Kentucky win. Few other teams will be able to boast such a marquee win.

So give the Hoosiers credit for playing themselves into the best position possible as the start of Big Ten play looms next Wednesday in East Lansing.

But the ultimate path of this season will be shaped during eighteen conference games.

Many suggested it could be a down year for the Big Ten. The numbers thus far say otherwise. Eight, maybe nine teams will be fighting to hear their name called on Selection Sunday. Indiana is positioned as well as any, but that guarantees nothing.

The Hoosiers, like they’ve done through 11 games, must once again answer a new set of questions in eight days. Can they protect home court against Illinois or Purdue? Can they go to Nebraska, Penn State and Iowa and win? And can they bounce back from a loss and not let it snowball as it has in previous seasons?

All valid questions that will be answered soon enough.

In the past three years, that might have signaled the beginning of the end for Indiana. Without enough consistently reliable scorers, the Hoosiers rarely came back from such a deficit.

But those teams didn’t have Cody Zeller.

The 6-11 freshman sensation kept the Hoosiers (10-0) in the game long enough for his teammates to find their offensive rhythm, and then carried them their tenth consecutive win to start the season.

In one of the Hoosiers’ worst shooting games of the season, Zeller came up with one of his best – and most important – performances.

“It was very important to get Cody established from the beginning,” said Indiana coach Tom Crean. “It’s living proof that you can go to him, and you can go through him. He did numerous things with the ball.”

IU’s freshman big man finished with 21 points – two off his career-high – and eight rebounds. His teammates fed him in the post early and often once it became clear Notre Dame had nobody that could guard him.

Zeller got himself started with offensive rebounds and tips around the rim, and then used his quickness to score on Notre Dame’s Jack Cooley. When the Irish (7-5) brought a double team, Zeller found cutting teammates for easy baskets.

“We’ve got to play through Cody all the time,” Indiana guard Jordan Hulls said. “He can do so many different things. You throw it in, he can either score, he can pass – we’ve just got to cut off him. He’s unselfish so he’ll still find the open man. It’s very crucial that we do that every game.”

Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said his team wanted to force Zeller to catch the ball further away from the basket, but the Irish struggled to do that in the second half.

“He’s really a talented kid,” Brey said. “He’s got great footwork, he can spin off you. Certainly we could not defend him.”

The last time Indiana played Notre Dame, Cody’s brother, Luke, was playing for the Irish. The eldest Zeller had 10 points and 11 rebounds as Notre Dame dominated the depleted Hoosiers 88-50 in the Maui Invitational.

Cody Zeller couldn’t make the trip to Maui that day because he had a high school game of his own, but he certainly hasn’t forgotten it.

“My whole family was out there, so I had Thanksgiving alone,” Zeller said with a smile. “We talked about it a little bit this week. It was a bad memory for the IU team. We wanted a little bit of payback.”

THE FREE THROW LINE

Kentucky actually outpaced Indiana in free throw rate (defined as FTA/FGA), but it was what happened inside of those attempts that helped push the Hoosiers to the winner’s circle. Both teams went to the line 17 times. Indiana made 14. Kentucky made 10.

Call it a bad shooting night or call it difficult circumstances created by the fan atmosphere, but two of Kentucky’s most experienced players — Doron Lamb (7-of-11) and Terrence Jones (0-of-2) — left valuable opportunities for naught at the line.

3-POINT SHOOTING

In our “What to Expect” preview, we wrote that one of the key areas to watch was Kentucky’s lockdown defense (37.5 eFG% entering the game) against Indiana’s high powered offense (58.0 eFG % entering the game). We also highlighted Kentucky’s block percentage of 25.8 and their opponent 2-point field goal percentage of just 33.2 as two reasons the Hoosiers would have difficulty scoring inside.

The 2-point field goal percentage nearly held true to form — Indiana hit just 37.2 percent — but it was the Hoosiers’ performance from behind the 3-point line that allowed them to post an effective field goal percentage of 50.9. That barely eclipsed North Carolina’s mark of 50.8 for the best performance against Kentucky of the season to-date.

Indiana ended up hitting 9-of-15 shots from behind the arc, including eight straight at one point and the game-winner as time expired. The Hoosiers are currently the second best 3-point shooting team in the country at 45.8 percent. Thanks to all of the 3′s and a lack of scoring in the paint, Kentucky posted a season low block percentage (10.8).

SUCCESS ON THE OFFENSIVE BOARDS

Rebounding was another area of concern for Indiana considering the size and caliber of athletes on Kentucky’s front line. But with Anthony Davis saddled with foul trouble and Jones totally ineffective (one rebound in 28 minutes), Indiana exploited the Wildcats on the offensive glass.

The Hoosiers posted an offensive rebounding percentage — defined as OR / (OR + Opp. Def Reb) – of 41.2, which was another season high against UK. Indiana finished with 16 second-chance points.

BECAUSE THERE’S ALWAYS WORK TO DO

Had Watford’s shot not connected, Indiana’s second half defense would have been cited as major discussion point in the aftermath.

Kentucky shot 68 percent (!) in the final twenty minutes (71 percent on 2′s) and their effective field goal percentage of 57.4 was easily the highest mark posted against IU this season. In fact, no team before Kentucky had cracked 50 percent.

After nine games, defensive rebounding is clearly the weakness for this group. Indiana did stellar work on the offensive boards, but allowed Kentucky to do the same. UK finished with an offensive rebounding percentage of 38.5.  The Hoosiers’ defensive rebounding percentage of 34.9 now ranks 241st in the country.

—

(In case you missed any of our postgame coverage, here’s a recap: The Minute After; A night to remember in Assembly Hall; Indiana needed — and deserved — this win; Photo gallery; Postgame video of Jones, Sheehey and Zeller; Postgame video of Hulls, Oladipo and Watford; Postgame video of Crean.)

The Hoosiers blew their 10-point lead and trailed No. 1 Kentucky 72-70 with only 5.6 seconds left. But some way, somehow, you just knew something magical was about to happen.

After everything Tom Crean and this program has been through over the last three-plus years, Indiana needed –- and probably deserved –- a win like this one.

“I hate to lose, but if I’m to lose, losing to Tommy’s [Crean] fine because of what he’s done here in four years,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “And having to do it the way he did it, where you’re undermanned and now you’re trying to fight everybody [saying] ‘why aren’t we winning?’

“For him to have this happen to him, for he and his family, I’m happy for him. They deserved to win the game.”

Even after Kentucky’s Doron Lamb missed one of two free throws, the Hoosiers needed so much to happen for them to win.

They had to avoid getting fouled when Kentucky had two to give. They had to get the ball down the court in a hurry and stay spread. They needed a Wildcat defender to forget about Christian Watford. And they needed Watford –- who played the best game of his career -– to hit the biggest shot of his life.

No foul, Verdell Jones rushed the ball down court, Darius Miller got sucked in, Watford splashed it.

Game over.

“It was like a dream, like slow motion,” Indiana athletic director Fred Glass said afterward. “In some ways, I couldn’t believe it, but in other ways, I couldn’t believe it would end any other way. It was kind of like it was a game of destiny.

“IU basketball is back. There couldn’t have been a bigger signature win.”

It’s hard to accurately describe what this means for the Hoosiers going forward. To be obvious, it’s huge.

Indiana beat the nation’s most talented team and one of its most hated rivals in front of a national television audience. Everybody saw firsthand that Crean hasn’t just been twiddling his thumbs and collecting a paycheck these last three years –- he’s been rebuilding a program.

Crean’s team played a team much bigger, stronger and more talented than it –- and won.

“He came to a job he knew was going to be tough, and it was even tougher than what he thought,” Glass said. “He never looked back, he never regretted his decision. All he did was almost single handedly bring back Indiana basketball.”

When the game began Saturday afternoon, Assembly Hall was as loud as any place I’ve ever been. I figured there was little chance the crowd could keep up the same energy throughout the game, especially during times when Kentucky went on runs.

But unbelievably, it got louder as the game went along. Only once could I hear the PA announcer say the name of the player who scored the last basket.

The fans believed Indiana could win the game. They started camping outside Assembly Hall on Tuesday, lined up in droves early Saturday morning, and filled the arena long before the opening tip.

They’ve been waiting for a moment like that for as long as Crean has, and they’ve been there every step of the way.

“Our fans deserve that,” Crean said. “They deserve to storm the court, they deserve to stand on chairs and tables and be excited.”

Added Glass: “The students have wanted to storm the court for a game that really matters, they’ve wanted to play with the big boys.”

The Hoosiers played with the biggest boys (have you seen Anthony Davis?) and won a game that matters more than anybody can describe. Not only did they upset the nation’s top team at the buzzer, they knocked off a club Crean called “the standard of college basketball”.

Crean and the Hoosiers beat a coach in Calipari who tries to win with one-and-done players. Crean, on the other hand, wants to build a program –- not an NBA preparatory academy.

Saturday’s win is proof that Crean’s way can win.

“It was particularly sweet that beating the No. 1 team in the country was beating Kentucky,” Glass said. “I heard Calipari quoted as saying that it was more important to him to get kids to the NBA than to put up banners. I think that’s really too bad. College basketball ought to be about building programs.

“The respective coaches (Crean and Calipari) are taking different approaches to coaching basketball. I think Tom’s doing it the right way.”

It was certainly a win –- and a shot –- that no one will soon forget. When people look back at Dec. 10, 2011, they’ll remember it as the day Indiana basketball officially came back.

Crean loves the phrase, “This is Indiana.”

After Saturday’s win, we have a much better idea what that really means.

The Inside the Hall Mailbag is a collection of questions tweeted to us via Twitter (@insidethehall) and sent to us via our Facebook page. Submit your questions and we’ll answer as many as we can. Now, onward … 

@hmc210 writes: What are the chances IU makes the tourney this year?

Alex Bozich: At this point the chances seem fairly good. Assuming Indiana finishes the non-conference 12-1 (that includes a February non-conference game with North Carolina Central), they’d probably need eight Big Ten wins to become a legitimate candidate to be included in the NCAA Tournament field.

With the strength of the conference in the computer rankings thus far, it’s hard to imagine a 20-win Big Ten team not making the field. But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves just yet. Given Indiana’s struggles down the stretch over the past few seasons, there’s plenty left to play out once the conference schedule rolls around.

@HBHoosier writes: Do you think IU tries playing any zone defense on Saturday?

Justin Albers: Yes. I think Tom Crean will show Kentucky a number of different looks to keep the Wildcats on their toes. Part of the reason for this is IU will have matchup problems all over the court. Who’s going to guard Terrence Jones? Who gets Marquis Teague? What about Michael Kidd-Gilchrist?

Because Kentucky doesn’t have a good number of 3-point shooters, zone should be effective in short bursts. It would make sense for IU to slow the game down in such a manner because Kentucky could turn it into a dunk fest in a hurry.

@hoosierfan34 writes: What do you think is the critical element for us on Saturday?

Alex Bozich: There are plenty of critical elements, but two things jump out. The first is keeping Kentucky off of the offensive glass. This is too good of a team to allow second chance opportunities. Kentucky’s offense is the third best in the country right now according to KenPom.com. Indiana will have its hands full trying to contest shots and cause misses. Allowing too many second chances will be tough to overcome.

Indiana taking care of the ball is the other area I’d consider critical. A careless pass against Kentucky turns into a dunk on the other end. Not a layup. A dunk. The Wildcats really like to get out and create points off their defense in transition. So the Hoosiers must have crisp ball movement and avoid mindless turnovers.

Andrew Bishop via Facebook writes: Why not give Remy Abell more minutes? Verdell Jones is too unpredictable with the ball.

Justin Albers: You make a good point here. I was telling someone last week I don’t think Jones will be in the starting lineup by the time we get to the Big Ten season. Or at least he shouldn’t be. Crean seems to be high on Jones, but he doesn’t fit what the Hoosiers are trying to do on either end of the court. He’s a good individual scorer, but he needs the ball to be effective. He still dribbles with his head down, and he isn’t a great outside shooter. Because of his slight size, Jones can be a liability on the defensive end as well.

So you’re right when you say Jones should play fewer minutes. But is Abell the guy that deserves more? I’m not sure. He was impressive in limited minutes at N.C. State, but I still need to see more of him before I say he should be part of the Hoosiers’ rotation. For now, I’d like to see Crean insert Will Sheehey into the starting lineup and bring Jones off the bench.

Mark Shlyankevich via Facebook writes: Sheehey is 6th on the team in minutes. That absolutely needs to change, right?

Alex Bozich: Wrong. Take a closer look at the minutes. Six guys are averaging 20 or more, but no player is over 30. So it’s not like Sheehey is playing far less than any of the regulars.

I’m not necessarily in agreement with Justin that Sheehey will or should take over for Jones in the starting lineup. Sheehey has embraced the role of coming off the bench as a guy that can bring scoring and more importantly, energy. If he continues to excel in that role and the Hoosiers continue to win, why change the lineup?

Dylan Harris via Facebook writes: How long till we crack the top 25?

Justin Albers: Hard to say. If IU beats Kentucky on Saturday, it immediately jumps into the top 25, and probably the top 15. If not, though, the Hoosiers could crack the top 25 if they beat Michigan State to open the Big Ten season Dec. 28. I do think they’ll be ranked at some point this season.

@rick_park writes: Given the emphasis on defense, do you think we’ve improved as a team or are we simply benefitting from Cody’s presence?

Alex Bozich: There’s no doubt that several of Indiana’s players have improved defensively. Some of it is probably a result of getting quicker and stronger in the offseason and some of it has to do with Cody’s presence.

The jury is still out on how this team will defend as a unit against elite competition. But with Kentucky and Ohio State coming to Assembly Hall this month, we’re about to find out. In terms of how Zeller impacts the game, it’s huge for the Hoosiers to have a 6-11 presence that can challenge shots while avoiding silly fouls. It’s also pivotal to have such a well conditioned big man who doesn’t get beat often for easy buckets on the break.

Steven Harris via Facebook writes: Looking at how we match up in each position with Kentucky, where do you think IU is most disadvantaged, and where may we actually have some key advantages?

Justin Albers: They’re the most disadvantaged in the matchup against Terrence Jones. There’s just no way around that. Jones is 6-9, he’s athletic enough to take the ball to the rim, and he can shoot from the outside. He’s really a combination of Christian Watford’s size and Victor Oladipo’s athleticism and quickness. I would think Watford would start on him, but I’m guessing Crean is going to rotate guys on Jones all afternoon. Sheehey might be Crean’s best option, given his 6-6 size and desire to draw the opponent’s best offensive threat.

As far as where IU’s advantages come, they don’t really exist on paper. Cody Zeller and Anthony Davis will likely cancel each other out inside. Oladipo is capable of defending Doron Lamb well, but will it take away from his offense? The one area the Hoosiers may be able to exploit is Jordan Hulls vs. Marquis Teague. Teague, an Indianapolis native, is one of the top freshmen in the game, but Hulls is far more experienced and polished as a junior. I think Hulls could have a big scoring day against Kentucky.