That’s A Wrap: Daniel Moore

  • 03/30/2010 6:51 pm in

Big Ten Tournament: Indiana Hoosiers v Penn State Nittany LionsWelcome 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 (28 games): 36 points, 14 of 17 FT’s, 20 rebounds, 11 steals, nine assists.

I debated whether we’d include Daniel Moore in our “That’s A Wrap” series.

It’s not that I’m not a Daniel Moore fan — I am — but sometimes it’s difficult to fill space writing about a player that logs just over seven minutes per contest. (Unless that player, of course, is Tijan. That’s a different story.)

Moore is exactly what any walk-on player at Indiana should be. He’s a hard-working, tough-nosed kid who, when given the opportunity to step on the floor, gives it his all. I’ve never watched Moore play a possession where he’s not going 100 percent, which is a compliment to the pride he exudes in his effort.

A season ago, he found himself in the starting lineup for 10 games, which is hard to believe. Despite the fact he was an Indiana All-Star, Moore’s only offer was from Boston University, who ironically, beat Indiana this season in Puerto Rico.

This season, his minutes diminished significantly (17.2 to 7.2) due to the addition of Jeremiah Rivers and Jordan Hulls. Moore still got his fair share of opportunities — he scored seven points in 22 minutes in the loss at Wisconsin — but mostly he transitioned back into the role most walk-ons have in BCS conferences. That’s no knock on Moore, it’s just the reality of the situation. Indiana’s talent level increased and Moore’s minutes decreased. It’s a simple formula.

The Bottom Line: Moore’s minutes at Indiana moving forward will likely continue to decrease as Tom Crean and the staff bring more talented players into the program. His role, however, will be just as important as any other player. He’ll practice hard, go to class and be a good teammate. And while you won’t find his name in the media guide next to any statistical records, many of us will remember him as one of the guys who helped bring Indiana back.

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