Hoosiers Win and Lose: Is a Tournament Run Still Possible Without a Leader?

Three players in double figures in scoring. Three with 10 rebounds. Topped off by losing their most prominent senior before halftime, the Indiana Hoosiers struggled early but pulled through for their first Big Ten tourney win since 2006.

The loser, Penn State, is the worst team in the league with one of the best players in Tim Frazier, who dropped 26 on the Hoosiers despite a slow second half. It appeared as though Indiana really spread the ball around, but some of their key role players are hard to find in the box score.

For the Hoosiers to make a run through the Big Ten (B1G?) tournament, they are going to need production from some of the guys who have played major roles throughout the season, namely Victor Oladipo, Will Sheehey and Matt Roth.

Oladipo (say "Home Depot") did snatch 10 rebounds, but only scored five points to go along with Sheehey's five. Roth, the resident deep-ball specialist, only made two three-pointers in the game and Derek Elston was good for just four points and one rebound.

Everyone loves a win, but it is important to see that if the Hoosiers can't utilize the talents that pulled them through this season, they won't go far in the B1G tourney or the dance. 

Oladipo was explosive as usual and made great plays, but his scoring needs to be in double digits. Sheehey also needs to be there for more than only a few big momentum-changing plays and Roth must find himself open for more spot-up threes because he seems to be far less accurate if he puts it on the deck first.

But the real issue is the loss of senior leader Verdell Jones III late in the first half. Jones had really come on as of late, making an excellent sub for Jordan Hulls and showing his ability to lead a team. Coach Tom Crean choked up in his post-game interview, proving just how valuable this class of seniors is to him and his team. 

If Jones' season is done, it takes a necessary element out of this young team's arsenal: leadership. Hulls is the floor general, but the lumps these seniors have taken through this four-year turnaround are immeasurable when it comes to showing a group of underclassmen how to stay strong when the going gets tough.

I hope that if the Hoosiers find themselves in an intense game, Jones will be suited up to provide this young crew with some intestinal fortitude. But if not, Verdell, we all say thanks. You and the rest of the class of 2012 has stuck through it and made an entire program better for years to come.