Indiana Basketball: Final Grades for the Hoosiers' 2014-15 Season

Expectations for the Indiana Hoosiers have changed dramatically. They haven't been one of the Big Ten's elite teams in years, and the time that Indiana could be considered a legitimate national championship contender is basically ancient history.

The 2014-15 Hoosiers were supposed to be an ordinary team. They were picked as low as 11th in the Big Ten by some publications and media outlets, but embattled head coach Tom Crean saw the Hoosiers play an often surprising brand of offensive basketball that resulted in a 20-14 overall record along with a 9-9 conference mark that placed them seventh.

While that was not overly impressive, the Hoosiers held their breath on Selection Sunday and found that their prayers had been answered. They were the 10th-seeded team in the Midwest and received a matchup against seventh-seeded Wichita State. The Hoosiers pushed hard but dropped an 81-76 decision to the Shockers.

The Hoosiers showed some promise in the early and middle parts of the season, but they dropped five of their final seven games. Their individual grades reflect both the diminished expectations and disappointing finish for the team this season.

Yogi Ferrell, Guard

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Final Statistics: 16.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 166 assists, 24 steals, 1 block, .439 FG, .860 FT 

Yogi Ferrell was a lot more than the Hoosiers' leading scorer in 2014-15. He was their spark plug, and if the Hoosiers were going to compete against top-rated opponents and have a chance to beat them, it meant that Ferrell had to have a productive game.

He had the ability to break down opposing defenses with his outstanding handle. He could drive to the hoop, find the open man or create a shot for himself. He did it all quite well, but he also turned the ball over against top-level opponents.

Still, Ferrell has a chance to play at the next level. When he plays at top speed, he demonstrated that he can be a difficult opponent to handle and a game-changing type of player.

Grade: B+

James Blackmon, Guard

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Final Statistics: 15.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 50 assists, 21 steals, 2 blocks, .420 FG, .806 FT 

Freshman guard James Blackmon has the talent to become a true star and take over the leadership on the court when Ferrell leaves the program. There is a lot of speculation that Ferrell will go to the pro ranks now that his junior year is over, but there is also some speculation that Blackmon could also leave.

Assuming Blackmon is back next year, he has a chance to be a dominant scorer and the Hoosiers' go-to guy in crunch time. He demonstrated his ability to rise to the occasion as a freshman with his 15.7 points-per-game mark, but he also made mistakes that showed he needs a lot more development and maturity.

That's to be expected. However, Blackmon displayed his star power, and his explosive talent was one of the key reasons the Hoosiers made the NCAA tournament in 2014-15.

Grade: B

Troy Williams, Forward

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Final Statistics: 15.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 64 assists, 32 steals, 15 blocks, .540 FG, .742 FT

Sophomore forward Troy Williams was one of Crean's most dependable players. The 6'7", 215-pound Williams used his size, strength and instincts to go to the right spot on both ends of the floor so he could get key rebounds and make plays that gave his teammates scoring opportunities. He led the Hoosiers in rebounds this season.

Williams understood that his job was to give his team a presence down low, and he rarely ventured from that role. When he shot the ball, he was almost always within 12 feet of the basket and often a lot closer. That was one of the key reasons he was able to maintain a high shooting percentage all season.

Williams is a solid player bordering on stardom. He is a team-first, blue-collar type who will dive for loose balls and has an excellent future.

Grade: B+

Robert Johnson, Guard

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Final Statistics: 8.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 79 assists, 29 steals, 1 block, .429 FG, .651 FT

Freshman guard Robert Johnson is going to be a key player for the Hoosiers in the future because of his speed, hustle and all-around talent. However, the 6'3", 195-pound guard needs to refine his game if he is going to become a leader for this team.

There were times that Johnson seemed a bit overwhelmed and out of control, and that's not surprising for any freshman. However, that season is over now, and he'll need to show that he's good enough to handle the moment.

Johnson is going to have to work on his decision-making so he can avoid some of the turnovers he made during the season. He also has to shore up his shooting, which was disappointing at times. However, his .388 percentage from beyond the arc (52-of-134) demonstrated that he has a chance to become an excellent scoring weapon.

Grade: C+

Nick Zeisloft, Guard

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Final Statistics: 6.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 22 assists, 11 steals, 2 blocks, .475 FG, .765 FT 

Junior guard Nick Zeisloft was not a star player whom Crean looked to for production when the game was on the line. However, he is a solid team player who will set screens, play hard-nosed defense, dive for loose balls and do whatever it takes to get his team a win.

That's not to say he isn't talented on the offensive end. When he got the ball in rhythm, he was often a successful shooter who contributed key baskets. However, that was not his primary job with the Hoosiers.

Zeisloft's best asset was probably his dependability. He rarely made mistakes, and that was why he averaged nearly 20 minutes per game.

Grade: C

Hanner Mosquera-Perea, Forward

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Final Statistics: 6.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 6 assists, 6 steals, 33 blocks, .594 FG, .575 FT 

Junior forward Hanner Mosquera-Perea was a first-rate shot-blocker and defender for the Hoosiers who could also contribute on the offensive end. 

He used his size and length to get in the passing lanes to make life difficult for his opponents. At 6'9", 225 pounds, he was able to rise up and swat shots away, often at key moments.

Mosquera-Perea was not known for his offensive moves, but there were times when his determination on the offensive end would lead to open shots that he could surprisingly knock down. He did not display much range, but his ability to fight down low and connect allowed him to help the Hoosiers quite a bit.

Grade: C

Collin Hartman, Forward

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Final Statistics: 4.8 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 26 assists, 16 steals, 19 blocks, .500 FG, .657 FT 

Sophomore forward Collin Hartman played some valuable minutes on the front line for the Hoosiers. While he is not going to take over a game or cause problems for defenders in one-on-one situations, he is a tenacious player who can cause problems when opponents overlook him.

The 6'7" Hartman filled a role on defense and blocked some shots in his limited action. He also demonstrated that he could take advantage of good scoring opportunities when he was left open. He was not afraid to take a three-point shot and went 29-of-61 from beyond the arc.

Hartman is a versatile player who should take on a bigger role in 2015-16.

Grade: C

Tom Crean, Coach

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On the surface, Tom Crean had a good year. He took a team that many expected to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten into the NCAA tournament.

Additionally, while the wolves were howling at his door, he received support from athletic director Fred Glass.

However, none of that changes the perception that Crean has not done the job he was hired to do when he came to Bloomington prior to the 2008-2009 season. Diehard Hoosiers fans expect Indiana to be at the top of the Big Ten every year and have a team that has a legitimate chance to make a run at the Final Four.

The Hoosiers have become just another basketball team. While they beat teams like Maryland and Ohio State in impressive fashion, they did not demonstrate that they could win key games on the road or play to their legacy. 

The fans want a lot more from this team, and it's quite likely that Crean's position is in jeopardy. Is that fair? Perhaps not, but Crean knew the expectations when he was hired, and he has failed to bring glory to the Hoosiers.

Grade: C