Stony Brook Seawolves vs. Indiana Hoosiers: Game Preview, Analysis, Prediction

The Indiana Hoosiers open their 2011-2012 basketball season tonight against the Stony Brook Seawolves.

The Hoosiers faced only one exhibition-game foe, beating the Indianapolis Greyhounds 90-72 last Saturday night.

Sophomore Will Sheehey led the Hoosiers with 18 points and was 8 for 11 from the field.  Freshman Cody Zeller made his IU debut and didn't disappoint.  He had 16 points and eight rebounds. Junior Jordan Hulls was the only other Hoosier in double figures, scoring 14 points on a perfect shooting night. Hulls was three-for-three from the field, including two-for-two from three-point range, and was six-for-six at the line. 

The Hoosiers shot 53.7% from the field against the Greyhounds.

They will need to shoot at least that on Friday if they want to avoid the upset.

The Seawolves will definitely surprise people this season in returning 12 players and four starters from last year's team.

Stony Brook was predicted to finish second in the America East last year after winning 22 games, winning the America East regular season, and making an NIT berth in 2009-2010.  Unfortunately, injuries plagued the Seawolves, and they finished a disappointing 15-17.

They did get healthy towards the end of the season and ended up with eight conference wins, which was the third straight year they had at least that amount.  They also made a run in the conference tournament and reached the America East championship game last year.

Head coach Steve Pikiell has this team playing hard every year and built this program to what it is.  Pikiell is in his seventh season at the helm.

Coach Pikiell preaches defense first, and his teams oblige.  Last year they ranked in the top 10 in the nation in field goal defense, giving up a stingy 39% from the field.  They also ranked in the top 25 in the nation in scoring defense and three-point field goal defense.

This team is very well disciplined and plays intense defense in effort to wear the opposing team out.

The Seawolves are led on the court by guard Bryan Dougher.  The 6'1" guard became the all-time three-point leader in Stony Brook history last year and made the second-team All-America East for the second straight season.

He became the main threat last year with the absence of combo guard/forward Tommy Brenton.  Brenton missed all of last season with a knee injury, but the year before joined Dougher on the second-team All-America East and was named to the America East all-defensive first team.

The Seahawks are big upfront, too, and will match up well against the Hoosiers.

Both teams will have a deep bench and match up pretty evenly height wise.

Hopefully, IU can shoot the ball well and Cody Zeller can be a difference maker.  This game will be closer than what people would have thought, but I expect the Hoosiers to prevail with too much talent.

Projected Starting Lineups

Stony Brook Seawolves (0-0)

G 12 Marcus Rose, 6'0", 190 pounds (Jr.): 7.0 ppg last year

G 10 Bryan Dougher, 6'1", 195 pounds (Sr.): 12.8 ppg last year

G 24 Tommy Brenton, 6'5", 220 pounds (Jr.)

F  2 Danny Carter, 6'9", 235 pounds (Sr.): 5.6 ppg last year

F 23 Dallis Joyner, 6'7", 275 pounds (Sr.): 5.6 ppg last year

Indiana Hoosiers (0-0)

G 1 Jordan Hulls, 6'0", 181 pounds (Jr.): 11 ppg last year

G 12 Verdell Jones III, 6'5", 195 pounds (Sr.): 12.5 ppg last year

G 10 Will Sheehey, 6'6", 200 pounds (So.): 4.8 ppg last year

F 2 Christian Watford, 6'9", 225 pounds (Jr.): 16 ppg last year

C 40 Cody Zeller, 6'11", 230 pounds (Fr.)