Column: Oladipo fulfilling role nicely for Hoosiers

It almost works like clockwork.

Nearly every game this season, IU has started slowly. Against weak competition, the Hoosiers let teams hang around for a little too long.

But then, IU coach Tom Crean turns to his bench and particularly to freshman guard Victor Oladipo to provide a spark.

That’s exactly what Oladipo does. He might have a little way to go before he becomes a complete player, but as a freshman, he’s fulfilling an immediate need for the team.

And that need is to do exactly what Oladipo does best — be an energy boost, provide that “spark” and make his own highlight reel every night.

It went that way against Savannah State on Saturday, as it has many times early this
season.

The Hoosiers won easily, 79-57, against a bad team, but they started slow. Savannah State, a team that averages 54 points per game this season, scored 10 points in the first four minutes at Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers kept just a two-point lead.

Crean subbed in Oladipo, along with sophomore forward Derek Elston and senior guard Jeremiah Rivers, and suddenly the Hoosiers found their feet.

In the five-minute stretch Oladipo was on the court, he grabbed a rebound, hit a jumper and threw down a spectacular dunk — all part of a 10-2 Hoosier run.

Game over. The lead never got closer than seven the rest of the way.

“That’s what you want,” Crean said about that stretch of the game. “It’s not just about coming off the bench. It’s how well they play with others. The impact they bring to the game — their energy — that’s what you need, especially the way the game was moving.”

It’s one of the most common postgame press conference questions for Crean: “Can you talk about Oladipo providing a spark off the bench?”

I’m pretty sure Crean’s answered that after at least five games this season, and it’s because it’s true.

Against Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 16, Oladipo posted a plus-30 (when he was in the game, IU had a 30-point advantage). He provided a second-half spark in the Thanksgiving break game against Northwestern State.

And against North Carolina Central, he made ESPN SportsCenter’s No. 1 play with a 60-foot halftime heave that went in.

This is not to overhype Oladipo. The Hyatsville, Md. native has much to work on, and some of the freshman flaws showed on the road against Boston College.

In 14 minutes of playing time against the Eagles, he was 1-for-4 from the field, registered two fouls and scored just two points.

Crean said Saturday that Oladipo can’t just be a highlight reel.

“Victor has to be a guy that plays really well, and he doesn’t just make great or good plays,” Crean said. “The spectacular plays stand out, and we’ve got to get him to play a higher level for a longer period.”

But that’s a role that Oladipo will grow into as a college basketball player. He’s just eight games into his career.

Sophomore guard Maurice Creek defined Oladipo’s role well.

“Victor’s a sparkplug. He’s a shot maker, game changer, defensive stopper, a high flyer.” Creek said last week. “That’s what we need out of him.”

If that’s what IU gets out of Oladipo this season, they’ll be a better team for it.


E-mail: nmhart@indiana.edu