Column: Watford needs to lead

It’s hard, if not impossible, to put a finger on why this year’s IU basketball team is underperforming.

There are a lot of issues — some correctable, some baffling and others out of everyone’s control.

One thing is clear: The Hoosiers lack that true go-to player, that rock on both ends of the court every night. With injuries tentatively eliminating two candidates, sophomore forward Christian Watford needs to begin filling that role.

But wait, you mean the Christian Watford who scored a career-high 30 points in his last game? The guy who has led the team in scoring in 11 out of 20 games this year and averages a team-high 16.8 points per game? Isn’t he, like, already leading the team?

I’ll answer those questions: Yes, the same guy who scored 30 points. Yup, he does score. And no, he hasn’t really been the leader just yet.

The question of whether a team really needs a leader or whether it can flourish with a bunch of role players may be debatable for certain teams, but for this team, it’s not. This team needs someone to look to on the court and not just from the coach on the sideline.

It was never more evident than in the Hoosiers’ 91-77 loss to Iowa. With junior guard Verdell Jones and sophomore guard Maurice Creek — two players who, when healthy, are capable of being leaders — sidelined with knee injuries, the team seemed to turned to Watford by default. He was getting the ball because no one else was really able to do anything with it.

Offensively, Watford put in a superb performance. He put up career-high scoring numbers and at one point scored 14 straight points for IU.

Defensively, he struggled. He guarded with his hands and not with his body (translation: fouls), looked out of place near the basket and, more or less, wore out. While the wearing out might have been due to so much offensive production, the one-sidedness of his good play does not make an on-floor leader.

IU coach Tom Crean discussed Watford’s need for defensive improvement and said there’s a lot that needs work.

“He’s just got to continue to improve,” Crean said. “I know he wants to. He’s got to guard the dribble better. He’s got to be a better help defender. He’s got to be a little bit more alert in the lane, a little more active with his hands before the catch rather than after the catch.”

That’s a lot of basketball-specific things Watford can do to improve. But here’s how the remaining 11 regular season games shake out: With Creek out, and if Jones is sidelined for any length, then Watford will be the default leader.

(You can throw in sophomore guard Jordan Hulls in there, too. He can lead, but if both are at their best, then Watford can still be that guy.)

Whether Watford fills the role as the guy the team looks to offensively and defensively may mean the difference between a couple wins and losses.

But the bigger picture shows that recruits are coming to Bloomington. They’ll be here soon. And while they might even have more talent than Watford, these recruits should want to look to Watford for guidance.

He’ll be able to provide it in the future if, as the opportunity presents itself now, he begins leading today.