2002 to 2012: IU’s tournament runs compared

Believe it or not, the IU men’s basketball team is in the Sweet 16 for the first time in 10 years. The last time IU danced this far into March was the National Runner-up season of 2001-02.

In that season, the No. 5-seeded Hoosiers also had to get past a No. 1 seed in the Sweet 16. IU fans remember A.J. Moye’s famous block on former Duke forward Carlos Boozer like it was yesterday.

So with IU pitted against a No. 1 seed in the Sweet 16 — this time against No. 1 Kentucky, a program IU has a little bit of history with — how does this season compare to the 2001-02 season?

2002
IU Coach: Mike Davis
Record entering NCAA Tournament: 20-11 (11-5)
Highest regular season AP ranking: 20

The Stars:
Jared Jeffries, sophomore forward, 15 points per game,
7.6 rebounds per game
Tom Coverdale, junior guard,
11.9 ppg, 4.8 assists per game

IU’s Big Regular Season Wins:
77-66 vs. No. 13 Iowa
88-57 vs. No. 9 Illinois

Road to Sweet 16:
IU wins 75-56 vs. No. 12 Utah
IU wins 76-67 vs. No. 13 UNC Wilmington

Sweet 16:
IU wins 74-73 vs. No. 1 Duke

Elite Eight:
IU wins 81-69 vs. No. 10 Kent State

Final Four:
IU wins 73-64 vs. No. 2 Oklahoma
IU loses 64-52 to No. 1 Maryland

2012
IU coach: Tom Crean
record entering ncaa tournament: 25-8 (11-7)
highest regular Season AP Ranking: 7

The Stars:
Cody Zeller, freshman forward,
15.5 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game
Christian Watford, junior forward, 12.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg

IU’s Big Regular Season Wins:
73-72 vs. No. 1 Kentucky
74-70 vs. No. 2 Ohio State
70-55 vs. No. 5 Michigan State

Road to Sweet 16:
IU wins 79-66 vs. No. 13 New Mexico State
IU wins 63-61 vs. No. 12 Virginia Commonwealth

Sweet 16:
IU squares off against No. 1 Kentucky on Friday night at the Georgia Dome.