With every form of competition, there are winners.
Even in a glorified practice like Hoosier Hysteria, there are things that can be learned.
In all the events that happened during Hysteria, there were winners. Without further ado, let’s name some winners of Hoosier Hysteria.
Best dancer: Stan Robinson
Let’s save the best award for first.
During the pregame intros, each player comes out to a song of their choice and does a little dance in front of the patrons at Assembly Hall.
Well, all the players came out, but I’m glad to say I called this winner.
Robinson came out to “Single Ladies” by Beyonce and did some groovy dance moves to get Assembly Hall on its feet.
I heard freshman guard Rob Johnson did some groovy dance moves, as well. But I was too busy tweeting about how awesome Robinson’s dance moves were, so I didn’t see them.
I know, I’m happy I’m your columnist, too.
Best shooter: James ?Blackmon Jr.
All the hype was about how good James Blackmon Jr. was, and he lives up to the hype accurately.
This guy can flat out shoot.
I mean, just watch him.
Freshman forward Max Hoetzel won the three-point competition. But after watching the scrimmage, I’m very confident in saying Blackmon will be the team’s best shooter this year.
And I’m leaning on one particular example.
At one point in the scrimmage, a play fell apart.
With about six seconds on the shot clock, sophomore forward Troy Williams drove the ball to his right and found Blackmon in the corner.
Blackmon was blanketed by his defender. He caught the ball and hesitated for a second. You could see the mental progression go through his mind.
“Should I shoot it? No, my defender is right on me.
“But wait, there’s only three seconds left on the shot clock. I have to shoot this.”
He shot it and drilled the corner three, a man draped all over him.
The point is, he couldn’t go into his natural shooting motion. He was forced to throw up an attempt with the shot clock winding down.
And he drilled it.
Blackmon’s pure shooting stroke will be a nice complement to preseason first team all-Big Ten junior guard Yogi Ferrell.
Best player: Yogi Ferrell
During the scrimmage, one thing was clear: this is Ferrell’s team.
Ferrell has some wicked hands. Even though he’s short, he’s listed at 6-foot on the roster; he can get anywhere he wants to.
Oh yeah, and he shot 40 percent from three last season while being one of the only guys who could consistently score the ball.
Not to mention, Ferrell is a great defender. Not good. Great.
There was some discussion of other players maybe coming close to Ferrell as the team’s best player, but it’s really not even close.
This is Ferrell’s team. He’s the No. 1 option on offense, and on defense, he’ll be asked to guard the opposing team’s best perimeter player most nights.
IU fans should be excited for: The backcourt
Junior forward Hanner Mosquera-Perea has made some giant strides this offseason. He looks like a man against boys out there on the court.
But, the only evidence we have of him making the leap is him going against other guys who are shorter than him.
I’d like to see Mosquera-Perea go against some stiffer competition before I anoint him the next IU-great big man down.
But one thing I don’t need anymore confirmation of: this backcourt will be ridiculous.
I’ve already covered Ferrell. And Blackmon. But if the third guard is someone like Robinson? Oh my.
That trio will wreak havoc on both sides of the ball.
Ferrell and Blackmon are great shooters. Robinson is not. But he did hit a three in the scrimmage game, and his shot looks a little better since he made the switch to being a right-handed shooter.
But Robinson is the team’s best basket-attacker. He’s left-handed naturally, but, I mean, he shoots with his right hand so he must be pretty good with this right hand, too.
Some guys just know how to attack the basket. You can see it in them.
They know the angles that they need to take to find an opening. They know when to create contact and when to avoid contact.
It’s not teachable. It’s just basketball DNA.
Robinson has always had that. Combine that with Ferrell and Blackmon’s shooting, and it’ll be a dynamite backcourt.
Now, the front court? That’s a different column.
ehoopfer@indiana.edu
