Fans needed a reason to look forward to the future, IU Coach Tom Crean said, and Ferrell was it.
“He was a major, major recruit for us at a time when we needed a real strong dose of high quality players coming into the program,” Crean said. “He has never disappointed. He’s grown up. He gets better and better. He takes a challenge and is always committed to improving.”
In a win Saturday against Minnesota, Ferrell reached 544 career assists.
Heading into tonight’s game against Illinois in Assembly Hall, that puts him one assist away from IU’s all-time assist record and two assists away from surpassing Michael Lewis at the top of the list.
It’s no question Ferrell has been an integral part of the Hoosiers’ current 10-game win streak and perfect 5-0 start in Big Ten play.
And as Crean said, he’s made improvements in all parts of his game — Ferrell is averaging 17.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.9 steals, while carrying a 47.4 percent 3-point accuracy.
But Ferrell’s contributions are more than what shows up on the stat sheet.
“Just his hunger and drive — it’s different, there’s a different aura about it,” junior forward Collin Hartman said.
“It’s motivating, just being around him, being in the locker room. He takes you with him.”
That leadership is coming from the senior class as a whole, something the Hoosiers were missing last year.
“Senior leadership is a big thing,” Hartman said. “Winning on the road is hard in the Big Ten, and having that focus and maturity and experience to stay focused and not get down, having those seniors to just keep going and not drop our head, it helps a lot.”
Ferrell is the only senior who has been on the roster for all four years. But two seniors, Max Bielfeldt and Nick Zeisloft, have also given the Hoosiers a lift off the bench this season.
Bielfeldt came to IU from Michigan, where he spent his first four years of eligibility. The senior is averaging just under eight points per game.
Zeisloft, who transferred from Illinois State before his junior season, broke out of a shooting slump Saturday, scoring four 3-pointers in a row in the first half and finishing with 15 points. It was just what the Hoosiers needed to get going against a team near the bottom of Big Ten standings.
Ferrell then took over, scoring 20 points and making seven assists to lead IU past Minnesota.
Crean wouldn’t talk about the record. But he couldn’t say enough about his senior point guard.
“The way he’s growing as a leader, the way he’s growing as a player, the things we ask him to do on the court, they just continue on,” Crean said. “To me, it’s a pleasure and an honor to coach him, and I hope everyone at Indiana realizes just how special he is.”
