Collin Hartman stands in the corner, behind the arc with his hand hovering over the first ball. No. 30 is participating in the three-point contest at Hoosier Hysteria during his senior year. There is one caveat — a brace constricting his knee ensures that he will not be able to jump.
“Bad wheel and all,” the PA announcer said as Hartman’s toes stick to the floor.
It doesn’t matter. The senior forward still wins, sweeping the floor with sophomore Zach McRoberts in their mano-a-mano duel.
Entering his senior season, this was supposed to be the year for Hartman. Amongst moments of brilliance, injuries plagued his last few campaigns, and another one over the offseason has set him back even further.
Even with the possibility of a redshirt season, he’s still a pivotal member of the team and one of the keys for a successful season.
“Even when he was on the floor, he’s always been a great leader,” junior forward Tim Priller said. “He’s in practice with us every day and reminds everyone where to go. He helps the new guys on plays and is in our ear constantly like he always has been.”
Losing upperclassmen Yogi Ferrell, Troy Williams, Nick Zeisloft, Max Bielfeldt and Ryan Burton has put the onus on this Hoosier squad to show leadership.
The three focal points on the team — sophomore forwards Thomas Bryant and O.G. Anunoby and junior guard James Blackmon Jr. — may have the talent but lack the experience a player like Hartman provides. The three standouts have combined for just over 2,500 minutes in their time at IU. Hartman by himself has almost 1,500.
Perhaps the shootout with McRoberts was a precursor of things to come. According to teammates, Hartman has been extra vocal during practices and scrimmages. He even coached one of the teams during the scrimmage at Hoosier Hysteria. Hartman may not be on the court, but his presence is still felt.
He is sometimes forgettable when thinking about the Hoosier’s success last year. He didn’t control the game like Ferrell, shoot flames from behind the arc like Zeisloft, put down monster dunks like Bryant or Anunoby or fly down the court like Williams. What Hartman did was more subtle. He switched correctly on defense, gave strong outlet passes to the guards and rolled to the basket correctly every single time.
Guarding someone like Hartman must be infuriating because he’s always doing the right thing. Somehow he’s in the right spot constantly and hustles in such a way that must be a pain in the ass to defend.
On Dec. 12, 2015, against McNeese State, an eventually meaningless game in which IU won by 45 points, Hartman showed in one play what makes him the glue guy for the team.
It was 27-13 IU with just under ten minutes left in the first half when the Cowboys took the ball out of the hoop on a Blackmon three-pointer and rushed down the court. Hartman blocked a pass from midcourt to a streaking McNeese State player as his momentum carried him off the hardwood. The only place for Hartman to go was over a chair and he flew over it.
The crowd gasped, but Hartman casually got back up, doling out high-fives on his way back to the court.
“Everybody likes that except for the guy who lost his popcorn,” Big Ten Network’s Kevin Kugler said.
Everybody likes Collin Hartman, and even sidelined, he is still the leader of the team. Hopefully he’ll be back soon enough to ruin someone else’s popcorn.
gigottfr@indiana.edu
