Hoosiers Notebook: Ferrell again takes reigns
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Co-Editor
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – In Saturday’s loss to Notre Dame, Yogi Ferrell scored 11 points in the second half on 4-of-9 shooting (2 of 5 3-pointers), and he added three steals trying to lead Indiana’s comeback. Ferrell carried that momentum over to Friday night’s second half, scoring 10 points (and missing one shot from the field with no turnovers), while collecting seven assists.
On offense, Ferrell attacked quickly off the dribble, finding Will Sheehey from downtown, and he also hit two 3-pointers himself. He’s now shooting 32-for-76 (42.1 percent) from beyond the arc this season.
“We just kind of flowed, didn’t want to run too many sets, we just wanted to move the ball,” Ferrell said afterward. “I felt like I did a good job of getting the ball out quick and just pushing.”
Tom Crean said his sophomore point guard is starting to take off.
“I don’t think there’s any question he can,” Crean said. “He’s got a lot of unique talents, and the bottom line just becomes consistency. He’s flying up the court, moving the ball, attacking. We need to keep it up. That’s what he’s capable of. He wants to be a great player, and that’s what that position demands. He’s taken a lot of steps in playing that way.”
In the eyes of Nicholls State coach J.P. Piper, Ferrell’s best attribute is knowing what his team needs at different parts of the game.
“I love the way he manages a game,” Piper said. “He puts so much pressure on you. He almost lulled us to sleep. He didn’t hunt baskets in the first half. He kind of jumped up on us in the second. He’s a heck of a player. Smart, smart kid.”
CREAN PRESSES! The Hoosiers pressed more tonight than they had in 52 practices and 11 games combined, Crean said.
That intensity led to a parade of fresh bodies coming off the home bench.
“Yeah, we mixed it up,” Jeremy Hollowell said. “Played a lot of guys, so we were trying to go to exhaustion and get a sub in and just continue to pressure the ball. We were trying to basically take time off the shot clock for them.”
HOLLO-GOOD! You might have guessed from his wildly inconsistent point totals, but Hollowell hadn’t shot with much efficiency in recent weeks.
He finished with 14 points on Friday night, though, and went 6-for-9 from the floor. He got post position at will, and made five buckets in the paint, hitting two of three free throws. Hollowell led the team with three field goals at half.
In the eight games prior to Friday, Hollowell made just 20 of 59 shots and averaged 8.4 points. Part of that might have been his tendency to play on the perimeter, which is not necessarily his comfort zone.
With Hanner Mosquera-Perea known mainly for defense, the Hoosiers have needed another inside threat besides Noah Vonleh. While Hollowell said he tries to play versatile, his scoring down low could be huge.
Follow Chris Goff on Twitter: chrisgoff_ISL.
