Jan 19, 2016; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Yogi Ferrell (11) dribbles the ball in the first half of the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana Basketball: Hoosiers Look to Extend Win Streak to 11 by Brian Fox

Indiana beat Illinois 103-69, to move to 16-3 and 6-0 in the Big Ten. Indiana also set a new school record with 19 3-pointers as they won its 11th straight game overall.

Those 19 3-pointers also established the Big Ten record for 3-pointers in a game.

In addition to all of this, Yogi Ferrell also broke an Indiana record for career assists thanks to a remarkable feed to Max Bielfeldt in the low post.

Every player on this team that played at least 10 minutes of basketball hit a three pointer tonight.

Indiana shot 56.9% from the field, shot 52.8% from behind the arc, outrebounded Illinois 38-25, turned the ball over only 11 times, and had assists on 27 of their field goals.

Troy Williams had 21 points and ZERO turnovers. I repeat, ZERO TURNOVERS.

Max Bielfeldt had 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench, including 10 straight unanswered points on his own.

Everything was clicking on all cylinders as Indiana routed Illinois for another impressive home victory.

Now…

Please disregard all of the stats from this game.

No matter how ludicrous that sentiment may sound, please disregard all of the stats from this game. Disregard them because they don’t come anywhere close to actually telling the story of this game.

That is because the best parts of this Indiana basketball game could not be recognized in a stat sheet.

In fact, for the early parts of this game, they couldn’t be recognized by anyone.

That is because the all-around defensive effort of this team seems almost pedestrian after how weak this team has been in that area in previous years.

Something special is going on at Assembly Hall

Something that can’t be recorded by a stat sheet.

This Indiana basketball team is playing with an unrelenting amount of heart and passion.

They are grabbing rebounds left and right, bearing down on defense, and flying around the floor making hustle plays. The kind of hustle plays that win you games that all the statisticians tell you shouldn’t.

Yogi Ferrell has stepped it up a gear

Tom Crean on Yogi Ferrell: “If he stays on this pattern of continuing to improve, he’ll leave here with a really strong legacy.”

Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell has officially grabbed this team and claimed it for his own. He has been playing insane as of late, but this was his coming out party.

Of course it’s no surprise that Yogi is leading IU, as he should be, but boy is he killing it out there lately.

Yogi is genuinely doing everything out there on the court. He is running this offense to a tee and scoring at will. He is finding guys in the open space, playing absolute shut-down defense when guarding guys at least four inches taller than him, and he is sincerely making everyone around him better.

But most importantly, Yogi is being an unquestionable leader.

Motivating others during the game, teaching them as they go along, carrying them on his shoulders

The real question is why he isn’t getting as much national recognition as other Big Ten players like Melo Trimble and Denzel Valentine?

In my 100% biased opinion, Yogi Ferrell is establishing himself nicely as Big Ten Player of the Year candidate, and one of the top-10 players in the country.

Players are stepping up in James Blackmon Jr.’s absence

I have been critical of James Blackmon Jr’s role in the past and I’m not going to play the I told you so game, but…I told you so.

His departure has allowed others on this basketball team to step up and play a bigger role than they used to. They are playing bigger roles that are more beneficial towards overall team success.

Colin Hartman played 23 minutes tonight, grabbing five rebounds, and playing a pivotal role in being a help defender down low.

Thomas Bryant scored nine points in 19 minutes and provided energy down in the post.

Harrison Niego played a surprising 10 minutes of strong perimeter defense.

Troy Williams had 21 points, four rebounds, five assists, and once again, ZERO TURNOVERS.

OG just had a few monster dunks which I feel are worth mentioning.

Robert Johnson was pivital from beyond the 3-point line and especially when Yogi was off the floor.

Zeisloft put in another solid game with nine points.

AND EVERYONE’S DAD’S FAVORITE PLAYER, Max Bielfelt, scored .94 points per minute while on the floor. He also racked up eight rebounds, three steals, three assists and two blocks. He did it all.

AND EVERYONE IS PRODUCING AND I LIKE IT VERY MUCH!!!!

Tom Crean is coaching up this basketball team like it’s nobody’s business

Help defense. It’s now a thing that Indiana basketball does and that is a good thing. Players are finally switching properly on ball screens, Tom Crean actually has designed inbounds plays this year, and players are cutting towards and away from the basket better than they ever had before.

Ball movement has improved immensely as made evident by the 27 assists dished out today, and Tom Crean has finally gotten this team to “buy-in.”

So to summarize, this win meant more to Indiana than just stats, because something special is going on at Assembly Hall, as Yogi Ferrell is stepping it up a gear, players are stepping up in James Blackmon Jr.’s absence, and Tom Crean is coaching up this basketball team like it’s nobody’s business.

I hope the message has been sent to the rest of the NCAA.