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After a "second round" loss at the hands of Wichita State ended their NCAA Tournament run earlier than expected last season, the Indiana Hoosiers are poised for a return trip to the dance in 2015-16. With top scorers Yogi Ferrell and James Blackmon Jr. returning this season, the Hoosiers should be one of the top teams in the Big 10.
Offseason roundup
Ferrell and Blackmon Jr. are joined by Troy Williams, Robert Johnson and Nick Zeisloft as some of the top returners to a very impressive Indiana roster. The Hoosiers were also able to add a four-star recruit in 6'10" center Thomas Bryant, who is currently tied with Ferrell for the team lead in rebounding with 7.3 boards per game.
Their season so far
The Hoosiers have so far rolled through the season's first three games. They've blown out Eastern Illinois, Austin Peay and Creighton by an average margin 29 points per game, with no game being within 21.
On Thursday night they made short work of Creighton in the Gavitt Games, scoring 51 first half points to roll to an easy 86-65 win behind 19 points and seven rebounds from Blackmon Jr.
Key players
Obviously Ferrell and Blackmon Jr. received much of the notoriety in the offseason, as each of them were named First Team All-Big 10 last month. To this point it looks like they were more than deserving of those honors.
Blackmon Jr. is averaging just under 19 points per game, while Ferrell is right behind him with an average of 16.7 per game. Bryant and Williams are also scoring in double-figures for a Hoosiers team that is averaging 91 points per game so far.
Indiana opens up Maui tomorrow against Wake Forest, and will then face either St. John's or Vanderbilt.