Replacing Ferrell: Indiana’s new back-court

What are coach Tom Crean’s options for replacing Yogi Ferrell this upcoming season?

The absence of IU legend and all-time assist leader, Yogi Ferrell, has left the Hoosiers with a serious problem in the back court. How does Tom Crean plan on replacing Ferrell? Well, it seems he plans on stacking his lineup with combo-guards, hoping a few of them settle in to the position with little ease.

The obvious one-two punch would be to move Robert Johnson over to the point-guard position and then start James Blackmon Jr. at his natural shooting-guard spot. Both are proven players that score at will, but neither can command an offense nearly as well as Ferrell. When Johnson took over for Ferrell’s duties off the bench last season, he often looked uncomfortable and would get trapped by press defenses. Players grow, especially when they are forced to adapt, so Johnson may learn to embrace the role. He will have to considering the defenses he will face come Big Ten season.

Another option for Crean is the new transfer from Pittsburgh, Josh Newkirk. A once top 150 recruit, Newkirk had a somewhat underwhelming two years at Pitt, even declining in productivity over time. All signs point to Newkirk being a back-up. When he took over for injured Cameron Wright, he struggled with first string responsibilities. While he is not a natural scorer, Crean is known for getting the most offensively out of his guards. Also, transfers often enjoy a fresh start, or revitalization, at IU. Max Bielfeldt is a perfect example of a player that nobody wanted, yet had an incredibly productive year thanks to the Hoosiers.

De’Ron Davis has been the talking point of the Hoosiers recruiting class, but Curtis Jones could prove just as important as the freshman combo-guard comes at a time where he can make an immediate impact. Jones is regarded for his ball-handling skills, which is the biggest uncertainty among the guards already at Crean’s disposal. Also, he is a much more efficient scorer than Newkirk, or maybe even Johnson depending on what kind of role he plays.

Another honorable mention for weakening the blow dealt by the departure of Yogi Ferrell is Devonte Green, brother of NBA player Danny Green. Devonte, like Danny, is an efficient three-point shooter who also possesses the ability to drive to the basket. While not expected to be an immediate stand-out, Green is someone who has continuously improved and will only get better with Crean’s guidance.

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Where the team may run into trouble is the guards not playing off each other well. When there are so many different possible pairings of guards, some will work great and others will lose whole games. Limiting turnovers is key. Almost through the entire last season, Indiana was over 300th in the nation in turnovers and that was with a sure-handed point guard. Momentum plays a large part in college basketball, and turnovers can either kill it or fuel it for the other team.

With talented players like James Blackmon Jr., Thomas Bryant, and OG Anunoby, the Hoosiers are still one of the favorites to win the Big Ten. A weak spot at the point-guard position can be masked by a number of talented combo-guards, and should only boast scoring. A slight offensive adjustment to lessen the burden put on guards and they should be right back on track.

Luckily for the Hoosiers, they can play inside out through Bryant to either get a good look from under the basket or to kick it out to one of the numerous strong shooters. With Blackmon Jr. Johnson, Green, Anunoby, and even the incoming freshman Grant Gelon, the Hoosiers should raining threes all season.