Indiana Basketball: Top five Hoosier teams since 2000

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 10: (L-R) Verdell Jones III #12, Christian Watford #2, Victor Oladipo #4, Jordan Hulls #1 and Jeremiah Rivers #5 of the Indiana Hoosiers run towards the bench for a timeout against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first round of the 2011 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 10, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Penn State won 61-55. (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images) /

No. 5: 2011-2012 (27-9; Sweet 16)

This is the team that brought national attention back on the Indiana program.

After Tom Crean’s first three seasons saw the Hoosiers go 28-66 overall, Crean turned the program around and it all started with youngsters who were about to turn into stars.

Victor Oladipo was now a sophomore and ready to breakthrough, and incoming freshman Cody Zeller was ready to showcase his skills. Pair them with veterans like Jordan Hulls, Christian Watford, and Verdell Jones, and the Hoosiers were back.

Most people remember this team by one shot; the Watshot.

Led by Cody Zeller, averaging 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds, the Hoosiers made it to the Sweet 16, before ultimately meeting Kentucky for round two, with the result going a different way than earlier in the season.

Indiana had the ability to make a deep run, but with a nice mix of players returning, fans were gearing up for the following season.

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