Hoosier State of Mind
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Indiana Basketball: Top 5 teams of the decade

By Trevor Gersmehl

DAYTON, OH - MARCH 22: Yogi Ferrell #11, Christian Watford #2, Jordan Hulls #1 and Cody Zeller #40 of the Indiana Hoosiers look on early in the game against the James Madison Dukes during the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 22, 2013 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH - MARCH 22: Yogi Ferrell #11, Christian Watford #2, Jordan Hulls #1 and Cody Zeller #40 of the Indiana Hoosiers look on early in the game against the James Madison Dukes during the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 22, 2013 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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DAYTON, OH – MARCH 22: Cody Zeller #40, Victor Oladipo #4 and Christian Watford #2 of the Indiana Hoosiers look on from the bench late in the game against the James Madison Dukes during the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 22, 2013 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH – MARCH 22: Cody Zeller #40, Victor Oladipo #4 and Christian Watford #2 of the Indiana Hoosiers look on from the bench late in the game against the James Madison Dukes during the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 22, 2013 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

1. 2012-2013 Team

Almost undoubtedly the most successful and revered IU team of the decade, the 2012-2013 squad was a force to be reckoned with.

Cody Zeller (16.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg), Christian Watford (12.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg), and Jordan Hulls (9.7 ppg) were all back, and Victor Oladipo took the jump from a solid player to elite NBA prospect (13.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg). Will Sheehey and a freshman Yogi Ferrell were two fantastic supporting players in addition to the stars.

This team was elite in nearly every category. They were top five nationally in scoring, free throws attempted and made, three-point percentage, and top 10 in field goal percentage.

The 2012 team started out as the No. 1 team in the nation, and stayed in that position for the first and second thirds of the season. They never dropped below No. 7 all year, and finished 29-7, winning the Big Ten regular season title and earning a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament.

After beating James Madison and Temple, the Hoosiers ran into Syracuse. They had trouble figuring out the infamous 2-3 zone, and lost a miserable game by 61-50.

Although getting to the Sweet Sixteen is a great accomplishment, this team had the potential for so much more.

Next. Top 5 Recruiting Classes Of Decade. dark

It was easily one of the most talented teams of the decade in all of college basketball, boasting two top five NBA draft picks (one of them a future All-Star), senior leadership, and promising young talent. However, this team wasn’t the first or the last to fall victim to the Syracuse zone in the NCAA tournament.

Even still, it will always be seen as an early exit for a talented team in the minds of Indiana fans.

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