Hoosier State of Mind
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Indiana Basketball: Best Hoosier shooters from 2000-Present

By Trevor Gersmehl

OMAHA, NE - MARCH 20: Yogi Ferrell #11 of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts after hitting a shot against the Wichita State Shockers during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the CenturyLink Center on March 20, 2015 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - MARCH 20: Yogi Ferrell #11 of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts after hitting a shot against the Wichita State Shockers during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the CenturyLink Center on March 20, 2015 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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DAYTON, OH – MARCH 24: Christian Watford #2 of the Indiana Hoosiers handles the ball against the Temple Owls in the first half during the third round of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 24, 2013 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH – MARCH 24: Christian Watford #2 of the Indiana Hoosiers handles the ball against the Temple Owls in the first half during the third round of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 24, 2013 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

4. Christian Watford — 42.3% 3pt, 2.9 attempts (career)

Christian Watford was made of more than just one shot versus Kentucky. Watford started his career a poor shooter, attempting only 1.5 threes per game as a freshman and converting on a less-than-stellar 31.9 percent of them.

However, Watford would see both his attempts and his percentage increase in all four of his years as a Hoosier. The very next season, he more than doubled his attempts, shooting 3.3 three-pointers per game and hitting 38.1% of them. He also attempted 3.3 threes in his junior year but made 43.7% of them. Finally, in his IU swan-song, Watford shot 3.5 threes per game and made a fantastic 48.0% of them.

His steady improvement year over year is something to admire. Three-pointers went from being 17% of his offense as a freshman to being 43% of his offense as a senior. Watford’s size at 6’9” gave him the ability to shoot over nearly anybody, and he capitalized on that physical advantage. It still baffles me he didn’t even make the NBA.

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