Hoosier State of Mind
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Indiana Basketball: Best Hoosier defenders since 2000

By Trevor Gersmehl

CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 7: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Hoosiers defends against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the game at Assembly Hall on February 7, 2013 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois defeated No. 1 ranked Indiana 74-72. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - FEBRUARY 7: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Hoosiers defends against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the game at Assembly Hall on February 7, 2013 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois defeated No. 1 ranked Indiana 74-72. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, IN – FEBRUARY 11: Mike Gesell #10 of the Iowa Hawkeyes handles the ball against Yogi Ferrell #11 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the game at Assembly Hall on February 11, 2016 in Bloomington, Indiana. Indiana defeated Iowa 85-78. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – FEBRUARY 11: Mike Gesell #10 of the Iowa Hawkeyes handles the ball against Yogi Ferrell #11 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the game at Assembly Hall on February 11, 2016 in Bloomington, Indiana. Indiana defeated Iowa 85-78. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

#4: Bracey Wright

A 6’3” guard from Texas, Bracey Wright came to Bloomington as the 12th best recruit in the country, and he sure lived up to his ranking. Wright averaged 16.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game as a freshman, making the Big Ten All-Freshman team. Wright would also make 1st Team All-Big Ten as a junior before going pro.

Additionally, Wright cracked the Big Ten All-Defense team during that outstanding freshman season. Wright finished his three-year career in Bloomington with four total defensive win shares — a solid number.

Wright’s defensive game was solid but doesn’t leave a lasting legacy in the minds of fans. Still, he is one of five Hoosiers to make a Big Ten All-Defense team in the last two decades, earning him a spot on this list.

#3: Yogi Ferrell

Yogi Ferrell is mostly remembered for his passing and scoring, but he became quite the defender as well. The two-time All-Big Ten player cracked the All-Defense team in his senior season. That season, Ferrell averaged a monster stat line of 17.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.

Ferrell’s slight stature didn’t hinder him from being an on-ball pest, and he finished his Indiana career with 4.8 defensive win shares as a result. In fact, his greatest win share total for a season (1.6) came when he was just a freshman.

Ferrell’s impact as a player will leave a lasting legacy, and I am guilty of forgetting he wasn’t all about offense. He could impact a game defensively in a major way, but not as much as our top two players.

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