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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 10: Brian Randle #42 of the Illinois Fighting Illini goes to the basket against D.J. White #3 of the Indiana Hoosiers during a game at Assembly Hall on February 10, 2007 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – FEBRUARY 10: Brian Randle #42 of the Illinois Fighting Illini goes to the basket against D.J. White #3 of the Indiana Hoosiers during a game at Assembly Hall on February 10, 2007 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

#2: D.J. White

D.J. White, the former 13th overall recruit out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, had quite a career for the Hoosiers. He played four seasons, but dealt with severe injuries in his sophomore season, playing only five games total. However, this didn’t limit his legacy as an impact player on both ends of the court.

White turned into the Big Ten Player of the year and a consensus national All-American in his senior season. A huge part of this was his defensive prowess. White averaged over 2.2 blocks per game his freshman and junior season and finished with a career average of 2.0 blocks per game.

The most convincing part of White’s case as number two on this list, in addition to his title of Big Ten All-Defense, is his defensive win shares. He amassed an out-of-this-world 9.4 defensive win shares in practically three seasons. For perspective, Yogi Ferrell is second on our list thus far with 4.8, and he had another year to do it. That’s absolutely bonkers. However, even with the win shares, White can’t quite match the legacy of number one on our list.

#1: Victor Oladipo

Victor Oladipo gets our nod as the best Indiana defender in the last two decades.

What can you say about Oladipo that hasn’t already been said? He came to college a freak athlete sporting great defensive instincts and effort and left for the NBA a complete offensive force. He didn’t neglect to improve his defensive game, however, as he got better and better throughout his career.

Oladipo averaged 1.5 steals per game over the course of his three-year college career, including a ghastly 2.2 per game his junior season. By his junior year, Oladipo had become an outright defensive force. It was nearly impossible to score on him. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, and rightfully so.

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As it turns out, his defensive effort wasn’t a fluke, as he’d go on to make an All-Defense team in the NBA a few years later. He is the best player to play for the Hoosiers since 2000, and his legacy continues to live on in the NBA.

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