Crafting the Perfect All-Time IUBB Roster for Modern Basketball

THE STARTERS

PG | Yogi Ferrell | 6'0" | 185 lbs | 2012-2016

SG | Steve Alford | 6'2" | 185 lbs | 1983-1987

SF | Calbert Cheaney | 6'7" | 210 lbs | 1989-1993

PF | O.G. Anunoby | 6'8" | 235 lbs | 2015-2017

C | Trayce Jackson-Davis | 6'9" | 245 lbs | 2019-2023

The starting unit offers a nice blend of old school legends and 21st century ballers, and on paper the sky would be the limit for this permutation of players.

In the backcourt, courting a high level floor general for a head coach to play vicariously through is essential to a winning formula. Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell is among not only the greatest point guards in the history of Indiana basketball, but when you go back and review his body of work throughout his college career it would be fair to categorize him as one of the greatest point guards in the history of college basketball entirely.

Yogi would be the orchestrator of the entire operation, the engine that drives the whole vehicle in the proper direction. His jumper has always been money from all levels and both off the catch + dribble, and his ability to set the table for his teammates while letting the game come naturally (career 2:1 assist to turnover ratio across 4 years as a Hoosier) make him an ideal cornerstone in the backcourt. Oh, and did we mention that he all caps GETS AFTER IT defensively?

Need evidence of Ferrell's relentless defensive tenacity? You will have every opportunity to witness that in just a few short weeks.

Slotting another small guard next to Yogi in the starting 5 may come off as a little dicey, but bare in mind that Indiana had success starting the 6'0" Ferrell next to the 6'1" Jordan Hulls (more on him to come) in all 36 games of the 2012-2013 campaign. If the cream and crimson found success with a Yogi Ferrell-Jordan Hulls backcourt combination, imagine what they could do with a Yogi Ferrell-Steve Alford (Indiana's 2nd all-time leading scorer) pairing.

With Ferrell focusing primarily on his duties as a table setter and point of attack defender, Alford would have free reign to prioritize putting the ball in the basket. Being that he was such a versatile scorer who was equipped with in-the-gym shooting range, assuredly he would be content with serving as the team's go-to scoring threat from the perimeter.

With the aforementioned backcourt duo holstering a clear size disadvantage, surrounding them with some stature would be critical. Enter Calbert Cheaney, O.G. Anunoby, and Trayce-Jackson Davis.

In Cheaney's case, you are getting a do-it-all type of wing who is never adverse to doing the dirty work. Not only would he intertwine with Alford to form a plausibly unstoppable tandem of perimeter scoring threats, but his rugged defense and physical style of play would represent a significant presence for the team in the paint.

His growth offensively surely played a major part in the New York Knicks' recent decision to extend O.G. Anunoby the largest contract offer ever for a former IU player. With that in mind, once upon a time the product of Missouri was exclusively renowned for his defensive prowess. While he only averaged 6.8 PPG during his 2 seasons in Bloomington, he is arguably the greatest perimeter defender in the history of the program. If you are going through the list of former Hoosier players in an attempt to pinpoint the best option to throw at a modern wing scorer, all roads should lead directly to O.G. Anunoby.

While Ferrell might run the show AND Alford/Cheaney might lead the team in scoring AND O.G. Anunoby might (would) be the defensive anchor, the program's 3rd all-time leading scorer Trayce Jackson-Davis would be the focal point of this team on both ends of the floor.

The southpaw plays a bruising, fearless style on the offensive end of the ball while utilizing his sneaky springs to intimidate potential rim-dwellers on the less glamorous end. With this particular assortment of hoopers, the offense would run through TJD. With so much firepower surrounding him, he would thrive within a 4-out system and singlehandedly control the boards for the starters.