IU pleased with freshman Ferrell's play

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) - Indiana basketball faces a big challenge this week as they take on Wisconsin, the only other Big Ten team still undefeated in conference play.  A win for the Hoosiers tomorrow would mean that they take sole possession of first place.

The unranked Badgers are coming off a dominant win over the previously 12th ranked Illinois, while the Hoosiers just barely escaped an eighth ranked Minnesota.

After the win, Indiana head coach Tom Crean emphasized one bright spot:  the play of true freshman Yogi Ferrell, who had one of his best all around games on Saturday. 

"Speed of the game has never been an issue for him, and now he's getting more and more confidence inside that speed of the game, and it makes him that much better.  I think he's going to get nothing but better,” Crean said. “I mean his jumper's going to get more consistent.  He's got great vision."

That isn’t to say that Coach Crean doesn’t find plenty for him to work on. 

“There's got to be more vocal leadership,” added Crean.  “He leads by example, and he leads with his defense, and he's a great teammate but he's got to get more verbal, and that's the next step for him. ”
As for his teammates, they too are impressed by his rapid transition to the college game. 

“He's so much better, all around,” said Indiana junior guard Victor Oladipo.  “He's a better defender; he makes better decisions with the ball. Sometimes he makes mistakes and he gets over them right away. He moves on to the next play faster than a lot of people. He's faster than a lot of freshmen in this country, and he helps us win.”

Indiana plays Wisconsin in Assembly Hall Tuesday at 9 p.m.