Zeller scores 24, leads Indiana past Illini 80-64

CHICAGO, Ill. (WISH) - An impressive start to the second season for Indiana University, dominating an Illinois team that beat them last month.

The team grabbed this one by the throat from the start.

"Definitely being aggressive but I feel like defense really helped us a lot." said Freshman Guard Yogi Ferrell. "We got huge stops in the first half, we came into halftime with a 14 point lead. So defense and rebounding, if we do those things very well we can win."

"We can win in a whole bunch of different ways but I think we're playing at our best when a lot of guys are sharing the ball, we're moving and cutting." added Junior Forward Will Sheehey.  "This time last year we were playing this way too so I think we should just keep it up."

"I'm excited about the way our guys played and they should be too." said Head Coach Tom Crean.  "They started off in a great way, they continued to play at a high level, and we closed the game in the last seven minutes.  Not only defending pretty well, but scoring very well, and that's the key."

Victor Oladipo gave the pro-Hoosier crowd a real treat, pulling a 360 degree dunk out of what he called his "bag of goodies."

"I wasn't sure what I was going to do, then as I got closer and closer to the rim I realized I was going 360." Oladipo said.

His teammates expected more from him though.

"It was nice but I think he's got more than that.  I thought he was going to do something else with it, but it was nice to see that." said Senior Forward Christian Watford.

Sophomore Center Cody Zeller was his harshest critic.

"It was alright, I give it a seven," he said. "I was hoping he would go between the legs or something, but it was alright."

An impressive performance indeed, but for the Hoosiers to advance on Saturday they'll have to beat a Wisconsin team that Tom Crean is 0-9 against at Indiana. That game is at 1:40 p.m. Saturday.