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With a legacy of title wins behind them, and coming off a number of serious sanctions thanks to the actions of a prior coaching staff, the IU Hoosiers have a lot of work to do in order to get their game back where they want it to be. Selling NCAA basketball tickets in Indiana is easy, thanks to the legacy that IU has in the state, but winning games has recently proven to be quite a challenge for the once-powerful dynasty. Now coming off of the first set of consecutive losing seasons in the team's history, IU's coaching and recruiting staff are hoping that their newest pick, Cody Zeller, will be able to carry on the Hoosier's legacy and move the team forward into a new decade. Tom Crean and Locking Indiana Down: There was a time when players who grew up in Indiana wouldn’t think of playing anywhere else but at IU, when the borders to the state were essentially padlocked. If the Hoosiers wanted a player from Indiana, they got them, no questions asked. But the growth of the college ball recruiting industry spawned a number of high-powered programs that were able to lure prospects away from a team that was losing its footing and a coaching staff that seemed out of touch. Three years ago, new coach Tom Crean was hired in hopes of getting top-tier talent back on the Hoosier's bench, and that's exactly what he's done with Cody Zeller. Zeller was courted by a number of schools, including NC and Butler, but ultimately choose IU, in part because he grew up in the state and in part because he wants to be a part of rebuilding the Hoosier name, of getting the team back where they need to be. The hope is to make Zeller the model of what an IU student should be, while at the same time sending the message out to other schools and programs: Indiana is back, and is playing at an elite level again. What Zeller Can Bring: In addition to his game, which got him ranked at #20 by rivals in the senior class, Zeller also brings a legacy of college ball – his brother Luke played at Notre Dame and his brother Tyler plays at North Carolina. In addition, Zeller brings a no-nonsense, work-hard ethic that the team sorely needs, along with a positive attitude toward getting the team moving in the right direction. Cody won't be entirely alone, however, as 7'0” center Peter Jurkin and 6'8” forward Hanner Perea will be joining him in 2012. In addition, Zeller hopes that his choosing IU will encourage other players he knows – including point guard Yogi Ferrell, who was ranked #17 in the junior class – to join the team. The plan for IU is to have Zeller be the elite face of the team, the one that says “basketball is back in Indiana”, and then provide him the support he needs. Though the Hoosiers have their work cut out for them, it looks like they're back on the right track. StubHub has sponsored this article. StubHub.com is a great place to get NCAA basketball tickets, as well as tickets for other sports teams, theater performances, concerts and special events.
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