ESPN.com - No. 16: Indiana

ESPN.com: ESPNMagazine

Tuesday, November 12, 2002
No. 16: Indiana

By By Kieran Darcy

Last Season: 2512, NCAA Final


	Newton's inside power will be a welcome addition for the Hoosiers.

Jared Jeffries supplied the talent last winter, while the Hoosier guards showed the heart. This winter, the guards must provide it all. Though senior Jeff Newton and junior George Leach have improved inside, Mike Davis will also use a four-guard lineup to take advantage of one of the deepest backcourts in the country. Tom Coverdale (11.9 ppg, 4.8 apg) is solid up top, fellow senior Kyle Hornsby shines from three (44.7%) and junior A.J. Moye can board and bang. But the vets will be pushed by an exciting pair of rooks: lightning-quick PG Marshall Strickland and high-scoring wing Bracey Wright. "You don't ever want a situation where players can relax," Davis says. "Having to compete will make them better." A scary notion for Big Ten foes.

One Step Ahead: Davis' offensive philosophy of spacing, solid screens and outside marksmanship has redefined Hoosier ball. His system elevated last season's hardscrabble bunch and seems tailor-made for the current crop of smart-passing, sharpshooting guards. Now that he has job security, he can bring in guys who fit his brand of hoops.

One Step Behind: Bobby Knight rarely lost kids early to the NBA. That's going to change under Davis, who says he won't shy away from recruiting potential one-and-dones. Only four Hoosiers have ever left early for the league, but two (Jeffries and Kirk Haston) skipped town in Davis' first two years. Progress or pitfall?

2002-2003 NCAA PREVIEW
MEN
1. Arizona Wildcats	9. Georgia Bulldogs
2. Kansas Jayhawks	10. UCLA Bruins
3. Oklahoma Sooners	11. Alabama Crimson Tide
4. Pittsburgh Panthers	12. Kentucky Wildcats
5. Florida Gators	13. Virginia Cavaliers
6. Texas Longhorns	14. Michigan State Spartans
7. Duke Blue Devils	15. Xavier Musketeers
8. UConn Huskies	16. Indiana Hoosiers

This article will appear in the November 25 issue of ESPN The Magazine.