Statistical preview for Indiana teams in the NCAA tournament

Here is a statistical look at the Indiana teams likely to make the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.  The tournament draw will be announced on March 15.

Indiana University

PPG- 79.6
APG- 14.0
RPG- 24.4
FG%- 48%
3PT%- 41% (Leads Big Ten)
Key Player- Yogi Ferrell: Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell is a Senior and the court general for this young IU team. If IU is to do anything in this tournament they need Ferrell to perform well.
X-Factor- Hanner Mosquera-Perea: Hanner had a big slump at the start of this season. IU have almost little to no big men and Perea needs to preform if the Hoosiers are to beat teams with dominant front courts such as Purdue and Kentucky.

Purdue University

PPG- 71.0
APG- 15.1
RPG- 36.5
FG%- 46%
3PT%- 32%
Key Player- A.J. Hammons: Arguably the Boilermakers most productive player, averaging the most amount of minutes throughout the team with 25 minutes. But his stat line does not reflect the impact he has on the court.
X-Factor- Bryson Scott: The young sophomore from Fort Wayne has stepped up tremendously from his Freshman year. But if he is to contribute to Purdue’s cause in the tournament he needs put his age behind him and play with the mindset of a senior.

Notre Dame University

PPG- 79.5
RPG- 33.8
APG- 15.1
FG%- 51%
3PT%- 40%
Key Player- Jerian Grant: The senior from Maryland has carried this Irish team since his arrival in 2011, averaging 36 minutes a game since he was a freshman. He leads this Irish team and I think he can lead the Irish far in this tournament.
X-Factor- V.J. Beachem:  The sophomore sixth man for this Irish team lead s the bench in production. This will make it easier on the Irish starters knowing they have such a reliant force on the bench. This will help the Irish progress further in the tournament not having to work their starters for the entire game.

Butler University

PPG- 71.0
RPG- 36.8
APG- 11.7
FG%- 44%
3PT%- 35%
Key Player- Roosevelt Jones: Junior Roosevelt Jones is the most important player for the Bulldogs and with the young roster they have it’s nice to have an older leader creating the most opportunities for the team.
X-Factor- Kellen Dunham: Probably the Robin to Roosevelt Jones’ Batman, whenever Jones’ isn’t preforming Kellen steps in to fill the void and lead the Bulldogs and I think that will be a big point for the Bulldogs going forward.

 

Valparaiso University

PPG- 72.1
RPG-38.8
APG- 13.5
FG%- 47%
3PT%- 37%
Key Player- Alec Peters: Peters, only a sophomore, leads this Crusaders team. A favorite to win the Horizon league player of the year he will surely be a force to be reckoned with come time for the tournament to start.
X-Factor- Max Joesph: The freshman sixth man for this team has brought in production to this crusaders team ever since he stepped on the floor for the first time earlier this year and will be crucial to the team if they are to make a Cinderella type of run in the tournament.