March 4, 2012

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Postgame Notes
vs. Purdue
March 4, 2012

• Indiana finishes the regular season with a 24-7 record and an 11-7 mark in the Big Ten. It is the most wins for IU since 2007-08 (25) and the most conference victories since the same year (14).

• With its 11-7 Big Ten record, Indiana secures the fifth seed in this week's Big Ten Tournament. The Hoosiers will take on 12th-seeded Penn State approximately 25 minutes after the conclusion of game one on Thursday, March 8.

• The Hoosiers are the most improved team in the country with a plus-12 in the win column over last year. It is the biggest single-year improvement in school history, besting the 1990-91 team (11).

• IU's eight-win league improvement matches the school record for a single-year improvement, joining the 1952-53 squad.

• The win gives Indiana the regular season sweep against Purdue, marking the first time IU has swept the Boilermakers in the regular season since the 2005-06 season.

• Indiana also swept the season series against Penn State this year.

• IU's fifth place finish is its best since finishing third in the 2007-08 season.

• Indiana hit 20 field goals in the first half while shooting 66.7 percent from the field. The field goal total ties a season high for the most in a single half. IU's shooting percentage in the opening frame ties for the second-best percentage for the Hoosiers in a half.

• IU connected on 10-of-18 3-point field goals, marking the fifth time this year the Hoosiers have hit 10 or more 3-pointers in a game and the second time in Big Ten play. Indiana is 5-0 in those games. IU has now shot 50 percent or better from downtown in 12 games this season.

• At the start of the game, Purdue took an early 4-3 lead at the 19:10 mark, when IU went on a 12-2 run to break the game open over the next 5:18 of action. Indiana got seven points, three rebounds and two assists from junior Christian Watford during that stretch. The Hoosiers did not trail from that point.

• IU made eight 3-pointers in the first half, marking the third time this season that IU has had eight-or-more 3-point field goals in a half (nine vs. Howard and nine vs. UMBC).

• With tonight's win, the Hoosiers finished the regular season with a perfect 5-0 record against opponents from the state of Indiana. Those wins include Evansville, Butler, Notre Dame and Purdue (twice).

• Indiana outscored Purdue in the paint, 32-24.

• The Hoosier bench topped the Boilers bench in scoring, 18-14.

• IU had eight fastbreak points to Purdue's four.

• Junior Christian Watford led Indiana with 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting and went a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. He also added six rebounds and two assists. Watford has now scored in double figures in 67 career games and 20 times this year.

• Watford moved into 33rd on Indiana's career scoring list, passing Quinn Buckner (1,195). He now has 1,199 career points and trails Jeff Newton (1,203), who ranks 32nd.

• Sophomore Will Sheehey tallied 16 points, which is a new career high in Big Ten play. Sheehey shot 5-of-7 overall from the field and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. His three 3-pointers tied a career-high. Sheehey has now scored 10-or-more points 11 times this season and 14 times in his career.

• Freshman Cody Zeller scored in double figures for the 27th time this season with his 13 points. Zeller shot 4-of-6 from the field and collected seven rebounds with two blocks and one steal.

• Junior Jordan Hulls finished with 10 points, shooting 3-of-7 from the field and 2-of-4 from 3-point rage. Hulls also dished for five assists, marking the eighth time this season he has tallied five or more assists in a game. Hulls has now scored in double figures 47 times in his career and 20 times this year.

• Senior Matt Roth shot a perfect 3-of-3 from 3-point range for his nine points. Roth has now hit three or more 3-point field goals in five games this season.

• Sophomore Victor Oladipo tallied nine points in the game and tied a career high with eight rebounds. Oladipo also added three assists and one block.

• Senior Verdell Jones III scored seven points with two rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals. Jones now has 1,347 career points, which ranks 23rd on IU's all-time scoring list. Uwe Blab sits 22nd with 1,357.