Indiana cruises as five players score in double figures

• Christian Watford scored 15 points as No. 1 Indiana won its opener over Bryant, 97-54.
• Indiana athletic director Fred Glass announced Tom Crean received an extension through 2020.
• Sophomore Cody Zeller had 18 points and 10 rebounds for his sixth career double-double.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana's Christian Watford had a completely different look to him Friday night against Bryant.

Sure, some of it was the No. 32 jersey that he wore for one game in honor of injured teammate Derek Elston. It didn't help that they didn't find a little bit larger No. 32 jersey for the game. This was really Elston's jersey and it looked a little tight on Watford.

But the different look was more about the transformation in Watford's game. The senior forward came out and hit the boards hard and set the tone for No. 1 Indiana's easy 97-54 victory over Bryant before 17,472 at Assembly Hall.

Watford had 15 points and a career-best 15 rebounds. To put that second number in perspective, Watford has played in 95 career games at IU and hit double figures in rebounds a total of 13 times. In 36 games last season, Watford found double digits in rebounds just six times.

So for him to come out and take charge on the boards was monumental for the Hoosiers (1-0). It was big because it's a role they need him to fill long term but even more so in the short term. Indiana is thin up front because of the injury to Elston and the nine-game suspensions for freshmen Peter Jurkin and Hanner Mosquera-Perea.

"He had seven boards at the half and he knows that's important because that's an objective he really needs to show up in,'' said Indiana coach Tom Crean. "The next level wants to see that at a high level and we need that at a high level.

Crean said that Indiana charts every practice for rebounds as well as all different statistics. But he has told Watford that he wants him to be the leading rebounder in practice every day.

"He's getting better,'' Crean said. "His strength is showing up and he's being a lot more aggressive.''

Watford said he was just trying to choose his spots. He said he has made a conscious effort to be more aggressive on the boards and he was happy that it showed.As for playing for Elston, Watford said it was his own personal tribute.

"He's out and he's just one of us,'' Watford said. "I just wanted to bring him out on the court with us.''

Watford said the No. 32 was a one game thing. Crean acted as if he wasn't so sure.

"I think Derek is back in the locker room going through the numbers to see what else is available,'' Crean said with a smile. "Christian was really good in that number tonight.''

Watford wasn't the only Hoosiers player with a double-double. Preseason All-American Cody Zeller had 18 points and 10 rebounds, hitting eight of 10 shots from the field. His only trouble area was at the foul line where he was 2-of-6, very uncharacteristic for a player who made 75.6 percent from the line a year ago.

"I'll get that figured out,'' Zeller said. "You can count on that.''

A third player that was in the conversation for a double-double was true freshman point guard Yogi Ferrell, who clearly brings another element to this Indiana team. He pushed the ball up the court, knocked down a few pull up jumpers, had great court vision and awareness and always seemed to be around the ball on defense.

He finished with 10 points, seven assists and five rebounds. There's only been one triple-double in IU history and that was 40 years ago by Steve Downing. Mark it down. Before this season is over, Ferrell will have the next one or two or three.

The Hoosiers shot the ball well, hitting 55.6 percent in each half. They were better at the free throw line than in the exhibition last week, notably with the exception of Zeller. Other than Zeller, IU made 27 of 28 free throws.

Two other Indiana players reached double figures in scoring. Freshman Jeremy Hollowell had 12 points in 17 minutes off the bench, and Will Sheehey had 10 points in just 12 minutes because of foul trouble. He fouled out midway through the second half.

Indiana led by 20 at half and finished the game with its largest lead at 43 points.

Terry Hutchens writes for the Indianapolis Star.