Indiana cruises in break from Big Ten schedule

• Reprints

Updated: March 24, 2012 9:08AM

BLOOMINGTON — An NFL head coach playing the role of basketball manager. Half-hearted boos when the opposing team’s starters were introduced.

And a perfect nonconference record this season for Indiana.

The No. 23 Hoosiers rolled to a 75-56 victory over North Carolina Central on Wednesday night in a game originally scheduled for Dec. 7.

With the Big Ten schedule setting Indiana (21-7) up for just three games in three weeks, Indiana got the Eagles (14-13) to move the date.

“Having a whole week off would have been a long break for us,” Cody Zeller said.

The game Wednesday night was almost like a break. The game had the feel of an exhibition game, with Indiana overcoming sloppy play to lead by double digits for all but the first 7:49. A 3-pointer by Derek Elston put the Hoosiers up 19-7, and they kept at least a 10-point lead the rest of the way.

Indiana coach Tom Crean had some famous help on his bench: his brother-in-law, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, who’s in Indiana for this week’s NFL Combine.

“I never sat on the bench before, so I felt like I should be contributing in some way,” Harbaugh said of his role in setting out the stools for players during timeouts.

Harbaugh and his boss, Niners GM Trent Baalke, both spoke to the team before the game. But the Hoosiers didn’t need any pep talks from “Captain Comeback.”

The Hoosiers completed the nonconference schedule 13-0, the first time since the 1989-90 season that Indiana didn’t lose a nonconference game.

“We had all the coaches go around the room (after the game) and talk about where they were in 1989-90,” Crean said. “I think that’s a big, big deal (to not lose in nonconference), and that’s something they can carry with them.”

“It builds our confidence a little bit,” Victor Oladipo said.

Zeller (17 points) led four Hoosiers in double-figures. Fellow starters Oladipo (16) and Will Sheehey (12) also hit double digit points, and Elston added 10 points.

Dominique Sutton scored 21 to lead the Eagles, with Jeremy Ingram and Ray Willis each adding 10 points.

“Dominique Sutton, it’s no accident why he’s so good,” Crean said. “We had guys that were battling him.”

“They couldn’t guard him, he’s tough to guard,” NCCU coach LaVelle Moton said. “He gets up for these games.

“We leaned on him a little too much in this game … one man is not going to beat you.”

Still, the Hoosiers, despite cruising to the win, expect a game like this to prepare them for the final goal: the NCAA Tournament.

“It was a good experience for us to play a team like that, we might face a team like that in the first round,” Sheehey said.