Thomas Bryant will be back to anchor a loaded Indiana frontcourt

An Indiana team best known for its array of perimeter standouts the past two years may be more frontcourt-driven next season.

That about face became more likely on Thursday when the Hoosiers announced that starting center Thomas Bryant has decided not to declare for the NBA draft this year.

Bryant's return gives Indiana a centerpiece for a frontcourt that could be the Big Ten's best next season regardless of whether forward Troy Williams opts to return for his senior year or not.

If Williams is back, he'd likely start at small forward with Bryant at center and promising sophomore-to-be O.G. Anunoby at power forward. If Williams leaves, Collin Hartman is a capable starting small forward and the Hoosiers would still have 6-foot-7 sophomore-to-be Juwan Morgan and 6-foot-10 incoming freshman De'Ron Davis to provide depth off the bench.

It could not have been an easy decision for Bryant to return to Indiana because the former McDonald's All-American had a chance to be selected in the first round had he left.

Bryant averaged 11.9 points and 5.8 rebounds as a freshman, shot over 70 percent from the field and improved defensively over the course of the season. He had 19 points and 5 rebounds in Indiana's second-round win over Kentucky last month and 12 points and 8 rebounds in a Sweet 16 loss to North Carolina five days later.

Indiana won 27 games, captured the Big Ten regular season title and reached the second weekend of the NCAA tournament this past season.

With Bryant back, the Hoosiers have a chance to match or exceed those accomplishments next year.

- - - - - - -

Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

Follow @JeffEisenberg