IU Aims for ‘Complete Game’ Against Top 5 Connecticut

Sunday, November 19

New York, N.Y.

1:00 PM

Indiana University

Connecticut

IU Aims for ‘Complete Game’ Against Top 5 Connecticut

11/19/2023 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Now comes the first major test, the national-relevance test, the test that will provide early indications of how good this Indiana basketball team can become.

The Hoosiers (3-0) head to New York City to face No. 5/4 and defending national champions Connecticut (3-0) in the Empire Classic on Sunday afternoon. Depending on results, they will face either No. 19/17 Texas (3-0) or Louisville (2-1) on Monday.

"I'm looking forward to playing (Connecticut)," sophomore forward Kel'el Ware says. "They're a tough team. We have to compete."

Win or lose, the Empire Classic won't define IU's season. You rarely find March form in November, and you don't necessarily want it unless you can sustain it all the way.

The last major college team to do that was IU's 32-0 1976 national champions.

Coaches work for growth, for building and developing and, of course, for winning. It's why coach Mike Woodson plays high-profile games such as this, as well as upcoming contests against Auburn (2-1) and No. 1/1 Kansas (3-0).

Woodson wants fast-paced offense and stifling defense that holds opponents to less than 60 points a game. He's seen glimpses so far.

"We've got to figure out how to put a complete 40-minute game together the way I'd like to see," he says.

It's early, but the 7-foot Ware is putting up Trayce Jackson-Davis numbers. Ware is averaging 18.3 points and 10.0 rebounds while shooting 74.1% from the field (including one 3-pointer) and 70% from the line. He has a team-leading six blocks.

"He's doing everything we've asked him to do since he's been here," Woodson says of Ware. "He's rebounded the ball. He's blocked shots. He's made shots on the perimeter. He's made shots down low. I just want to keep him in that space."

Ware is thriving as he didn't in his one season at Oregon.

"I would say I'm more in a groove now with Coach Woodson giving me that role where he trusts me enough to make the play, attack the basket, score, even throw it out to my teammates, and just play smart on the court," Ware says.

"As long as I'm playing hard and giving them that, we should be good."

The Hoosiers need to be very good in New York City.

They ripped off some impressive offense Thursday night against Wright State, including 89 points, 54% shooting, 20 assists, and just eight turnovers.

Still, there are reasons for concern. Rebounding, for instance.

Opponents have a 38-20 edge in offensive rebounds, a problem considering IU's height advantage over Florida Gulf Coast, Army, and Wright State. Part of the reason is that opponents average nearly 33 3-point attempts a game, which translates into lots of long rebounds the Hoosiers aren't getting.

One solution, Woodson says, is simple:

Better guard rebounding.

Xavier Johnson is IU's best rebounding guard at 2.7 per game. Gabe Cupps is at 2.0. Trey Galloway is at 1.7, with CJ Gunn at 1.0.

Against Wright State, Johnson and Galloway each had just one rebound in 55 combined minutes.

Woodson noticed.

"I can't have my starting guards play 26, 28 minutes and get one rebound apiece," he says. "That just can't happen. Hell, I can get a rebound at 65 years of age. Probably stumble into one. They've got to help rebound."

Ware and 6-9 Malik Reneau are doing what they can. Ware averages that double-double. Reneau averages 5.3 rebounds and 15.0 points and would likely grab more rebounds if he didn't have perimeter defense responsibilities.

"I think Ware and Malik are doing a great job as far as rebounding," Woodson says, "but the surrounding pieces, we've got to pick up the scraps that are out there. Our opponents are beating us to those balls, and we've got to figure that out."

Reneau says on defense he might switch from guards to forwards, which sometimes leaves him contesting perimeter shots and then hustling to the paint to try for rebounds. That's where guards can help.

"I'm trying to help Kel'el out and not expect him to get every rebound," Reneau says. "That's a big thing for us, bringing in the guards to help, boxing out.

"We know we've been getting out-rebounded. We've got to prioritize that and make it a big issue for us."

As far as defending the perimeter, which often means defending against smaller, quicker guards, Reneau says, "It's challenging, but Coach wouldn't give us a challenge that we can't handle."

He adds that defending quick guards means giving them a step, yet still be able to close and contest shots.

"It's hard because you're trying to do two things at once," he says. "You've got to focus, be locked in and be ready when they come your way and attack."

Three-point shooting is another concern. IU is just 11-for-40 from beyond the arc, which is 27.5%. Opponents are 37-for-98, which is 37.8%.

"The 3-ball has been a major concern," Woodson says. "We haven't shot it very well."

Blame Ware for the reason IU opponents take so many 3-pointers. Wright State coach Scott Nagy says Ware's shot-blocking potential forces a perimeter approach.

"Teams are going to shoot more 3s against (Indiana) because it's hard to get in around the basket because of Ware," Nagy says. "He makes it very difficult.

"We very rarely shoot that many 3s, but in a game like that we have to because we can't score around the basket as easily with Ware there."

As far as Sunday, Connecticut hasn't been tested, with three home blowouts against Northern Arizona (95-52), Stonehill (107-67), and Mississippi Valley (87-53).

Alex Karaban, a 6-8 sophomore forward, leads with a 17.0-point scoring average. Senior guard Tristen Newton averages 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds. Donovan Clingan, a 7-2 sophomore center, and senior guard Cam Spencer each average 15.0 points a game. Clingan averages 6.7 rebounds. Spencer is at 5.0 assists.

The Huskies rank among the national leaders in shooting (54.7%) and assists (19.7).