Friday, November 3
Bloomington, Ind.
6:30 PM
Indiana University
0-0,0-0Big Ten
94
vs
61
Marian (Exhibition)
0-0
1
2
F
Marian (IN)
35
26
61
Indiana
49
45
94
Hoosiers Handle Marian, 94-61
11/3/2023 8:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Now, it gets real. Indiana's basketball prelims are over and the regular season looms.
Where is Mike Woodson in the wake of Friday night's 94-61 exhibition victory over Marian University at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall?
"I don't have a concern," Woodson says. "I want to make sure our guys are prepared and ready to play at a high level."
It starts Tuesday night against Florida Gulf Coast.
"We've done some good things," Woodson said. "We have to build on that. Don't forget how we've done it. Everybody has to push each other to get better."
Save drama for the regular season. Friday night was a chance for stress-free execution, and the Hoosiers capitalized.
They had a 27-0 edge on fast-break points, 22-0 on points off turnovers, and 34-12 on points in the paint. Ten Hoosiers played and nine scored. Nine had at least one rebound. They were 9-for-17 from beyond the arc and 21-for-25 on three throws. They held Marian, a solid NAIA program, to 32% shooting and forced 15 turnovers.
Center Kel'el Ware had 20 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes. He's scored 27 second-half points in exhibitions against Marian and the University of Indianapolis.
"My game has been evolving," Ware said. "I'm more in shape. Coach has been pushing me. He wants me to run harder. The more I get in condition, the better we'll be as a team."
Ware transferred from Oregon to be a difference maker. Woodson pushes to make it happen.
"I've been going at him in practice to get him to be more aggressive on offense," Woodson said. "He's starting to show signs he can do it. He's a skilled guy.
"It starts for real now. He'll be playing against bigger guys. More talented bigs. I'm curious to see where he'll be when we start that journey."
As for Ware's second-half success, Woodson said, "I called a couple of plays for him, but it's not about play calling. On the pick and roll, he's big enough to roll and demand the ball as a big target. He can run the floor and get buckets that way. You don't have to call plays for him. There are all kind of ways to score. He's capable of doing that.
"Sometimes you have to pick on the guys who guard him. Take advantage of it. He does a lot of good things, We need him to continue to grow."
Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako had 15 points with a team-high three 3-pointers. Sophomore forward Malik Reneau had 14 points, 12 in the first half, which was good. He also had four fouls, which was not good given his previous knack of getting into foul trouble.
Then there's freshman guard Gabe Cupps, who again stood out without putting up big numbers. He ran the offense as part of the second unit and totaled six assists, two points, and no turnovers.
"Playing extended minutes showed me you can still get tired even with long media timeouts," Cupps said. "Guys like Kel'el make the game a lot easier. You read the ball screens and just throw it up. It adds another element to the game that makes it more fun."
Cupps and fellow guards Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway combined for 19 assists and no turnovers. Overall, IU had 25 assists and two turnovers.
"We showed film where a guy drew two defenders, someone was wide open and we try to drive through two people instead of making the extra pass," Woodson said. "That will be critical. The only way to beat the defense is to make the extra pass."
Before the game, IU had a couple of moving video tributes, and a moment of silence, for Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight, who passed away earlier this week.
At halftime, a video was shown of his 2020 return to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
"It's been tough," Woodson said. "I prep for a game the same way, but knowing he's not around anymore, it means more to me.
"I wish I could do all the things he's done as a coach, but that's impossible. My thoughts will always be there with him This is Bob Knight's building. I hope I can make him proud."
Johnson accounted for IU's first five points via a basket, a free throw, and an assist to Reneau.
Then Reneau took over, hitting a 3-pointer as the Hoosiers surged ahead 22-9.
Five 3-pointers kept Marian within range at 24-15. A CJ Gunn 3-pointer and an Anthony Walker basket it made it 31-18.
IU kept pushing the pace, producing a 16-0 edge in fastbreak points. Seven of the nine Hoosiers who played in the first 20 minutes scored. It reached halftime with a 49-35 lead. Reneau led with 12 points.
Marian was 9-for-20 on 3-pointers and 2-for-10 inside the arc.
The Hoosiers needed four second-half minutes to build a 24-point lead and cruised from there.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Now, it gets real. Indiana's basketball prelims are over and the regular season looms.
Where is Mike Woodson in the wake of Friday night's 94-61 exhibition victory over Marian University at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall?
"I don't have a concern," Woodson says. "I want to make sure our guys are prepared and ready to play at a high level."
It starts Tuesday night against Florida Gulf Coast.
"We've done some good things," Woodson said. "We have to build on that. Don't forget how we've done it. Everybody has to push each other to get better."
Save drama for the regular season. Friday night was a chance for stress-free execution, and the Hoosiers capitalized.
They had a 27-0 edge on fast-break points, 22-0 on points off turnovers, and 34-12 on points in the paint. Ten Hoosiers played and nine scored. Nine had at least one rebound. They were 9-for-17 from beyond the arc and 21-for-25 on three throws. They held Marian, a solid NAIA program, to 32% shooting and forced 15 turnovers.
Center Kel'el Ware had 20 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes. He's scored 27 second-half points in exhibitions against Marian and the University of Indianapolis.
"My game has been evolving," Ware said. "I'm more in shape. Coach has been pushing me. He wants me to run harder. The more I get in condition, the better we'll be as a team."
Ware transferred from Oregon to be a difference maker. Woodson pushes to make it happen.
"I've been going at him in practice to get him to be more aggressive on offense," Woodson said. "He's starting to show signs he can do it. He's a skilled guy.
"It starts for real now. He'll be playing against bigger guys. More talented bigs. I'm curious to see where he'll be when we start that journey."
As for Ware's second-half success, Woodson said, "I called a couple of plays for him, but it's not about play calling. On the pick and roll, he's big enough to roll and demand the ball as a big target. He can run the floor and get buckets that way. You don't have to call plays for him. There are all kind of ways to score. He's capable of doing that.
"Sometimes you have to pick on the guys who guard him. Take advantage of it. He does a lot of good things, We need him to continue to grow."
Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako had 15 points with a team-high three 3-pointers. Sophomore forward Malik Reneau had 14 points, 12 in the first half, which was good. He also had four fouls, which was not good given his previous knack of getting into foul trouble.
Then there's freshman guard Gabe Cupps, who again stood out without putting up big numbers. He ran the offense as part of the second unit and totaled six assists, two points, and no turnovers.
"Playing extended minutes showed me you can still get tired even with long media timeouts," Cupps said. "Guys like Kel'el make the game a lot easier. You read the ball screens and just throw it up. It adds another element to the game that makes it more fun."
Cupps and fellow guards Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway combined for 19 assists and no turnovers. Overall, IU had 25 assists and two turnovers.
"We showed film where a guy drew two defenders, someone was wide open and we try to drive through two people instead of making the extra pass," Woodson said. "That will be critical. The only way to beat the defense is to make the extra pass."
Before the game, IU had a couple of moving video tributes, and a moment of silence, for Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight, who passed away earlier this week.
At halftime, a video was shown of his 2020 return to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
"It's been tough," Woodson said. "I prep for a game the same way, but knowing he's not around anymore, it means more to me.
"I wish I could do all the things he's done as a coach, but that's impossible. My thoughts will always be there with him This is Bob Knight's building. I hope I can make him proud."
Johnson accounted for IU's first five points via a basket, a free throw, and an assist to Reneau.
Then Reneau took over, hitting a 3-pointer as the Hoosiers surged ahead 22-9.
Five 3-pointers kept Marian within range at 24-15. A CJ Gunn 3-pointer and an Anthony Walker basket it made it 31-18.
IU kept pushing the pace, producing a 16-0 edge in fastbreak points. Seven of the nine Hoosiers who played in the first 20 minutes scored. It reached halftime with a 49-35 lead. Reneau led with 12 points.
Marian was 9-for-20 on 3-pointers and 2-for-10 inside the arc.
The Hoosiers needed four second-half minutes to build a 24-point lead and cruised from there.
Team Stats
Marian
IND
FG%
.323
.525
3FG%
.306
.529
FT%
.769
.840
RB
34
36
TO
15
2
STL
2
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
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/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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Forward
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