Thursday, December 21
Bloomington, Ind.
8:30 PM
Indiana University
9-3,2-0Big Ten
83
vs
66
North Alabama
6-7,0-0ASUN
1
2
F
North Ala.
34
32
66
Indiana
43
40
83
Reneau's Career Night Leads Indiana Past North Alabama
12/21/2023 10:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- For 20 minutes against North Alabama, Malik Reneau channeled Steve Alford or, more position-and-21st-Century accurate, Calbert Cheaney.
The Indiana sophomore forward was 3-for-3 on three-pointers Thursday night -- huge for a guy who had just two all season -- for a 16-point burst.
He finished 4-for-4 beyond the arc in IU's 83-66 victory at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall while inspiring his teammates to a season-high 12 three-pointers.
The 6-8 Reneau totaled a career-high 25 points along with seven rebounds and two assists.
Credit goes in part to Cheaney, now IU's director of player development and the Big Ten's career scoring leader. Reneau has gained invaluable insight from him.
"I've been working with Coach Cheaney a lot, understanding how he played the game and how he was able to work around the court and get his shot wherever he wanted," Reneau said.
"Just getting up reps, being confident when you go out there, not being scared to shoot. That was the main part for me."
As for IU's overall three-point shooting success, Reneau added that, "a lot of people have been in the gym getting up extra shots. I think that contributed to us having some extra confidence and hitting shots."
Adding to his big night, the foul-prone Reneau didn't commit a foul.
IU won't practice again until next Tuesday. Don't expect Reneau to take any time off.
"Absolutely not. Basketball is year-round out here."
Reneau got plenty of offensive help on Thursday night. Ten Hoosiers played, and nine scored. Forward Mackenzie Mgbako added 12 points. Guard Trey Galloway flirted with a double-double and finished with eight points and a career-high nine rebounds in 29 minutes. Forward Anthony Walker followed his IU-best 18-point performance in the Morehead State victory with 11 points.
The Hoosiers (9-3) finished with 25 assists against 10 turnovers while shooting 53 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range.
"That's the highest number of assists we've had this season," coach Mike Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. "That lets you know the ball was moving around and guys were making shots."
North Alabama (6-7) followed the blueprint from previous Indiana opponents by swarming Kel'el Ware and Reneau inside, creating outside opportunities if the Hoosiers (9-3) could take advantage.
They did -- in a season-high big way. They finished with six more than in any previous game. It was their most in more than a decade. Seven players made at least one, including reserve guard Anthony Leal.
"That was nice to see," Woodson told Fischer. "We spend a lot of time shooting free throws and threes, and working on everything you're supposed to work on. Guys stepped up and made shots."
The result was a much-needed dominating performance.
"We played well," Woodson told Fischer. "We were solid coming out of the gate."
And then, being a coach, he found something to harp on.
"The only down side is (North Alabama) beat us to a lot of 50-50 balls where we didn't get on the floor and mix it up a little bit," he told Fischer.
With senior point guard Xavier Johnson projected to return soon from injury, Woodson will have to alter the rotation, likely knocking freshman Gabe Cupps to the bench.
"Hopefully, we'll get X back soon," Woodson told Fischer. "We're patiently wait on that. Then we'll shuffle again and figure out another rotation."
IU opened defense-ready, forcing a turnover on North Alabama's first possession, and four in the first six minutes. The Hoosiers got three-pointers from Reneau and Mgbako for an early 10-2 lead.
A three-point Reneau play built a 15-5 lead. His long, shot-clock-beating three-pointer a minute later made it 18-8.
A pair of Walker free throws pushed IU ahead 28-15.
Leal and Reneau ended the half with three-pointers as the Hoosiers led 43-34. Reneau's 16 points were 10 more than any other Hoosier.
IU's 11-0 run early in the second half built a 56-37 lead, in part because a Galloway three-pointer made it a season-high seven for the Hoosiers.
The defense forced North Alabama into multiple empty possessions and nine straight misses. IU passed its way to a series of easy baskets.
Game over.
The Hoosiers won't play again until Dec. 29 against Kennesaw State.
"I need a break," Woodson told Fischer. "I'm sure they looked at me and say, 'Coach, I've gotta get away from you.' I'm good with that, too. I told them to stay safe and make their way back on the 26th."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- For 20 minutes against North Alabama, Malik Reneau channeled Steve Alford or, more position-and-21st-Century accurate, Calbert Cheaney.
The Indiana sophomore forward was 3-for-3 on three-pointers Thursday night -- huge for a guy who had just two all season -- for a 16-point burst.
He finished 4-for-4 beyond the arc in IU's 83-66 victory at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall while inspiring his teammates to a season-high 12 three-pointers.
The 6-8 Reneau totaled a career-high 25 points along with seven rebounds and two assists.
Credit goes in part to Cheaney, now IU's director of player development and the Big Ten's career scoring leader. Reneau has gained invaluable insight from him.
"I've been working with Coach Cheaney a lot, understanding how he played the game and how he was able to work around the court and get his shot wherever he wanted," Reneau said.
"Just getting up reps, being confident when you go out there, not being scared to shoot. That was the main part for me."
As for IU's overall three-point shooting success, Reneau added that, "a lot of people have been in the gym getting up extra shots. I think that contributed to us having some extra confidence and hitting shots."
Adding to his big night, the foul-prone Reneau didn't commit a foul.
IU won't practice again until next Tuesday. Don't expect Reneau to take any time off.
"Absolutely not. Basketball is year-round out here."
Reneau got plenty of offensive help on Thursday night. Ten Hoosiers played, and nine scored. Forward Mackenzie Mgbako added 12 points. Guard Trey Galloway flirted with a double-double and finished with eight points and a career-high nine rebounds in 29 minutes. Forward Anthony Walker followed his IU-best 18-point performance in the Morehead State victory with 11 points.
The Hoosiers (9-3) finished with 25 assists against 10 turnovers while shooting 53 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range.
"That's the highest number of assists we've had this season," coach Mike Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. "That lets you know the ball was moving around and guys were making shots."
North Alabama (6-7) followed the blueprint from previous Indiana opponents by swarming Kel'el Ware and Reneau inside, creating outside opportunities if the Hoosiers (9-3) could take advantage.
They did -- in a season-high big way. They finished with six more than in any previous game. It was their most in more than a decade. Seven players made at least one, including reserve guard Anthony Leal.
"That was nice to see," Woodson told Fischer. "We spend a lot of time shooting free throws and threes, and working on everything you're supposed to work on. Guys stepped up and made shots."
The result was a much-needed dominating performance.
"We played well," Woodson told Fischer. "We were solid coming out of the gate."
And then, being a coach, he found something to harp on.
"The only down side is (North Alabama) beat us to a lot of 50-50 balls where we didn't get on the floor and mix it up a little bit," he told Fischer.
With senior point guard Xavier Johnson projected to return soon from injury, Woodson will have to alter the rotation, likely knocking freshman Gabe Cupps to the bench.
"Hopefully, we'll get X back soon," Woodson told Fischer. "We're patiently wait on that. Then we'll shuffle again and figure out another rotation."
IU opened defense-ready, forcing a turnover on North Alabama's first possession, and four in the first six minutes. The Hoosiers got three-pointers from Reneau and Mgbako for an early 10-2 lead.
A three-point Reneau play built a 15-5 lead. His long, shot-clock-beating three-pointer a minute later made it 18-8.
A pair of Walker free throws pushed IU ahead 28-15.
Leal and Reneau ended the half with three-pointers as the Hoosiers led 43-34. Reneau's 16 points were 10 more than any other Hoosier.
IU's 11-0 run early in the second half built a 56-37 lead, in part because a Galloway three-pointer made it a season-high seven for the Hoosiers.
The defense forced North Alabama into multiple empty possessions and nine straight misses. IU passed its way to a series of easy baskets.
Game over.
The Hoosiers won't play again until Dec. 29 against Kennesaw State.
"I need a break," Woodson told Fischer. "I'm sure they looked at me and say, 'Coach, I've gotta get away from you.' I'm good with that, too. I told them to stay safe and make their way back on the 26th."
Team Stats
UNA
IND
FG%
.406
.534
3FG%
.281
.500
FT%
.625
.643
RB
34
34
TO
13
10
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
25
FGM
10
3FGM
4
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Guard
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