Rebounding Looms Large as IU seeks 2-0 Big Ten Start

Tuesday, December 5

Ann Arbor, Mich.

9:00 PM

Indiana University

Michigan

Rebounding Looms Large as IU seeks 2-0 Big Ten Start

12/5/2023 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Trey Galloway got the message. All the Indiana guards did.

Attack the glass. Rebound. Repeat.

Rebounding could be the difference maker this season. Mike Woodson preachers it, and it can't just come from center Kel'el Ware, and forwards Malik Reneau, Mackenzie Mgbako, Anthony Walker, and Payton Sparks.

The guards have to get their share, and perhaps more.

"Early in the season, we were getting killed on the offensive glass in every aspect," Galloway says. "We wanted to clean that up and make sure we're finding guys and boxing out and getting on the offensive glass."

That was a huge factor in the Hoosiers' Big Ten-opening win over Maryland on Friday night. It will be a huge factor at Michigan (4-4 overall, 0-0 in the Big Ten) Tuesday night when they seek a 2-0 conference start (7-1 overall) and a big early road victory.

"We've got guys that are athletic enough to go get rebounds," Galloway says. "We have to stick our heads in there and go get them."

Galloway set the guard tone with six rebounds against Maryland, including three offensive. IU won the rebound battle, 46-30 overall and 15-10 on offensive boards.

It's exactly what Woodson wants all the time.

"It makes a big difference," he says. "Our wings and perimeter guys have to get in and mix it up a little and get rebounds.

"We've got to continue to do that. We can't put all the pressure on Ware and Malik and big Payton and Walker to get all the rebounds."

Doing it at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall is one thing. Doing it at Crisler Arena is a different-level challenge given the difficulty of the conference road. A victory would secure Indiana a share of first place in the Big Ten until January, when conference play resumes.

The Hoosiers' physical victory over Maryland reflected what they will face during Big Ten action. Aggressive play is critical. Passive play gets you beat.

"It's the Big Ten," Woodson says. "It's going to be that way every night. It won't be any easier at Michigan. The Big Ten is tough. They let you play.

"If you don't meet the challenge, you will be exposed."

IU's 3-point defense, which had previously struggled, showed major improvement against Maryland, which made just 2-of-16 of its attempts. That got Terrapins coach Kevin Willard's attention.

"They are a very good defensive team on the 3-point shot."

The Hoosiers have spent a lot of time on it, Woodson says.

"We were connected. We didn't give up a lot of 3s. Our switching was right on par. We had a few miscues, but we didn't let (Maryland) get into the teeth of our defense very much. Defensively, we were solid for 40 minutes."

IU needs more from its own 3-point shooting. It was 3-for-9 against Maryland and shoots 25% overall. Galloway said having two dominant post players in Ware and Reneau helps free everyone for open 3-pointers.

"With such two post presences like Kel'el and Malik down there, teams are going to start doubling," he said. "We've got to be ready to knock it down when it comes out of the post and just shoot it with confidence.

"It's going to keep happening. We've got to be ready to shoot it."

The Hoosiers seek to duplicate the four starters scoring in double figures it had against Maryland.

"We've got a lot of guys that can score," Galloway says. "Teams are going to take certain things away front of us and we've got to be ready to go to all our other options.

"We're not worried about who is scoring. We want to get the win. I think all five guys know that. It's whatever it takes to get the win. It's going to play a big role the rest of the season."

As for Michigan, it went 1-2 in the Battle for Atlantis, losing to Memphis and Texas Tech. It also lost at Oregon in overtime, and to Long Beach State at home.

The Wolverines are led by guard Dug McDaniel, who averages 20.3 points and shoots 41.2% from 3-point range. He had 33 points and seven 3-pointers against Oregon. He has a 42-19 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Forward Olivier Nkamhoua averages 16.9 points and 7.0 rebounds. He shoots 57.6% from the field, and 35.7% from 3-point range.

Two others average in double figures – forward Terrance Williams II (10.9 points, 4.8 rebounds) and guard Nimari Burnett (10.0, 5.0).

Michigan shoots 38.2% from 3-point range and allows opponents to shoot 39.4% beyond the arc.

Coach Juwan Howard had open heart surgery in mid-September. He returned to the bench as an assistant coach for the Oregon game. Phil Martelli is the interim head coach.