Indiana University Athletics
Malik Reneau’s Goals Are Simple – Do It All
7/3/2023 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It's time to take the next step. Malik Reneau works for that, prepares for that. Freshman inconsistency must evolve into sophomore excellence.
If it does, when it does, this 6-9, 233-pounder can be a catalyst to extend Indiana's NCAA tourney run, sustain its Big Ten contender status, and boost his game to difference-making impact.
Here we are, a month into summer workouts that, in so many ways, will determine next season's success, and this former 5-star prospect understands what's necessary, everything from better fitness to improved inside-and-out offensive consistency to difference-making leadership. It's catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, trail 3-pointers, and pull-up jumpers on offense, rebound and stifle on defense.
"It's being able to do everything on the court," Reneau says via recent Zoom availability. "Show more of my game. Being able to step out and shoot the 3, grab the rebound, and push it. Push the ball in transition. Post up.
Reneau showed flashes last season, when he was just one of three Hoosiers to play in all 35 games. He averaged 6.1 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 55.3% from the field. He scored as many as 15 points, grabbed as many as 11 rebounds, and blocked as many as three shots.
It's time for more.
"Do all the stuff that I'm used to doing and making sure I'm not making a lot of mistakes while doing it," he says. "Show my all-around game."
Reneau and the Hoosiers combine strength training with individual improvement work and team sessions that include intense scrimmages that emphasize competitiveness.
"It's having those scrimmages, playing 15 minutes straight, working on conditioning and having pace," he says. "That helps me with conditioning and being able to stay out for long periods of time without needing breaks.
"It's mix in all aspects of my game and still work on my strong suit, working on my hooks, working on my conditioning to get in top shape. Touch on everything. Do things other than score. Work on my conditioning to get into top shape."
A year into coach Mike Woodson's system also adds a leadership responsibility to match that of veteran guards Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway.
"I know what Coach wants us to do," Reneau says. I want to be a guy the new players look to when they need help.
Defense remains Woodson's IU foundation. Reneau is all in.
"What I learned from Coach Woodson is that we'll be a defensive team no matter what. We're going to try to hold teams under 60 points. That's what we do. Defense is a big key to our success."
For Reneau, that means versatility.
"I want to defend all five positions and rebound."
The goal is doing that without fouling. Reneau's 89 fouls last season were five more than any other Hoosier even though he ranked seventh in total minutes played. He had four fouls in nine games and fouled out in two others.
Awareness will help. So will defending with his feet instead of his hands.
"I'm trying to stay away from putting my hands on guys to avoid those ticky tack fouls," he says. "It's being aware of what I'm doing on the court and understanding that I get those (silly) fouls when I put two hands on a player."
Some of that comes while defending smaller, quicker players on the perimeter.
"I need to improve defending on the perimeter. I've been in the gym working on defense, working on guarding smaller guys when I switch on to them."
IU is a team in transition with the addition of heralded transfer forwards Kel'el Ware of Oregon, Payton Sparks of Ball State, and Anthony Walker of Miami of Florida, plus high school standouts Mackenzie Mgbako, Gabe Cupps, and Jakai Newton.
"We knew we would lose a lot of guys and we would be different," Reneau says. "We got the key pieces we needed to have a successful season. We've had great practices, and great scrimmages. We're working hard and competing. We'll be ready to go when the season starts."
Standout new players were needed after losing All-America forward Trayce Jackson-Davis and All-Big Ten guard Jalen Hood-Schifino to the NBA. Jackson-Davis, one of the most dominant players in college basketball last season (20.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 92 blocks), was drafted No. 57 by the Washington Wizards, who then traded him to the Golden State Warriors. Hood-Schifino, one of the Big Ten's best guards as a true freshman after averaging 13.5 points and 4.1 rebounds, was picked No. 17 by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Also, forward Race Thompson has signed to play for the New York Knicks in the summer league.
Miller Kopp completed his eligibility and forward Jordan Geronimo, center Logan Duncomb and guard Tamar Bates transferred.
"We loaded up pretty well," Reneau says. "Kel'el and Payton are great skills players. Both can finish with both hands. They can step out and shoot.
"You see a good indication of where we're trying to go with our frontcourt. We understand that we don't have Trayce anymore, so we have to look somewhere else to find it."
Jackson-Davis was a dominant post player who never took a 3-pointer last season. Woodson figures to return to his NBA coaching style of all five players capable of outside and inside scoring to spread the court and push the pace.
"Without Trayce, we'll still emphasize posting up," Reneau says. "That's part of Coach Woodson's plan. We probably won't post up as much as we did with Trayce, but there will be a lot of ball screens, running up and down the court, getting out in transition and getting easy buckets. We're trying to be a fast-paced team that defend."
Much is expected from the 6-8 Mgbako, a top-10 national prospect and McDonald's All-American.
Reneau says they didn't play against each other in high school but has been impressed during summer workouts.
"He has great size. He shoots well. He drives well. He finishes with both hands. He has a great skill set. He can post up. He adds that boost that we need. It's a blessing to get him."
Reneau says adding all the new frontcourt players won't change his role.
"My game doesn't change at all. I still do the things I used to do, like posting up, and being more confident when I'm open to take the shot instead of passing it up."
Beyond basketball, the Hoosiers are working to build team chemistry. That includes fishing trips with Director of Athletic Performance Clif Marshall.
"We do a lot of team bonding," Reneau says. "We're with each other 24/7. That will come into play. The older guys are helping the younger guys and the new guys. It's being mentally focused every time we step on the court.
As for Hood-Schifino and Jackson-Davis getting drafted, Reneau says he was at the draft party for Jackson-Davis.
"I can't wait to see them play in the NBA. Fino is a Lakers guy. He loves (ex-Lakers great Kobe Bryant). That's a great place for him to be around those older guys (including LeBron James and Anthony Davis) to grow and get better."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It's time to take the next step. Malik Reneau works for that, prepares for that. Freshman inconsistency must evolve into sophomore excellence.
If it does, when it does, this 6-9, 233-pounder can be a catalyst to extend Indiana's NCAA tourney run, sustain its Big Ten contender status, and boost his game to difference-making impact.
Here we are, a month into summer workouts that, in so many ways, will determine next season's success, and this former 5-star prospect understands what's necessary, everything from better fitness to improved inside-and-out offensive consistency to difference-making leadership. It's catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, trail 3-pointers, and pull-up jumpers on offense, rebound and stifle on defense.
"It's being able to do everything on the court," Reneau says via recent Zoom availability. "Show more of my game. Being able to step out and shoot the 3, grab the rebound, and push it. Push the ball in transition. Post up.
Reneau showed flashes last season, when he was just one of three Hoosiers to play in all 35 games. He averaged 6.1 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 55.3% from the field. He scored as many as 15 points, grabbed as many as 11 rebounds, and blocked as many as three shots.
It's time for more.
"Do all the stuff that I'm used to doing and making sure I'm not making a lot of mistakes while doing it," he says. "Show my all-around game."
Reneau and the Hoosiers combine strength training with individual improvement work and team sessions that include intense scrimmages that emphasize competitiveness.
"It's having those scrimmages, playing 15 minutes straight, working on conditioning and having pace," he says. "That helps me with conditioning and being able to stay out for long periods of time without needing breaks.
"It's mix in all aspects of my game and still work on my strong suit, working on my hooks, working on my conditioning to get in top shape. Touch on everything. Do things other than score. Work on my conditioning to get into top shape."
A year into coach Mike Woodson's system also adds a leadership responsibility to match that of veteran guards Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway.
"I know what Coach wants us to do," Reneau says. I want to be a guy the new players look to when they need help.
Defense remains Woodson's IU foundation. Reneau is all in.
"What I learned from Coach Woodson is that we'll be a defensive team no matter what. We're going to try to hold teams under 60 points. That's what we do. Defense is a big key to our success."
For Reneau, that means versatility.
"I want to defend all five positions and rebound."
The goal is doing that without fouling. Reneau's 89 fouls last season were five more than any other Hoosier even though he ranked seventh in total minutes played. He had four fouls in nine games and fouled out in two others.
Awareness will help. So will defending with his feet instead of his hands.
"I'm trying to stay away from putting my hands on guys to avoid those ticky tack fouls," he says. "It's being aware of what I'm doing on the court and understanding that I get those (silly) fouls when I put two hands on a player."
Some of that comes while defending smaller, quicker players on the perimeter.
"I need to improve defending on the perimeter. I've been in the gym working on defense, working on guarding smaller guys when I switch on to them."
IU is a team in transition with the addition of heralded transfer forwards Kel'el Ware of Oregon, Payton Sparks of Ball State, and Anthony Walker of Miami of Florida, plus high school standouts Mackenzie Mgbako, Gabe Cupps, and Jakai Newton.
"We knew we would lose a lot of guys and we would be different," Reneau says. "We got the key pieces we needed to have a successful season. We've had great practices, and great scrimmages. We're working hard and competing. We'll be ready to go when the season starts."
Standout new players were needed after losing All-America forward Trayce Jackson-Davis and All-Big Ten guard Jalen Hood-Schifino to the NBA. Jackson-Davis, one of the most dominant players in college basketball last season (20.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 92 blocks), was drafted No. 57 by the Washington Wizards, who then traded him to the Golden State Warriors. Hood-Schifino, one of the Big Ten's best guards as a true freshman after averaging 13.5 points and 4.1 rebounds, was picked No. 17 by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Also, forward Race Thompson has signed to play for the New York Knicks in the summer league.
Miller Kopp completed his eligibility and forward Jordan Geronimo, center Logan Duncomb and guard Tamar Bates transferred.
"We loaded up pretty well," Reneau says. "Kel'el and Payton are great skills players. Both can finish with both hands. They can step out and shoot.
"You see a good indication of where we're trying to go with our frontcourt. We understand that we don't have Trayce anymore, so we have to look somewhere else to find it."
Jackson-Davis was a dominant post player who never took a 3-pointer last season. Woodson figures to return to his NBA coaching style of all five players capable of outside and inside scoring to spread the court and push the pace.
"Without Trayce, we'll still emphasize posting up," Reneau says. "That's part of Coach Woodson's plan. We probably won't post up as much as we did with Trayce, but there will be a lot of ball screens, running up and down the court, getting out in transition and getting easy buckets. We're trying to be a fast-paced team that defend."
Much is expected from the 6-8 Mgbako, a top-10 national prospect and McDonald's All-American.
Reneau says they didn't play against each other in high school but has been impressed during summer workouts.
"He has great size. He shoots well. He drives well. He finishes with both hands. He has a great skill set. He can post up. He adds that boost that we need. It's a blessing to get him."
Reneau says adding all the new frontcourt players won't change his role.
"My game doesn't change at all. I still do the things I used to do, like posting up, and being more confident when I'm open to take the shot instead of passing it up."
Beyond basketball, the Hoosiers are working to build team chemistry. That includes fishing trips with Director of Athletic Performance Clif Marshall.
"We do a lot of team bonding," Reneau says. "We're with each other 24/7. That will come into play. The older guys are helping the younger guys and the new guys. It's being mentally focused every time we step on the court.
As for Hood-Schifino and Jackson-Davis getting drafted, Reneau says he was at the draft party for Jackson-Davis.
"I can't wait to see them play in the NBA. Fino is a Lakers guy. He loves (ex-Lakers great Kobe Bryant). That's a great place for him to be around those older guys (including LeBron James and Anthony Davis) to grow and get better."
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