Indiana University Athletics
Tuesday, January 30
Bloomington, Ind.
7:00 PM
Indiana University
vs
Iowa
Improving Mgbako, Hoosiers Face High-Scoring Iowa Challenge
1/30/2024 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The basketball evolution of Mackenzie Mgbako continues and this much we know: the upside is enormous.
It now includes a Trayce Jackson-Davis reference.
This could be a big plus Tuesday night when Indiana (12-8 overall, 4-5 in the Big Ten) hosts Iowa (12-8, 4-5) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Mgbako's 12-point, 12-rebound effort at Illinois on Saturday made him the first Hoosier freshman to get a Big Ten road double-double since Jackson-Davis did it at Illinois in 2020.
Jackson-Davis, in case you've forgotten, went on to become an All-American and one of the best players in IU history with more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
It's the latest sign of Mgbako's development, with more coming.
"Think back to when we started with him … it was a struggle," coach Mike Woodson says. "He didn't know any defensive rotations. He's still struggling to guard his man when he's in a one-on-one position off the bounce, and that'll come. He needs more reps at it.
"Sometimes, you've got to fail to be successful. I like his work ethic. When he's in practice, he gives you what he's got."
What the 6-8, 237-pound Mgbako's got is a run of impressive offensive consistency for a player of any age, let alone a freshman. He's scored in double figures in 13 of his last 15 games. In the last month, he's averaged 12.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists.
He's big enough and shoots well enough to create major mismatches opponents struggle to contain.
Mgbako's been big in two areas the rest of the Hoosiers have struggled -- free throw and 3-point shooting. He leads IU in 3-point baskets (26), with 18 in his last nine games while shooting 43.9% beyond the arc.
As a team, the Hoosiers make 3-pointers at a 33.1% clip.
Mgbako's 85.5% free throw shooting is well above the team average of 65.9. He leads Big Ten freshman in free throws made (53) and is second in total points scored (217), points per game (10.9) and 3-pointers (26), and third in total rebounds (85).
"For a lot of young players that come in this league, going into the college game from high school is not as easy as you think," Woodson says. "The Big Ten surely is not that easy. Mack has come a long way in terms of where he started and where he is today.
"He's trying to do the right things on the floor. He's still learning. He's in that learning stage. From a defensive standpoint, he still has a ways to go, but he's gotten better."
The 12 rebounds reflect the overall improvement. Mgbako has had four games with just one rebound, and four others of two or three, but he's had at least four rebounds in four of his last five games.
That's especially important with 7-foot center Kel'el Ware sidelined with an ankle injury.
"(Against Illinois) you saw a guy that was relentless on the boards," Woodson says. "He rebounded when we needed it, and he made tough shots inside. I'm happy with Mack. I think he's going to continue to grow and get better as the games go along."
After double-digit losses to Purdue and Wisconsin, Woodson was encouraged by Indiana's defense and overall fight against Illinois.
"We were solid all the way through," he says. "We just didn't make the plays coming down the stretch, so that's promising."
IU seeks to snap a three-game losing streak against an Iowa team that has won two straight at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, and four straight against the Hoosiers overall.
The Hawkeyes lead the Big Ten in scoring, at 85.3 points, and are 13th in scoring defense, at 77.4 points. They are coming off a win at Michigan in which they were 18-for-18 from the free throw line.
Senior Tony Perkins has emerged as one of the Big Ten's best guards. He has three straight 20-point games, including a 24-point (9-for-12 shooting) effort at Michigan. He's made 15-straight free throws over his last two games.
Perkins, a former Indianapolis Lawrence North High School standout, averages 18.1 points, 4.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.1 steals in Big Ten play. He's the only conference player to have more than 300 points, 80 assists, 75 rebounds, and 35 steals.
Junior forward Payton Sandfort, coming off a career-high 26 points against Michigan, averages 14.4 points and 6.8 rebounds. Owen Freeman, a 6-10 forward, averages 11.2 points and 6.2 rebounds. The leading scorer is Ben Krikke, a 6-9 forward, at 15.7 points.
On his Monday night radio show, Woodson said the Hawkeyes "post the ball, push the ball, and press. They play half-court zone. They do a lot of different things.
"We have to execute and compete."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The basketball evolution of Mackenzie Mgbako continues and this much we know: the upside is enormous.
It now includes a Trayce Jackson-Davis reference.
This could be a big plus Tuesday night when Indiana (12-8 overall, 4-5 in the Big Ten) hosts Iowa (12-8, 4-5) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Mgbako's 12-point, 12-rebound effort at Illinois on Saturday made him the first Hoosier freshman to get a Big Ten road double-double since Jackson-Davis did it at Illinois in 2020.
Jackson-Davis, in case you've forgotten, went on to become an All-American and one of the best players in IU history with more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
It's the latest sign of Mgbako's development, with more coming.
"Think back to when we started with him … it was a struggle," coach Mike Woodson says. "He didn't know any defensive rotations. He's still struggling to guard his man when he's in a one-on-one position off the bounce, and that'll come. He needs more reps at it.
"Sometimes, you've got to fail to be successful. I like his work ethic. When he's in practice, he gives you what he's got."
What the 6-8, 237-pound Mgbako's got is a run of impressive offensive consistency for a player of any age, let alone a freshman. He's scored in double figures in 13 of his last 15 games. In the last month, he's averaged 12.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists.
He's big enough and shoots well enough to create major mismatches opponents struggle to contain.
Mgbako's been big in two areas the rest of the Hoosiers have struggled -- free throw and 3-point shooting. He leads IU in 3-point baskets (26), with 18 in his last nine games while shooting 43.9% beyond the arc.
As a team, the Hoosiers make 3-pointers at a 33.1% clip.
Mgbako's 85.5% free throw shooting is well above the team average of 65.9. He leads Big Ten freshman in free throws made (53) and is second in total points scored (217), points per game (10.9) and 3-pointers (26), and third in total rebounds (85).
"For a lot of young players that come in this league, going into the college game from high school is not as easy as you think," Woodson says. "The Big Ten surely is not that easy. Mack has come a long way in terms of where he started and where he is today.
"He's trying to do the right things on the floor. He's still learning. He's in that learning stage. From a defensive standpoint, he still has a ways to go, but he's gotten better."
The 12 rebounds reflect the overall improvement. Mgbako has had four games with just one rebound, and four others of two or three, but he's had at least four rebounds in four of his last five games.
That's especially important with 7-foot center Kel'el Ware sidelined with an ankle injury.
"(Against Illinois) you saw a guy that was relentless on the boards," Woodson says. "He rebounded when we needed it, and he made tough shots inside. I'm happy with Mack. I think he's going to continue to grow and get better as the games go along."
After double-digit losses to Purdue and Wisconsin, Woodson was encouraged by Indiana's defense and overall fight against Illinois.
"We were solid all the way through," he says. "We just didn't make the plays coming down the stretch, so that's promising."
IU seeks to snap a three-game losing streak against an Iowa team that has won two straight at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, and four straight against the Hoosiers overall.
The Hawkeyes lead the Big Ten in scoring, at 85.3 points, and are 13th in scoring defense, at 77.4 points. They are coming off a win at Michigan in which they were 18-for-18 from the free throw line.
Senior Tony Perkins has emerged as one of the Big Ten's best guards. He has three straight 20-point games, including a 24-point (9-for-12 shooting) effort at Michigan. He's made 15-straight free throws over his last two games.
Perkins, a former Indianapolis Lawrence North High School standout, averages 18.1 points, 4.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.1 steals in Big Ten play. He's the only conference player to have more than 300 points, 80 assists, 75 rebounds, and 35 steals.
Junior forward Payton Sandfort, coming off a career-high 26 points against Michigan, averages 14.4 points and 6.8 rebounds. Owen Freeman, a 6-10 forward, averages 11.2 points and 6.2 rebounds. The leading scorer is Ben Krikke, a 6-9 forward, at 15.7 points.
On his Monday night radio show, Woodson said the Hawkeyes "post the ball, push the ball, and press. They play half-court zone. They do a lot of different things.
"We have to execute and compete."
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's BasketballIUBB Postgame Press Conference
Friday, October 17
Darian DeVries Postgame Press Conference
Friday, October 17
MBB: Marian (Exhib.) - Postgame Press Conference
Friday, October 17
Darian DeVries Pregame Press Conference
Thursday, October 16