Indiana University Athletics
Lead and Jump -- IU Basketball Prospects Start with Veterans
10/7/2024 9:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Here is Mike Woodson, reflecting on the promise of his Indiana basketball team, and this much is clear: veterans have to do what veterans do.
Junior forward Malik Reneau, fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway and sophomore swingman Mackenzie Mgbako must set the tone for this rebuilt Hoosier squad. If they do, if the talented newcomers live up to their accolades, if they all provide tough-minded execution when it matters most, the championship Woodson has sought since arriving in Bloomington four years ago might become reality.
"We need them to lead and make another jump," Woodson said from a Big Ten Media Days stage in Rosemont, Ill. "Malik made a hell of a jump from his freshman year. Mackenzie made a tremendous jump. Trey Galloway is who he is. He's been a leader since I've had him. He had knee surgery this past season and he's worked his butt off this summer to get back. He's not fully recovered, but he's getting there. I'm going to need all three of those guys.
"We have some seniors, but we have a bunch of young guys, as well, and they haven't experienced the Big Ten. We're going to need those veteran guys to step up and lead."
Reneau, a 6-9, 232-pound junior, averaged 15.4 points and 6.0 rebounds last season after averaging 6.1 and 3.7 as a freshman. He also had 88 assists (70 more than his first season) and 15 3-pointers (13 more).
Beyond that, IU basketball director of athletic performance Clif Marshall's social media post this week showed Reneau has lowered his percentage of body fat by 3.5%, improved his vertical jump by 4.5 inches, his pull-ups by 10 reps and his 185-pound bench press by 14 reps.
The 6-9 Mgbako was co-Big Ten freshman of the year last season after averaging 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. He was one of two freshmen nationally to score more than 400 points, make at least 50 3-pointers, make at least 90 free throws, and grab at least 125 rebounds.
Galloway set career highs in scoring (10.6 points), assists (4.6), and steals (1.2) last season.
As far as the newcomers, sixth-year senior center Oumar Ballo was the only Hoosier to make the preseason media All-Big Ten team. The 7-foot, 265-pound big, a transfer from Arizona, was twice named All-Pac-12 first team, and last season made the conference's all-defensive team. In three years with the Wildcats, Ballo averaged 11.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots. He shot 64.6% from the field and totaled 34 career double-doubles. He also brings a winning mindset as his teams won 112 of 132 games he has played.
He is one of five scholarship transfers on IU's rebuilt roster. The others are guards Myles Rice from Washington State, Kanaan Carlyle from Stanford, forward Luke Goode from Illinois (a former high school all-state player from Homestead near Fort Wayne), and center Langdon Hatton from Bellarmine.
247Sports ranks this transfer class as the nation's second best behind Arkansas.
"We had no choice," Woodson said about his transfer portal emphasis. "I lost three players to the portal, lost two seniors, and Kel'el Ware was drafted to the (NBA's Miami) Heat as the 15th pick.
"(We) had to go out, work and try to get our team back. We were able to come West and get Oumar Ballo, Myles Rice, and Kanaan Carlyle. Then we were fortunate enough to have Goode come back home. We were built basically through the portal. It's been a work in progress."
IU also signed five-star forward Bryson Tucker from Maryland. The 6-7 McDonald's All-American helped USA Basketball to a gold medal in the 2021 FIBA Americas Championship by averaging 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds.
"(Bryson) kind of fell in our laps late," Woodson said. "I looked at him a couple of years ago when he was at IMG, and we were able to get him."
The Hoosiers used the summer to build team chemistry and introduce Woodson's offensive and defensive systems.
"Our summer program went extremely well," he said. "We gave them a month off, and now were back at practice. It's been a good run so far. We've got to see where it leads us."
Failing to make the NCAA Tournament last season after making it in Woodson's first two years remains a big motivator.
"We took a step backwards last year by not making the tournament, and that was disappointing," Woodson said. "We've got to move forward. At the end of the day, it's about winning Big Ten titles and national titles. That's why I came back. I remember the good days back when I played and some of the great years (former coach) Bob Knight had at Indiana. We miss that.
"I'm happy to be back, but we've still got a long way to go."
Beyond basketball, IU's unbeaten football start under new head coach Curt Cignetti has impressed Woodson.
"I'm loving it. Coach Cignetti has done a hell of a job. He's put together a great group of guys. He's got running backs. He's got receivers. He's got a hell of a quarterback (Kurtis Rourke). I couldn't be happier for him. To see our program in the Top 20, I've got to give him a lot of credit."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Here is Mike Woodson, reflecting on the promise of his Indiana basketball team, and this much is clear: veterans have to do what veterans do.
Junior forward Malik Reneau, fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway and sophomore swingman Mackenzie Mgbako must set the tone for this rebuilt Hoosier squad. If they do, if the talented newcomers live up to their accolades, if they all provide tough-minded execution when it matters most, the championship Woodson has sought since arriving in Bloomington four years ago might become reality.
"We need them to lead and make another jump," Woodson said from a Big Ten Media Days stage in Rosemont, Ill. "Malik made a hell of a jump from his freshman year. Mackenzie made a tremendous jump. Trey Galloway is who he is. He's been a leader since I've had him. He had knee surgery this past season and he's worked his butt off this summer to get back. He's not fully recovered, but he's getting there. I'm going to need all three of those guys.
"We have some seniors, but we have a bunch of young guys, as well, and they haven't experienced the Big Ten. We're going to need those veteran guys to step up and lead."
Reneau, a 6-9, 232-pound junior, averaged 15.4 points and 6.0 rebounds last season after averaging 6.1 and 3.7 as a freshman. He also had 88 assists (70 more than his first season) and 15 3-pointers (13 more).
Beyond that, IU basketball director of athletic performance Clif Marshall's social media post this week showed Reneau has lowered his percentage of body fat by 3.5%, improved his vertical jump by 4.5 inches, his pull-ups by 10 reps and his 185-pound bench press by 14 reps.
The 6-9 Mgbako was co-Big Ten freshman of the year last season after averaging 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. He was one of two freshmen nationally to score more than 400 points, make at least 50 3-pointers, make at least 90 free throws, and grab at least 125 rebounds.
Galloway set career highs in scoring (10.6 points), assists (4.6), and steals (1.2) last season.
As far as the newcomers, sixth-year senior center Oumar Ballo was the only Hoosier to make the preseason media All-Big Ten team. The 7-foot, 265-pound big, a transfer from Arizona, was twice named All-Pac-12 first team, and last season made the conference's all-defensive team. In three years with the Wildcats, Ballo averaged 11.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots. He shot 64.6% from the field and totaled 34 career double-doubles. He also brings a winning mindset as his teams won 112 of 132 games he has played.
He is one of five scholarship transfers on IU's rebuilt roster. The others are guards Myles Rice from Washington State, Kanaan Carlyle from Stanford, forward Luke Goode from Illinois (a former high school all-state player from Homestead near Fort Wayne), and center Langdon Hatton from Bellarmine.
247Sports ranks this transfer class as the nation's second best behind Arkansas.
"We had no choice," Woodson said about his transfer portal emphasis. "I lost three players to the portal, lost two seniors, and Kel'el Ware was drafted to the (NBA's Miami) Heat as the 15th pick.
"(We) had to go out, work and try to get our team back. We were able to come West and get Oumar Ballo, Myles Rice, and Kanaan Carlyle. Then we were fortunate enough to have Goode come back home. We were built basically through the portal. It's been a work in progress."
IU also signed five-star forward Bryson Tucker from Maryland. The 6-7 McDonald's All-American helped USA Basketball to a gold medal in the 2021 FIBA Americas Championship by averaging 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds.
"(Bryson) kind of fell in our laps late," Woodson said. "I looked at him a couple of years ago when he was at IMG, and we were able to get him."
The Hoosiers used the summer to build team chemistry and introduce Woodson's offensive and defensive systems.
"Our summer program went extremely well," he said. "We gave them a month off, and now were back at practice. It's been a good run so far. We've got to see where it leads us."
Failing to make the NCAA Tournament last season after making it in Woodson's first two years remains a big motivator.
"We took a step backwards last year by not making the tournament, and that was disappointing," Woodson said. "We've got to move forward. At the end of the day, it's about winning Big Ten titles and national titles. That's why I came back. I remember the good days back when I played and some of the great years (former coach) Bob Knight had at Indiana. We miss that.
"I'm happy to be back, but we've still got a long way to go."
Beyond basketball, IU's unbeaten football start under new head coach Curt Cignetti has impressed Woodson.
"I'm loving it. Coach Cignetti has done a hell of a job. He's put together a great group of guys. He's got running backs. He's got receivers. He's got a hell of a quarterback (Kurtis Rourke). I couldn't be happier for him. To see our program in the Top 20, I've got to give him a lot of credit."
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