Galloway Drives IU Basketball Attack

Sunday, November 10

Bloomington, Ind.

Noon

Indiana University

Eastern Illinois

11/10/2024 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Trey Galloway drives into trouble, except he doesn't. The veteran guard attacks the paint, where defenders big and small collapse to stop him, and potential disaster looms. Then he breaks their hearts.

In Wednesday's season opener against SIU-Edwardsville, that meant passing to open 7-foot teammate Oumar Ballo for layups, dunks, and tip-ins.

Ballo finished with 15 points and Galloway delivered nine assists in an impressive display of efficiency certain to be repeated throughout the season, starting with Sunday's game against Eastern Illinois (1-1) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Galloway remains a difference maker, and if it comes in limited doses for now because of knee surgery recovery, don't underestimate his importance. Yes, transfer point guard Myles Rice brings elite speed and potential, refinement remains.

Galloway's five college seasons have fine-tuned his play. Against SIUE, he added six points (on 2-for-2 shooting), two rebounds, and one steal in 17 minutes. He's just the 10th college player in the last 25 years to have at least nine assists in 17 or fewer minutes. Last season, he had multiple 12-assist games. The last Hoosier to do that was Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas in the 1980-81 season.

Add Galloway's leadership and appreciation for his Hoosier opportunity, and he's crucial for this season's prospects (consider last year's career-high 10.6 scoring average with 143 assists) which is why coach Mike Woodson won't rush his playing time.

"We're gradually bringing him along, not burn him and get him hurt again," Woodson says.

IU's top 20 national ranking and Big Ten title aspirations have created a huge fan buzz. The Hoosiers welcome it, Galloway says.

"It's great because we have high expectations for ourselves. We've come together and shared our goals together. We all know what our goals are. Obviously, there are expectations. We're Indiana. The history of this place is phenomenal."

Woodson was a big part of that history as a player and wants to add to it as a coach.

"We can't hide from expectations," he says. "That's a good thing. We expect that. I expect our players to play at a high level. I thought in stretches (against SIUE) we did. I've got to get us where we're playing 40 minutes throughout the game no matter what, no matter who we play."

Galloway says it starts in practice.

"That's our main thing. Our focus is getting better in practice. It's taking it one game at a time, trusting our work and coming together. That's going to be huge for us."

Blending six key newcomers -- Ballo, Rice, Kanaan Carlyle, Luke Goode, Bryson Tucker, and Langdon Hatton -- with returning veterans Galloway, Mackenzie Mgbako, and Malik Reneau will take time to gel, Galloway says.

"It's getting comfortable with new rotations that we really haven't had yet. In practice, just getting those game-like reps and doing everything at game speed is going to be huge for us.

"We've only had three games together. This is my second. It's a different game when you're out on court. It's getting better in practice and building that trust within each guy is what's going to help us."

Once that trust and execution start clicking, the potential is obvious.

"It's all the weapons we have," Galloway says. "There are so many guys that can do so many things, create for themselves and for others. It's going to be a lot of guys' nights. We're going to have to sacrifice that all season. If one guy is really playing well, we've got to be unselfish and find them."

IU was far from peak form against SIUE but showed flashes of what that could be.

"We've got to find ways to come together quicker," Galloway says. "The season goes fast. Before we know it, we'll be in the Big Ten playing. We have to work out some kinks, keep coming together and figure everything out."

Adds Woodson: "With this team, there's enough talent to spread the wealth around if guys play the right way. I don't think in stretches we played the right way (against SIUE)."

IU's offensive efficiency elevated in the second half, highlighted by 6-for-16 3-point shooting. The Hoosiers ended shooting 52.6% overall with 18 assists. They also were 14-for-17 on free throws.

However, the number 16 stood out to Woodson. That was the number of SIUE offensive rebounds and the number of Hoosier turnovers. He wants both reduced moving forward.

Also, Mgbako was 4-for-5 on 3-pointers on his way to a career-high 31 points. Everyone else was 2-for-11.

"I know we can score," Woodson says. "Certain guys haven't made shots like I thought they would. Those will start falling eventually."

As far as Eastern Illinois, its four-guard attack results in five players averaging in double figures. Senior guard Nakyel Shelton leads with a 15.0 average. Fifth-year senior guard Artese Stapleton is right behind at 14.0.

"(SIUE) was able to hang around," Woodson says. "A lot of that was because we didn't execute. I've got to get us better in that."