Sunday, December 29
Bloomington, Ind.
4 p.m.
Indiana University
vs
Winthrop
IU Seeks ‘Smooth Sailing’ In Non-Conference Finale Against Winthrop
12/29/2024 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana's basketball potential remains high, forward Malik Reneau and swingman Mackenzie Mgbako say, and if it's only come in measures doses during the 9-3 start, just wait for what's next.
"I feel like we're in a good space," Reneau says. "We've definitely got to improve on a lot of things coming up, but this break gives us a chance to clear everybody's minds. It's all about coming back with a spark."
Last Saturday's 74-65 victory over Chattanooga, coming off a week break for finals, reflected season-long possibility and inconsistency. The Hoosiers shot 50 percent from the field while building a series of double-digit leads but couldn't close it out until the final minute because of scoring droughts and defensive breakdowns.
They seek a breakthrough Sunday against Winthrop (10-4) in the non-conference finale, mixing time off for Christmas with practices designed to steel them for Big Ten play with upcoming home games against Rutgers and USC and road games to Penn State and Iowa in the next two weeks.
Mgbako expects big things.
"If we continue to build on what we've already cemented, it's going to show in the end," he says. "Play defense, get into our offense and make stuff happen."
The Hoosiers seek strong full 40-minute efforts by bringing practice consistency into games, something that didn't happen against Chattanooga.
"We didn't show what we did (in) practice," Reneau says. "We had great practices. We still have to put the practices into the game and execute how we execute in practice. Once we do that, everything will be smooth sailing."
How smooth? Coach Mike Woodson points to the competitive intensity IU showed in an exhibition win at Tennessee.
"I'm trying to get us there on a 40-minute basis every night they step out on the floor," he says. "We're not there yet with. Nowhere near it. So, I got a lot of work still ahead."
Work starts with defense.
"The defensive side is where we need to focus on the most and keep working at that and getting better," Reneau says. "It's important coming into this Big Ten stretch we're about to have. If we're not scoring at a good rate, then we've got to stop people and get stops down the stretch.
"Big Ten games are usually down to the wire. It's not just a blowout. We're trying to execute down the stretch and really provide sparks throughout the game by constantly playing hard for 40 minutes."
Adds Woodson: "We've got to keep working at it, keep working through it and keep pushing guys and get them better. That's my job."
Scoring droughts remain a problem. It happened at the end of the Nebraska loss a couple of weeks ago and surfaced again against Chattanooga.
"I've got to get us over that hump, get them comfortable knowing you're going to be in close games, and you got make plays coming down the home stretch," Woodson says.
Fixing it, Reneau and Mgbako say, starts with patience.
"It's just slowing down," Reneau says. "I think we're trying to do a lot of things, but we're not executing or not doing it the way Coach wants. So, slowing down and trying to execute and just getting the shot every time. Not rush anything. Make sure we get a good shot every time we come down the court."
Adds Mgbako: "We have to slow the game down, get into our offense, work with what we got, look for the open player and run our offense the way Coach wants it to be run. If we slow down, we can make anything work for us in the half court."
The talent is there to make it work. IU has one of the Big Ten's best frontcourts with Reneau and Oumar Ballo. Against Chattanooga, Reneau finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Ballo had nine points and eight rebounds.
Reneau continues to work on avoiding fouls. He had four fouls against Chattanooga and has 33 for the season.
"I'm trying to play without fouling, move my feet, stuff like that," he says. "I sometimes get into some spots where it's hard to get out the way to avoid fouling. I'm trying to be a glue or a spark for our team to get them up and ready and energized."
Reneau and Ballo made a big impression on Chattanooga coach Dan Earl, whose team lacked the size and strength to handle them.
"Reneau is really good, a strong lefty," Earl said. "He's really good on the interior. He's a good passer as well as can score around the bucket. With him and Ballo playing together, it's hard because one will ball screen and the other will be ducking in hard. Indiana has very good players. They are a good team."
Winthrop has won six of its last seven games, its only loss in that stretch coming at Florida State, 82-63. It has a potent offense, scoring 96, 102, and 103 points in its last three victories, and 125 in a season-opening win against Piedmont. It has scored 90 or more points five times this season. It also lost to Louisville 76-61, Virginia Tech 58-52, and Georgia Southern 89-87.
Forward Kelton Talfort leads in scoring (14.8) and rebounding (8.0). Forward K.J. Doucet averages 14.0 and 5.7. Guard Kasen Harrison averages 13.6 points and 3.3 assists. Guard Nick Johnson averages 11.0 points.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana's basketball potential remains high, forward Malik Reneau and swingman Mackenzie Mgbako say, and if it's only come in measures doses during the 9-3 start, just wait for what's next.
"I feel like we're in a good space," Reneau says. "We've definitely got to improve on a lot of things coming up, but this break gives us a chance to clear everybody's minds. It's all about coming back with a spark."
Last Saturday's 74-65 victory over Chattanooga, coming off a week break for finals, reflected season-long possibility and inconsistency. The Hoosiers shot 50 percent from the field while building a series of double-digit leads but couldn't close it out until the final minute because of scoring droughts and defensive breakdowns.
They seek a breakthrough Sunday against Winthrop (10-4) in the non-conference finale, mixing time off for Christmas with practices designed to steel them for Big Ten play with upcoming home games against Rutgers and USC and road games to Penn State and Iowa in the next two weeks.
Mgbako expects big things.
"If we continue to build on what we've already cemented, it's going to show in the end," he says. "Play defense, get into our offense and make stuff happen."
The Hoosiers seek strong full 40-minute efforts by bringing practice consistency into games, something that didn't happen against Chattanooga.
"We didn't show what we did (in) practice," Reneau says. "We had great practices. We still have to put the practices into the game and execute how we execute in practice. Once we do that, everything will be smooth sailing."
How smooth? Coach Mike Woodson points to the competitive intensity IU showed in an exhibition win at Tennessee.
"I'm trying to get us there on a 40-minute basis every night they step out on the floor," he says. "We're not there yet with. Nowhere near it. So, I got a lot of work still ahead."
Work starts with defense.
"The defensive side is where we need to focus on the most and keep working at that and getting better," Reneau says. "It's important coming into this Big Ten stretch we're about to have. If we're not scoring at a good rate, then we've got to stop people and get stops down the stretch.
"Big Ten games are usually down to the wire. It's not just a blowout. We're trying to execute down the stretch and really provide sparks throughout the game by constantly playing hard for 40 minutes."
Adds Woodson: "We've got to keep working at it, keep working through it and keep pushing guys and get them better. That's my job."
Scoring droughts remain a problem. It happened at the end of the Nebraska loss a couple of weeks ago and surfaced again against Chattanooga.
"I've got to get us over that hump, get them comfortable knowing you're going to be in close games, and you got make plays coming down the home stretch," Woodson says.
Fixing it, Reneau and Mgbako say, starts with patience.
"It's just slowing down," Reneau says. "I think we're trying to do a lot of things, but we're not executing or not doing it the way Coach wants. So, slowing down and trying to execute and just getting the shot every time. Not rush anything. Make sure we get a good shot every time we come down the court."
Adds Mgbako: "We have to slow the game down, get into our offense, work with what we got, look for the open player and run our offense the way Coach wants it to be run. If we slow down, we can make anything work for us in the half court."
The talent is there to make it work. IU has one of the Big Ten's best frontcourts with Reneau and Oumar Ballo. Against Chattanooga, Reneau finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Ballo had nine points and eight rebounds.
Reneau continues to work on avoiding fouls. He had four fouls against Chattanooga and has 33 for the season.
"I'm trying to play without fouling, move my feet, stuff like that," he says. "I sometimes get into some spots where it's hard to get out the way to avoid fouling. I'm trying to be a glue or a spark for our team to get them up and ready and energized."
Reneau and Ballo made a big impression on Chattanooga coach Dan Earl, whose team lacked the size and strength to handle them.
"Reneau is really good, a strong lefty," Earl said. "He's really good on the interior. He's a good passer as well as can score around the bucket. With him and Ballo playing together, it's hard because one will ball screen and the other will be ducking in hard. Indiana has very good players. They are a good team."
Winthrop has won six of its last seven games, its only loss in that stretch coming at Florida State, 82-63. It has a potent offense, scoring 96, 102, and 103 points in its last three victories, and 125 in a season-opening win against Piedmont. It has scored 90 or more points five times this season. It also lost to Louisville 76-61, Virginia Tech 58-52, and Georgia Southern 89-87.
Forward Kelton Talfort leads in scoring (14.8) and rebounding (8.0). Forward K.J. Doucet averages 14.0 and 5.7. Guard Kasen Harrison averages 13.6 points and 3.3 assists. Guard Nick Johnson averages 11.0 points.
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