Oumar Ballo 'Growing' Into Indiana Role

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Oumar Ballo's Hoosier learning continues, and this much we know -- imagine what the 7-foot, 265-pounder will do once he's fully acclimated to coach Mike Woodson's system.

The next step comes Tuesday night when Indiana (5-2) hosts Sam Houston (4-4) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Ballo has made a big early impact. He averages 13.1 points and a team-high 8.4 rebounds. He has a team-leading 16 blocks, 11 more than any other Hoosier. He shoots 67.9% from the field.

Ballo was an offensive force against No. 3/4 Gonzaga in last week's Battle 4 Atlantis with a season-high 25 points on 11-for-13 shooting.

Before that, he blocked six shots against South Carolina and totaled 17 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks against Eastern Illinois.

Ballo said the adjustment to IU has been "good so far," and the numbers show it. He's been the best of the Hoosiers' four major transfer portal additions with guards Myles Rice (10.0 points) and Kanaan Carlyle (4.5 points) and forward Luke Goode (4.3 points).

"He's been everything I thought he would be when we recruited him," Woodson said. "He's a well-mannered young man. He works. He's very coachable."

Ballo arrived in Bloomington after previous stops at Gonzaga and Arizona. In four college seasons and 132 games, he averaged 9.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks while shooting 64.6% from the field. Last season at Arizona, he averaged 12.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks while earning All-Pac 12 honors.

Ballo had interest from multiple major programs after entering the transfer portal. He said he chose IU because the program and Woodson were the best fits for him to develop his game into NBA readiness. Ballo saw what Woodson did for ex-Hoosiers Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kel'el Ware (both are in the NBA) and believed the coach could do the same for him.

"It was a process in getting him," Woodson said, "but once we got him in uniform, he's been everything I could ask for in a big man. He's still trying to learn who I am as a coach. I'm trying to learn his game and what he likes to do on both ends.

"We have to keep pushing each other, helping one another. That's what it's all about when go in the portal and bring in players not used to being around you. It's been a good process. I can't help but think we won't grow well together."

Growth will include more familiarity with Woodson's defensive approach. Ballo has seven steals in addition to his blocked shots and overall rim protection that has caused opponents to limit their attack-the-basket approach.

Woodson compared Ballo to the defensive success he had with Ware and Jackson-Davis.

"His inside presence is huge," Woodson said. "When you think over the last three years we've had it with Ware, and had it with Trace. Now we have it with big Ballo.

"It cleans up a lot of defensive mistakes that we might have around him. We don't like putting all the pressure on him to get all the rebounds and block shots and plug the hole, but that's what I expect big guys to do. That was the reason for bringing him over. He's responded well."

In an effort to improve his free throw shooting (it's at 53.3%), Ballo took director of player development Calbert Cheaney's advice and switched to shooting them left-handed. Cheaney is a former Hoosier All-American and the Big Ten's career scoring leader. He also shot left handed.

IU seeks to build momentum from its Battle 4 Atlantis win over Providence after earlier tournament losses to Louisville and Gonzaga.

Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during his weekly radio show on Monday night that while IU struggled in its first two tournament games, he doesn't sense team frustration.

"We're 5-2," he told Fischer, "and have a lot of basketball left."

Sam Houston has three double-figure scorers in guards Chris Mudge (19.4 points) and Dorian Finister (11.4 points and 7.0 rebounds), and forward Cameron Huefner (10.4).

The Hoosiers also host Miami (Ohio) on Friday night before opening Big Ten play next Monday against Minnesota.

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Players Mentioned

Oumar Ballo

Kanaan Carlyle

Luke Goode

Myles Rice

Kel'el Ware