Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Basketball Game Notes – Game 28 vs. Wisconsin
2/26/2024 4:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Opening Tip
• Indiana University returns to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for the penultimate home game in its 124th season of competition in men's basketball against the Wisconsin Badgers. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Feb. 27, with a live stream available on Peacock.
•The Badgers are led by sophomore guard AJ Storr. The St. John's transfer is averaging a team-best 16.3 points per game to go along with 3.9 rebounds and 32 made 3-pointers.
• Fifth-year senior forward Tyler Wahl provides 11.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while junior forward Steven Crowl adds 11.2 points and a team-best 7.7 rebounds per game.
• Junior guard Chucky Hepburn is second in the Big Ten at 2.1 steals per game. He also leads the Badgers with 100 assists.
Game Information
Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 • 7 p.m. ET
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222) • Bloomington, Ind.
TV: Peacock (Noah Eagle, Robbie Hummel)
Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)
Series History: Indiana leads, 97-81
Last Meeting: WIS 91, IU 79 on Jan. 19, 2024, in Madison
Series History
• Indiana holds an advantage of 97-81 in the series with Wisconsin that spans over 110 years of competition. The Hoosier defeated the Badgers by a score of 63-45 on Jan. 14, 2023, when UW last visited Bloomington. Trayce Jackson-Davis totaled 18 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and five blocks.
• Wisconsin won a 91-79 tilt when the two sides met in Madison on Jan. 19, 2024. Sophomore forward Malik Reneau scored 28 points to go along with eight rebounds, while freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako registered 17 points. The Badgers had four post double figures in the scoring column, including 26 from junior guard Max Klesmit.
Last Time Out
• Indiana dropped an 83-74 game at Penn State on Feb. 24. The Hoosiers finished the game 2-of-15 (13.3%) from the 3-point line and 14-of-25 (56.0%) from the free throw line.
• Sophomore forward Malik Reneau and sophomore center Kel'el Ware combined to score 43 points on 16-of-25 (64.0%) from the floor and 11-of-14 (78.6%) from the line.
• Reneau totaled a game-best 27 points, his seventh 20-point game of the season.
Sophomore Jump for Reneau
• Sophomore forward Malik Reneau has posted double digits in the scoring column in 22 games this season, including 16 efforts of at least 15 points and seven 20-point nights. He notched a career-high 34 points against Kennesaw State (Dec. 29) and a Big Ten career-high of 28 points at No. 11/8 Wisconsin (Jan. 19).
• Reneau is averaging a team-best 16.1 points per game to go along with 6.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 29 minutes per game. He is shooting 57.2% (171-of-299) from the floor, 32.5% (13-of-40) from the 3-point line, and 65.6% (80-of-122) from the free throw line.
• The Miami native has posted double figure scoring outputs in 11-of-12 games played away from Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall this season.
Mack Attack
• Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako has made a team-high 37 3-pointers this season. Over the last 11 games he is averaging 14.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
• The consensus top-10 recruit is averaging 12.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in Big Ten play. He has reached double figures in the scoring column in 18 of the last 22 games.
• The Roselle Catholic graduate scored 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor against Northwestern (Feb. 18). Three days later against Nebraska (Feb. 21), Mgbako posted a career-high 22 points to go along with seven rebounds. He posted his first career double-double with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds at No. 10/11 Illinois (Jan. 27).
• Among freshmen in the Big Ten, Mgbako is first in total points (311), points per game (11.5), and free throws made (74), second in made 3-pointers (37), and third in total rebounds (111).
Big Man Transformation
• Sophomore center Kel'el Ware, a transfer from Oregon, has upped his scoring (from 6.6 points to 15.1), rebounds (4.1 to 9.4), assists (0.5 to 1.5), and field goal percentage (45.7% to 57.0%) in his second season. He leads the Hoosiers in rebounds and blocks in 31 minutes per game.
• Ware has scored at least 10 points in 20 games this year after producing just eight such games as a rookie. The 7-footer has ripped down at least 10 boards 11 times this season, including three games over 15 boards.
• In 14 conference games, Ware is averaging 15.3 points on 59.6% (87-of-146) shooting from the floor and 47.1% (8-of-17) from the 3-point line. He is also averaging 10.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per night. He is one of three players (Zach Edey, Purdue; Julian Reese, Maryland) to average a double-double in B1G play.
• Ware tallied a career-high 28 points on 12-of-13 shooting from the floor in an 89-76 win over Harvard (Nov. 26) in Indianapolis. The 92.3% shooting split marked the highest by a Hoosier with at least 10 made field goals this century.
• Against Northwestern, Ware posted 22 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocked shots. He is one of seven players across Division I hoops this season to produce a line with at least 20 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks.
Frontcourt Shows Out in Road Loss at PSU
• The frontline of sophomore forward Malik Reneau and sophomore center Kel'el Ware combined for 43 points and 14 rebounds in an 83-74 setback at Penn State on Feb. 24. IU outscored the Nittany Lions 50-28 in paint points.
• Reneau charted a game-high 27 points and six rebounds, while Ware compiled 16 points, eight rebounds, and two blocked shots.
Mgbako's Career Night Not Enough vs. NEB
• Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako produced a career high for the second-straight game with 22 points in an 85-70 loss against Nebraska on Feb. 21. He also added seven boards.
• Sophomore center Kel'el Ware posted a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double to go along with three blocks. Sophomore forward Malik Reneau added 15 points.
Twenty Piece (CAREER)
Xavier Johnson: 21; last vs. North Carolina, 11/30/22
Payton Sparks: 9; last vs. Ohio, 3/9/23
Kel'el Ware: 7; last vs. Northwestern, 2/18/24
Malik Reneau: 7; last at Penn State, 2/24/24
Trey Galloway: 3; last at Ohio State, 2/7/24
Mackenzie Mgbako: 2; last vs. Nebraska, 2/21/24
@IndianaMBB
For all the latest on Indiana University men's basketball, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMBB on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
• Indiana University returns to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for the penultimate home game in its 124th season of competition in men's basketball against the Wisconsin Badgers. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Feb. 27, with a live stream available on Peacock.
•The Badgers are led by sophomore guard AJ Storr. The St. John's transfer is averaging a team-best 16.3 points per game to go along with 3.9 rebounds and 32 made 3-pointers.
• Fifth-year senior forward Tyler Wahl provides 11.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while junior forward Steven Crowl adds 11.2 points and a team-best 7.7 rebounds per game.
• Junior guard Chucky Hepburn is second in the Big Ten at 2.1 steals per game. He also leads the Badgers with 100 assists.
Game Information
Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 • 7 p.m. ET
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222) • Bloomington, Ind.
TV: Peacock (Noah Eagle, Robbie Hummel)
Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)
Series History: Indiana leads, 97-81
Last Meeting: WIS 91, IU 79 on Jan. 19, 2024, in Madison
Series History
• Indiana holds an advantage of 97-81 in the series with Wisconsin that spans over 110 years of competition. The Hoosier defeated the Badgers by a score of 63-45 on Jan. 14, 2023, when UW last visited Bloomington. Trayce Jackson-Davis totaled 18 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and five blocks.
• Wisconsin won a 91-79 tilt when the two sides met in Madison on Jan. 19, 2024. Sophomore forward Malik Reneau scored 28 points to go along with eight rebounds, while freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako registered 17 points. The Badgers had four post double figures in the scoring column, including 26 from junior guard Max Klesmit.
Last Time Out
• Indiana dropped an 83-74 game at Penn State on Feb. 24. The Hoosiers finished the game 2-of-15 (13.3%) from the 3-point line and 14-of-25 (56.0%) from the free throw line.
• Sophomore forward Malik Reneau and sophomore center Kel'el Ware combined to score 43 points on 16-of-25 (64.0%) from the floor and 11-of-14 (78.6%) from the line.
• Reneau totaled a game-best 27 points, his seventh 20-point game of the season.
Sophomore Jump for Reneau
• Sophomore forward Malik Reneau has posted double digits in the scoring column in 22 games this season, including 16 efforts of at least 15 points and seven 20-point nights. He notched a career-high 34 points against Kennesaw State (Dec. 29) and a Big Ten career-high of 28 points at No. 11/8 Wisconsin (Jan. 19).
• Reneau is averaging a team-best 16.1 points per game to go along with 6.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 29 minutes per game. He is shooting 57.2% (171-of-299) from the floor, 32.5% (13-of-40) from the 3-point line, and 65.6% (80-of-122) from the free throw line.
• The Miami native has posted double figure scoring outputs in 11-of-12 games played away from Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall this season.
Mack Attack
• Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako has made a team-high 37 3-pointers this season. Over the last 11 games he is averaging 14.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
• The consensus top-10 recruit is averaging 12.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in Big Ten play. He has reached double figures in the scoring column in 18 of the last 22 games.
• The Roselle Catholic graduate scored 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor against Northwestern (Feb. 18). Three days later against Nebraska (Feb. 21), Mgbako posted a career-high 22 points to go along with seven rebounds. He posted his first career double-double with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds at No. 10/11 Illinois (Jan. 27).
• Among freshmen in the Big Ten, Mgbako is first in total points (311), points per game (11.5), and free throws made (74), second in made 3-pointers (37), and third in total rebounds (111).
Big Man Transformation
• Sophomore center Kel'el Ware, a transfer from Oregon, has upped his scoring (from 6.6 points to 15.1), rebounds (4.1 to 9.4), assists (0.5 to 1.5), and field goal percentage (45.7% to 57.0%) in his second season. He leads the Hoosiers in rebounds and blocks in 31 minutes per game.
• Ware has scored at least 10 points in 20 games this year after producing just eight such games as a rookie. The 7-footer has ripped down at least 10 boards 11 times this season, including three games over 15 boards.
• In 14 conference games, Ware is averaging 15.3 points on 59.6% (87-of-146) shooting from the floor and 47.1% (8-of-17) from the 3-point line. He is also averaging 10.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per night. He is one of three players (Zach Edey, Purdue; Julian Reese, Maryland) to average a double-double in B1G play.
• Ware tallied a career-high 28 points on 12-of-13 shooting from the floor in an 89-76 win over Harvard (Nov. 26) in Indianapolis. The 92.3% shooting split marked the highest by a Hoosier with at least 10 made field goals this century.
• Against Northwestern, Ware posted 22 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocked shots. He is one of seven players across Division I hoops this season to produce a line with at least 20 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks.
Frontcourt Shows Out in Road Loss at PSU
• The frontline of sophomore forward Malik Reneau and sophomore center Kel'el Ware combined for 43 points and 14 rebounds in an 83-74 setback at Penn State on Feb. 24. IU outscored the Nittany Lions 50-28 in paint points.
• Reneau charted a game-high 27 points and six rebounds, while Ware compiled 16 points, eight rebounds, and two blocked shots.
Mgbako's Career Night Not Enough vs. NEB
• Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako produced a career high for the second-straight game with 22 points in an 85-70 loss against Nebraska on Feb. 21. He also added seven boards.
• Sophomore center Kel'el Ware posted a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double to go along with three blocks. Sophomore forward Malik Reneau added 15 points.
Twenty Piece (CAREER)
Xavier Johnson: 21; last vs. North Carolina, 11/30/22
Payton Sparks: 9; last vs. Ohio, 3/9/23
Kel'el Ware: 7; last vs. Northwestern, 2/18/24
Malik Reneau: 7; last at Penn State, 2/24/24
Trey Galloway: 3; last at Ohio State, 2/7/24
Mackenzie Mgbako: 2; last vs. Nebraska, 2/21/24
@IndianaMBB
For all the latest on Indiana University men's basketball, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMBB on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
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