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Difference Maker – Urgency, Passion Boost Ware’s Game
2/6/2024 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Kel'el Ware looms large and opponents often want no part of it. Attack the basket at your own risk has added meaning when a 7-foot, shot-blocking intimidator patrols the paint.
Ware gives Indiana a much-needed edge that could be crucial if the Hoosiers (13-9 overall, 5-6 in the Big Ten) are to regain their defensive form, win at Ohio State (13-9, 3-8) Tuesday night, jump start a strong finish, and blast away the disappointment from Saturday's home loss against Penn State.
The sophomore center's team-leading 31 blocks include a 1.6-per-game-average. That ranks seventh in the Big Ten. Rutgers' Clifford Omoruyi leads at 3.0. Ohio State's 6-11 Felix Okpara is second at 2.5.
Ware doesn't just block shots, he alters them, and often prevents them altogether. Players pass up inside attempts for safer options.
What goes into shot blocking beyond imposing height and long arms?
Observation.
"It's all about reading (opposing players)," Ware says. "If someone is taking his first step and he picks up the ball, you know he has no other choice but to go up for a layup or a shot.
"Then it's timing. Watching their feet and their hands when they get ready to pick up the ball."
As far as blocking shots through defensive backside help, Ware adds, "It's seeing if they're looking at the rim. If their arms start to go up, that's when I can anticipate it more and get ready to block it."
Ware has dominated the last two games since missing the previous two with an ankle injury. He had 23 points and 10 rebounds against Iowa and 25 and 11 against Penn State, shooting 72.7% from the field and 73.7% from the line. He blocked four total shots.
Credit a more passionate approach that has improved as the season has gone on. Missing games because of injury boosted his sense of urgency.
"When I missed a couple of games, I was not able to do anything basketball wise," he says. "Getting in a game and going from zero to 100 quick like that will take a toll on anybody, but I'm good now."
That's important as IU seeks to elevate its defensive play. It allows 74.3 points, which is more than it scores (73.5), and far more than the 65-point average coach Mike Woodson targets.
"When I was out," Ware says, "I knew my team needed me and I wasn't able to provide it. From now on, I'll give it everything I've got to help us keep going."
Overall, Ware averages 15.3 points and 9.5 rebounds (third in the Big Ten behind Purdue's Zach Edey's 11.7 and Maryland's Julian Reese's 9.7). He shoots 56.6 percent from the field, including an impressive 44.4 percent from three-point range.
In Big Ten play, he averages 15.8 points and 10.7 rebounds.
"He makes a big difference for us," Woodson says. "When we're getting beat off the bounce and trying to scramble, and he's there, it helps."
Ware has made a huge jump from last season, when he averaged 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in a reserve freshman role at Oregon. Woodson and his staff pushed to get Ware to player harder for longer (Woodson said the first couple of weeks with him were a "nightmare" as far as getting him to play with more energy).
Payoff has arrived.
"It's great playing for Coach Woodson," Ware says. "He has the trust in me to play the way I play basketball and to be able to help the team in whatever way I can."
Ware thrives amid Big Ten physicality. Bang him and he'll bang back harder.
"I've had to push back and get stronger in the paint," he says with a trace of a smile. "Being on the court more and being able to play through mistakes and get more comfortable on the court has helped."
Senior point guard Xavier Johnson is uncertain for Tuesday night after hurting his elbow late in last week's Iowa win. Trey Galloway and Gabe Cupps started at guard against Penn State, with Anthony Leal and CJ Gunn coming off the bench.
"It's next man up," Ware says. "Everybody has to be prepared, because your time could come at any moment."
With Johnson out, Galloway has taken on the biggest point-guard load. The senior co-captain averages a career-best 10.5 points and has had 55 assists in his last 11 games against just 21 turnovers.
Ohio State has lost four straight and seven of eight. It has lost 15-straight road games, including last month's 71-65 defeat to IU at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
The Buckeyes are led by guard Bruce Thornton (15.6 points, 97 assists), forward Jamison Battle (14.2, 5.3 rebounds), guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (14.0, 4.6) and Okpara (6.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 52 blocks).
As Galloway said after the Penn State loss, Hoosier prospects start with this:
"Play harder."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Kel'el Ware looms large and opponents often want no part of it. Attack the basket at your own risk has added meaning when a 7-foot, shot-blocking intimidator patrols the paint.
Ware gives Indiana a much-needed edge that could be crucial if the Hoosiers (13-9 overall, 5-6 in the Big Ten) are to regain their defensive form, win at Ohio State (13-9, 3-8) Tuesday night, jump start a strong finish, and blast away the disappointment from Saturday's home loss against Penn State.
The sophomore center's team-leading 31 blocks include a 1.6-per-game-average. That ranks seventh in the Big Ten. Rutgers' Clifford Omoruyi leads at 3.0. Ohio State's 6-11 Felix Okpara is second at 2.5.
Ware doesn't just block shots, he alters them, and often prevents them altogether. Players pass up inside attempts for safer options.
What goes into shot blocking beyond imposing height and long arms?
Observation.
"It's all about reading (opposing players)," Ware says. "If someone is taking his first step and he picks up the ball, you know he has no other choice but to go up for a layup or a shot.
"Then it's timing. Watching their feet and their hands when they get ready to pick up the ball."
As far as blocking shots through defensive backside help, Ware adds, "It's seeing if they're looking at the rim. If their arms start to go up, that's when I can anticipate it more and get ready to block it."
Ware has dominated the last two games since missing the previous two with an ankle injury. He had 23 points and 10 rebounds against Iowa and 25 and 11 against Penn State, shooting 72.7% from the field and 73.7% from the line. He blocked four total shots.
Credit a more passionate approach that has improved as the season has gone on. Missing games because of injury boosted his sense of urgency.
"When I missed a couple of games, I was not able to do anything basketball wise," he says. "Getting in a game and going from zero to 100 quick like that will take a toll on anybody, but I'm good now."
That's important as IU seeks to elevate its defensive play. It allows 74.3 points, which is more than it scores (73.5), and far more than the 65-point average coach Mike Woodson targets.
"When I was out," Ware says, "I knew my team needed me and I wasn't able to provide it. From now on, I'll give it everything I've got to help us keep going."
Overall, Ware averages 15.3 points and 9.5 rebounds (third in the Big Ten behind Purdue's Zach Edey's 11.7 and Maryland's Julian Reese's 9.7). He shoots 56.6 percent from the field, including an impressive 44.4 percent from three-point range.
In Big Ten play, he averages 15.8 points and 10.7 rebounds.
"He makes a big difference for us," Woodson says. "When we're getting beat off the bounce and trying to scramble, and he's there, it helps."
Ware has made a huge jump from last season, when he averaged 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in a reserve freshman role at Oregon. Woodson and his staff pushed to get Ware to player harder for longer (Woodson said the first couple of weeks with him were a "nightmare" as far as getting him to play with more energy).
Payoff has arrived.
"It's great playing for Coach Woodson," Ware says. "He has the trust in me to play the way I play basketball and to be able to help the team in whatever way I can."
Ware thrives amid Big Ten physicality. Bang him and he'll bang back harder.
"I've had to push back and get stronger in the paint," he says with a trace of a smile. "Being on the court more and being able to play through mistakes and get more comfortable on the court has helped."
Senior point guard Xavier Johnson is uncertain for Tuesday night after hurting his elbow late in last week's Iowa win. Trey Galloway and Gabe Cupps started at guard against Penn State, with Anthony Leal and CJ Gunn coming off the bench.
"It's next man up," Ware says. "Everybody has to be prepared, because your time could come at any moment."
With Johnson out, Galloway has taken on the biggest point-guard load. The senior co-captain averages a career-best 10.5 points and has had 55 assists in his last 11 games against just 21 turnovers.
Ohio State has lost four straight and seven of eight. It has lost 15-straight road games, including last month's 71-65 defeat to IU at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
The Buckeyes are led by guard Bruce Thornton (15.6 points, 97 assists), forward Jamison Battle (14.2, 5.3 rebounds), guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (14.0, 4.6) and Okpara (6.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 52 blocks).
As Galloway said after the Penn State loss, Hoosier prospects start with this:
"Play harder."
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