Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Basketball Game Notes – Game 33 vs. Nebraska
3/15/2024 10:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Opening Tip
• Indiana University will continue play in the 2024 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament on Friday, March 15, against the No. 3-seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers. Tip is tentatively set for 8 p.m. CT from the Target Center in Minneapolis. The game will carry a BTN broadcast.
• Indiana head coach Mike Woodson has led the Hoosiers to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament in each of his first two trips to the postseason event. Woodson holds a record of 4-2 in the Big Ten Tournament.
Game Information
Friday, March 15, 2024 • 8 p.m. CT
Target Center (20,000) • Minneapolis
TV: BTN (Brandon Gaudin, Robbie Hummel, Andy Katz)
Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)
Series History: Indiana leads, 19-9
Last Meeting: NEB 85, IU 70 on Feb. 21, 2024, in Bloomington
Series History
• Indiana holds a 19-9 series lead over Nebraska. The two sides have met once in the Big Ten Tournament. Indiana advanced with an 89-64 win in the opening round of the 2020 tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
• Nebraska, led by B1G Coach of the Year Fred Hoiberg, won both games against Indiana this season. The Huskers won 86-70 in Pinnacle Bank Arena on Jan. 3 before taking an 85-70 triumph in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Feb. 21.
• Nebraska guard Keisei Tominaga averaged 24.0 points on .567/.421/.857 shooting splits. Sophomore center Kel'el Ware averaged 18.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in the two matchups.
Last Time Out
• The Hoosier defense limited Penn State to 27.6% (16-of-58) shooting from the floor in a dramatic 61-59 victory in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament on March 14.
• Sophomore center Kel'el Ware continued his streak of dominant play with game highs in points (18), rebounds (14), and blocked shots (3).
• Senior guard Anthony Leal made his second game-winning basket of the season with a putback layup with 5.0 seconds to play. He finished the game with eight points and four rebounds.
Big Man Transformation
• Sophomore center Kel'el Ware, a transfer from Oregon, has upped his scoring (from 6.6 points to 16.2), rebounds (4.1 to 10.0), assists (0.5 to 1.5), and field goal percentage (45.7% to 59.5%) in his second season. He leads the Hoosiers in points, rebounds, and blocks in 32 minutes per game.
• The North Little Rock, Ark., native was voted All-Big Ten Second Team by the conference media, All-Big Ten Third Team by the coaches, and selected to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team.
• Ware has scored at least 10 points in 24 games this year after producing just eight such games as a rookie. The 7-footer has ripped down at least 10 boards 16 times this season, including four games over 15 boards.
• In 18 conference games, Ware averaged a team-best 16.9 points on 63.2% (127-of-201) shooting from the floor and 50.0% (12-of-24) from the 3-point line. He also averaged 10.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per night. He finished the season as one of two players (Zach Edey, Purdue) to average a double-double in B1G play.
• 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.
• Ware tallied 27 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high five blocked shots against Wisconsin on Feb. 27 to become just the second Division I player to post a 25-point, 10-rebound, 5-block game this season. He made 11-of-12 shots in the contest.
Mack Attack
• Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako, the Co-Freshman of the Year in the Big Ten, has made a team-high 49 3-pointers. Over the last seven games he is averaging 15.8 points on .430/.467/.710 shooting splits.
• The consensus top-10 recruit averaged 13.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in Big Ten play, both figures ranked third on the Hoosiers. He has reached double figures in the scoring column in 23 of the last 26 games and scored at least 20 points in three of his last eight starts.
• 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 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). Mgbako added a career-best 24 points at Maryland (March 3) on 4-of-8 shooting from the 3-point line.
• Among freshmen in the Big Ten, Mgbako closed the regular season first in total points (377), points per game (12.2), 20-point games (3), and free throws made (82), second in made 3-pointers (49), and third in total rebounds (123).
Sophomore Jump for Reneau
• Sophomore forward Malik Reneau has posted double digits in the scoring column in 26 games this season, including 17 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 15.6 points per game to go along with 6.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 29 minutes per game. He is shooting 56.2% (195-of-347) from the floor and 67.9% (95-of-140) from the free throw line.
• He was named to the All-Big Ten Honorable Mention Team by both the coaches and the voting media members of the conference.
• The Miami native has posted double figure scoring outputs in 13-of-15 games played away from Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall this season.
The Leal Deal
• Senior guard Anthony Leal provided his best game as a Hoosier in Indiana's 74-68 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Jan. 30 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. He set or matched career highs in points (13), rebounds (7), blocks (1), made field goals (4), made 3-pointers (3), and made free throws (2).
• Leal stole the spotlight at Ohio State on Feb. 6 when he scored the final five points of the game in IU's 76-73 victory. He drilled a baseline triple with 22 seconds left to give the Hoosiers a one-point lead before knocking down two game-sealing free throws with 2 seconds left.
• Like Galloway, Leal announced his intentions to utilize his COVID season and return to the Indiana basketball program during his Senior Night speech to Hoosier Nation.
Leal Calls Game Against Penn State
• Senior guard Anthony Leal tallied eight and four rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench in Indiana's 61-59 victory over Penn State in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. Leal's putback layup with five seconds left proved to be the winning bucket.
• Sophomore center Kel'el Ware tallied an 18-point, 14-rebound double-double to go along with three blocked shots. His rebounding total marked the second most by a Hoosier in a single game during the BTT. Trayce Jackson-Davis ripped down 17 boards on March 11, 2020.
@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 will continue play in the 2024 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament on Friday, March 15, against the No. 3-seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers. Tip is tentatively set for 8 p.m. CT from the Target Center in Minneapolis. The game will carry a BTN broadcast.
• Indiana head coach Mike Woodson has led the Hoosiers to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament in each of his first two trips to the postseason event. Woodson holds a record of 4-2 in the Big Ten Tournament.
Game Information
Friday, March 15, 2024 • 8 p.m. CT
Target Center (20,000) • Minneapolis
TV: BTN (Brandon Gaudin, Robbie Hummel, Andy Katz)
Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)
Series History: Indiana leads, 19-9
Last Meeting: NEB 85, IU 70 on Feb. 21, 2024, in Bloomington
Series History
• Indiana holds a 19-9 series lead over Nebraska. The two sides have met once in the Big Ten Tournament. Indiana advanced with an 89-64 win in the opening round of the 2020 tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
• Nebraska, led by B1G Coach of the Year Fred Hoiberg, won both games against Indiana this season. The Huskers won 86-70 in Pinnacle Bank Arena on Jan. 3 before taking an 85-70 triumph in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Feb. 21.
• Nebraska guard Keisei Tominaga averaged 24.0 points on .567/.421/.857 shooting splits. Sophomore center Kel'el Ware averaged 18.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in the two matchups.
Last Time Out
• The Hoosier defense limited Penn State to 27.6% (16-of-58) shooting from the floor in a dramatic 61-59 victory in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament on March 14.
• Sophomore center Kel'el Ware continued his streak of dominant play with game highs in points (18), rebounds (14), and blocked shots (3).
• Senior guard Anthony Leal made his second game-winning basket of the season with a putback layup with 5.0 seconds to play. He finished the game with eight points and four rebounds.
Big Man Transformation
• Sophomore center Kel'el Ware, a transfer from Oregon, has upped his scoring (from 6.6 points to 16.2), rebounds (4.1 to 10.0), assists (0.5 to 1.5), and field goal percentage (45.7% to 59.5%) in his second season. He leads the Hoosiers in points, rebounds, and blocks in 32 minutes per game.
• The North Little Rock, Ark., native was voted All-Big Ten Second Team by the conference media, All-Big Ten Third Team by the coaches, and selected to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team.
• Ware has scored at least 10 points in 24 games this year after producing just eight such games as a rookie. The 7-footer has ripped down at least 10 boards 16 times this season, including four games over 15 boards.
• In 18 conference games, Ware averaged a team-best 16.9 points on 63.2% (127-of-201) shooting from the floor and 50.0% (12-of-24) from the 3-point line. He also averaged 10.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per night. He finished the season as one of two players (Zach Edey, Purdue) to average a double-double in B1G play.
• 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.
• Ware tallied 27 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high five blocked shots against Wisconsin on Feb. 27 to become just the second Division I player to post a 25-point, 10-rebound, 5-block game this season. He made 11-of-12 shots in the contest.
Mack Attack
• Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako, the Co-Freshman of the Year in the Big Ten, has made a team-high 49 3-pointers. Over the last seven games he is averaging 15.8 points on .430/.467/.710 shooting splits.
• The consensus top-10 recruit averaged 13.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in Big Ten play, both figures ranked third on the Hoosiers. He has reached double figures in the scoring column in 23 of the last 26 games and scored at least 20 points in three of his last eight starts.
• 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 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). Mgbako added a career-best 24 points at Maryland (March 3) on 4-of-8 shooting from the 3-point line.
• Among freshmen in the Big Ten, Mgbako closed the regular season first in total points (377), points per game (12.2), 20-point games (3), and free throws made (82), second in made 3-pointers (49), and third in total rebounds (123).
Sophomore Jump for Reneau
• Sophomore forward Malik Reneau has posted double digits in the scoring column in 26 games this season, including 17 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 15.6 points per game to go along with 6.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 29 minutes per game. He is shooting 56.2% (195-of-347) from the floor and 67.9% (95-of-140) from the free throw line.
• He was named to the All-Big Ten Honorable Mention Team by both the coaches and the voting media members of the conference.
• The Miami native has posted double figure scoring outputs in 13-of-15 games played away from Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall this season.
The Leal Deal
• Senior guard Anthony Leal provided his best game as a Hoosier in Indiana's 74-68 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Jan. 30 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. He set or matched career highs in points (13), rebounds (7), blocks (1), made field goals (4), made 3-pointers (3), and made free throws (2).
• Leal stole the spotlight at Ohio State on Feb. 6 when he scored the final five points of the game in IU's 76-73 victory. He drilled a baseline triple with 22 seconds left to give the Hoosiers a one-point lead before knocking down two game-sealing free throws with 2 seconds left.
• Like Galloway, Leal announced his intentions to utilize his COVID season and return to the Indiana basketball program during his Senior Night speech to Hoosier Nation.
Leal Calls Game Against Penn State
• Senior guard Anthony Leal tallied eight and four rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench in Indiana's 61-59 victory over Penn State in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. Leal's putback layup with five seconds left proved to be the winning bucket.
• Sophomore center Kel'el Ware tallied an 18-point, 14-rebound double-double to go along with three blocked shots. His rebounding total marked the second most by a Hoosier in a single game during the BTT. Trayce Jackson-Davis ripped down 17 boards on March 11, 2020.
@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
Players Mentioned
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Center
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