Indiana University Athletics
Wednesday, January 8
Bloomington, Ind.
7 p.m.
Indiana University
vs
USC
IU Taking Offensive Rebounding to New Level
1/8/2025 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Oumar Ballo paused amid history, basketball history, and considered what he and his Indiana Hoosier teammates have demonstrated since 2025 began -- hard play, relentless play, fierce play, the kind of play can win you games, and perhaps more.
The Hoosiers (12-3 overall, 3-1 in the Big Ten) are winning, four straight overall, two straight in conference action, and offensive rebounding is a big reason.
"We're working on it in practice," Ballo said from a The Palestra hallway. "A lot of that is effort."
Effort fueled IU's 77-71 victory over Penn State on Sunday at one of the nation's most historic basketball venues, and it could fuel another victory Wednesday night when IU hosts USC (9-5, 1-2) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
The Hoosiers had 13 offensive rebounds against Penn State, and it led to 17 second-chance points. They had 18 offensive rebounds in their previous game against Rutgers and it produced 34 second-chance points.
Swingman Mackenzie Mgbako credited IU's improvement to "grit" and "toughness." He talked about "taking care of business" and "sticking with what we're doing and following the game plan."
It sounds simple, but it often isn't when opposing teams try to take away what you do best.
One of the best things IU does lately is get the ball to the 7-foot Ballo. Mgbako called that a major point of emphasis, and for good reason. Ballo has especially thrived in his last two games, averaging 21.0 points and 12.5 rebounds. For the season, he averages 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.9 blocks. He also shoots 66.7% from the field.
During Monday night's Mike Woodson radio show, assistant coach Brian Walsh told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer that the absence of forward Malik Reneau, who is out indefinitely with an injury, has created more space on the floor for Ballo to operate.
"It's harder to double when there are shooters all around him, rather than when there's a partner in the post," Walsh told Fischer. "All credit to Coach Woodson and the staff.
"From a rebounding standpoint, a production standpoint, Ballo has been terrific. He's a very tough cover. He's an experienced guy who has been in a lot of big games."
Playing through four fouls, especially with the absence of Reneau, as he did against Penn State, Ballo said, was important.
"The whole team had to cover for him, and we did it. Winning on the road in the Big Ten is hard. We aren't taking it for granted. We were really focused on it."
Focus includes better 3-point shooting. IU is 21-for-50 from beyond the arc in the last two games, huge for a team that was at 30.6% before that. Woodson credited taking -- and now making -- good shots.
IU and USC haven't played since 1974, when Steve Green (24 points), Kent Benson (17 points), and John Laskowski (15 points) paced the Bob Knight-coached Hoosiers to an 85-60 victory in St. Louis in the title game of the Collegiate Commissioners Association Tournament.
The series is tied at 2-2. The Trojans have never played in Bloomington.
USC is led by guards Desmond Claude (14.9 points per game) and Chibuzo Agbo (12.8 points). Agbo has a team-leading 34 3-pointers. In the last five games since become a starter, Wesley Yates III has averaged 12.6 points and 3.4 rebounds.
The Trojans are coming off an 85-74 home loss to Michigan. Also in Big Ten play, they lost to No. 12 Oregon and beat Washington.
Eric Musselman coaches USC. He previously was the head coach at Arkansas and Nevada, as well as the NBA's Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Oumar Ballo paused amid history, basketball history, and considered what he and his Indiana Hoosier teammates have demonstrated since 2025 began -- hard play, relentless play, fierce play, the kind of play can win you games, and perhaps more.
The Hoosiers (12-3 overall, 3-1 in the Big Ten) are winning, four straight overall, two straight in conference action, and offensive rebounding is a big reason.
"We're working on it in practice," Ballo said from a The Palestra hallway. "A lot of that is effort."
Effort fueled IU's 77-71 victory over Penn State on Sunday at one of the nation's most historic basketball venues, and it could fuel another victory Wednesday night when IU hosts USC (9-5, 1-2) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
The Hoosiers had 13 offensive rebounds against Penn State, and it led to 17 second-chance points. They had 18 offensive rebounds in their previous game against Rutgers and it produced 34 second-chance points.
Swingman Mackenzie Mgbako credited IU's improvement to "grit" and "toughness." He talked about "taking care of business" and "sticking with what we're doing and following the game plan."
It sounds simple, but it often isn't when opposing teams try to take away what you do best.
One of the best things IU does lately is get the ball to the 7-foot Ballo. Mgbako called that a major point of emphasis, and for good reason. Ballo has especially thrived in his last two games, averaging 21.0 points and 12.5 rebounds. For the season, he averages 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.9 blocks. He also shoots 66.7% from the field.
During Monday night's Mike Woodson radio show, assistant coach Brian Walsh told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer that the absence of forward Malik Reneau, who is out indefinitely with an injury, has created more space on the floor for Ballo to operate.
"It's harder to double when there are shooters all around him, rather than when there's a partner in the post," Walsh told Fischer. "All credit to Coach Woodson and the staff.
"From a rebounding standpoint, a production standpoint, Ballo has been terrific. He's a very tough cover. He's an experienced guy who has been in a lot of big games."
Playing through four fouls, especially with the absence of Reneau, as he did against Penn State, Ballo said, was important.
"The whole team had to cover for him, and we did it. Winning on the road in the Big Ten is hard. We aren't taking it for granted. We were really focused on it."
Focus includes better 3-point shooting. IU is 21-for-50 from beyond the arc in the last two games, huge for a team that was at 30.6% before that. Woodson credited taking -- and now making -- good shots.
IU and USC haven't played since 1974, when Steve Green (24 points), Kent Benson (17 points), and John Laskowski (15 points) paced the Bob Knight-coached Hoosiers to an 85-60 victory in St. Louis in the title game of the Collegiate Commissioners Association Tournament.
The series is tied at 2-2. The Trojans have never played in Bloomington.
USC is led by guards Desmond Claude (14.9 points per game) and Chibuzo Agbo (12.8 points). Agbo has a team-leading 34 3-pointers. In the last five games since become a starter, Wesley Yates III has averaged 12.6 points and 3.4 rebounds.
The Trojans are coming off an 85-74 home loss to Michigan. Also in Big Ten play, they lost to No. 12 Oregon and beat Washington.
Eric Musselman coaches USC. He previously was the head coach at Arkansas and Nevada, as well as the NBA's Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors.
Players Mentioned
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballIUBB Postgame Press Conference
Friday, October 17
Darian DeVries Postgame Press Conference
Friday, October 17
MBB: Marian (Exhib.) - Postgame Press Conference
Friday, October 17
Darian DeVries Pregame Press Conference
Thursday, October 16