One notable number for each IU rotation player through three games

  • Nov 19, 2024 8:16 am
 

Indiana is 3-0, No. 16 in the latest Associated Press top 25 poll and No. 31 in KenPom.

The Hoosiers have won each of their first three games by at least 16 points. They will host UNC Greensboro on Thursday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Here’s one notable number for each IU rotation player through three games:

19 assists

That’s the number of assists for fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway in just 57 minutes. Galloway’s assist rate of 49.2 percent currently ranks fourth in the country, per KenPom.

Currently on a minutes restriction as he works his way back from offseason knee surgery, Galloway is off to a tremendous start in his final season as a Hoosier.

63.6 percent

Indiana sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako is connecting at a 63.6 percent clip on 3s. Last season, Mgbako shot just 32.7 percent on 3s, but he was much better in Big Ten play. The Gladstone, New Jersey native shot 37.8 percent on triples in conference games.

This season, the hope was that Mgbako could be close to a 40 percent shooter from the perimeter. Thus far, he’s well beyond that number. Is there an argument that Mgbako should take more than 3.6 3-point attempts per game? Yes. As the season moves along, Indiana should make it a priority to free him for more regular looks.

9-for-15 from the line

Graduate senior Oumar Ballo shot a dismal 49.5 percent last season at Arizona. Ballo is shooting left-handed free throws this season and making 60 percent (9-for-15) through three games.

Ballo’s free-throw shooting won’t be his strength, but if he can at least be serviceable, it will prevent Indiana from benching him late in a close game.

Seven offensive rebounds

Junior Malik Reneau, who admitted at media day in September that he needed to be better on the glass, has seven offensive rebounds in three games.

As the competition improves and the Hoosiers aren’t able to score as easily, manufacturing second-chance opportunities on the offensive glass will be key. Indiana needs Reneau to continue to be a factor on the offensive glass.

10 turnovers

The point guard position is the most scrutinized on the floor. Myles Rice was terrific in Indiana’s 87-71 win against South Carolina on Saturday, finishing with a game-high 23 points.

Cutting down on turnovers will be a key for Rice moving forward. He has 10 through IU’s first three games, including five in the season-opener.

35 percent shooting

It’s been a slow start offensively for sophomore guard Kanaan Carlyle. The Stanford transfer is shooting 7-for-20 (35 percent) from the floor through his first 72 minutes on the floor as a Hoosier.

But Carlyle appears to be getting comfortable. In Saturday’s win against South Carolina, he was an efficient 5-for-9 from the field. Continuing to build Carlyle’s confidence is a key ahead of next week’s trip to the Bahamas.

2-for-10 on 3s

Luke Goode is getting plenty of open looks on the perimeter. So far, he has been unable to knock them down consistently. Goode is currently 2-for-10 from the perimeter.

After shooting 38.9 percent on 3s last season (157 attempts), it’s only a matter of time before Goode’s perimeter looks begin to fall. And when they do, it’ll provide another boost to an IU offense that has been strong early in the season.

52 minutes

Freshman Bryson Tucker has logged 52 minutes in the team’s first three games. That’s seventh-highest on the roster and just slightly behind Galloway, who has played 57.

The time Tucker has earned will be valuable in his development. Mike Woodson hasn’t hesitated to play him and has given him the green light to look for his offense. There’s no denying Tucker’s talent and having a McDonald’s All-American who can score in double figures coming off the bench is a luxury most teams don’t have.

Category: Commentary

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