Indiana basketball went 19-14 and ended the 2023-24 season ranked No. 91 on KenPom, its worst end since 2010 when this system was nonetheless recovering from NCAA sanctions.
The consternation after a misplaced season blended with an inflow of green-laced assets has crescendoed nearly flawlessly within the switch portal.
Coach Mike Woodson, armed with a struggle chest, hit the portal with a fury seeking to throw his weight round and land the highest gamers at IU’s greatest positions of want.
Take into account the job effectively carried out.
Indiana reeled within the No. 1 switch class within the Huge Ten, and the Hoosiers have the second-best switch haul within the nation, per 247Sports. Profitable within the switch portal does not at all times equate to success on the hardwood (see: Villanova or Arkansas final 12 months), nevertheless it positive does not damage.
Let’s dive into the scouting studies and lifelike expectations for every of Indiana’s switch additions.
Luke Goode, from Illinois
Anticipated function: Wing rotation
Goode is aware of the place his bread is buttered. The 6-foot-7 wing is a pure off-ball, sniper. Goode shot over 38% on 132 catch-and-shoot 3-pointers final season. If he can get his ft set, it is over. Goode is a bullseye machine in transition, and he can learn a defender and get to his sidestep trey with ease. Goode’s gravity is his greatest approach onto the ground, particularly with the double-teams that Oumar Ballo will demand.
Goode will willingly hit the glass, and also you higher field him out or he’ll rack up offensive boards galore. He’ll be in the correct spots on the proper time defensively, however he is a bit matchup-dependent on that finish. Opposing defenses began looking him routinely final season with huge wings or speedy guards. There are some limitations athletically, and he hasn’t showcased a lot of a knack for shot creation. That is not his job and should not be his gig at IU.
Myles Rice, from Washington State
Anticipated function: Start line guard
Indiana’s pitiful pick-and-roll offense wanted a life raft, and Rice is half of the answer. The colourful level guard waltzes right into a new-look backcourt with an actual probability to be “the person.” Rice is a jitterbug with the ball in his fingers. An explosive first step helps Rice navigate into the paint left and proper. Washington State performed two non-shooting bigs so usually final 12 months, so IU’s crowded paint will not be something new to Rice. He is a succesful shooter however he wasn’t environment friendly final 12 months as a result of he was usually Washington State’s late-clock, bail-out man. He makes up for it with a barrage of finishes and proficient reads within the ball-screen sport.
Rice can also be an superior point-of-attack defender who greater than held his personal for a Washington State protection that completed second within the Pac-12 in league play. Rice, merely, refuses to get screened. That is a ability. Rice generally is a first-team, All-Huge Ten participant subsequent season. He is that good. Oh, and he beat most cancers and final 12 months was his first season hooping in a sizzling minute. He’ll get higher. That is the enjoyable half.
Oumar Ballo, from Arizona
Anticipated function: Beginning middle
Indiana’s rebounding was not a energy final 12 months, however Ballo can single-handedly increase that ground considerably. The 7-foot, 260-pound middle is unimaginable to maneuver, and he is develop into the most effective rebounders within the sport, interval. Ballo is an excellent play-finisher in pick-and-rolls and may set bone-crushing screens for Rice. That pick-and-roll duo needs to be actually profitable.
Ballo will seal his man and end within the paint effectively with post-ups. He additionally gives a powerful rim presence on protection. Arizona’s top-10 protection was incredible with Ballo on the ground, however he is just about restricted to only drop protection and groups will attempt to exploit that. Ballo is much from good. He is not a very good free throw shooter, and he gives little-to-no floor-stretching skills or playmaking skills. However he is glorious at what he does. Huge males like Ballo are a cheat code for regular-season success, at minimal.Â
Kanaan Carlyle, from Stanford
Anticipated function: Guard rotation, potential starter
Woodson will play his bench. That is fairly clear. With Indiana’s present roster building, Carlyle could also be a very good guess to be that second-unit lead guard who’s wired to get buckets. Carlyle was a former prized prospect however his freshman 12 months at Stanford was stuffed with excessive highs (31 factors towards Washington State) and gut-wrenching lows (4-for-17 capturing towards Colorado). He provides IU a second dynamic lead guard who can go get buckets in pick-and-rolls. He took extra off-the-dribble two-point jumpers (55) than catch-and-shoot three-pointers (53). Get to the center of the ground, and make one thing occur. That is his sport. Refining his decision-making is paramount as a result of the turnovers and shot choice have been tough final 12 months.
Carlyle has an opportunity to be a wonderful participant down the street if the jumper sticks and he improves his meager 19% rim price. He is too quick to let defenses off the hook by settling for pull-ups that usually. A sixth-man function is sensible subsequent winter, however Carlyle can earn a spot within the closing lineup if he guards his tail off.
Langdon Hatton, from Bellarmine
Anticipated function: Frontcourt depth
Hatton possible will not be Ballo’s backup middle — Indiana might downshift Malik Reneau to the 5 and get one other playmaker onto the ground — however the Bellarmine switch huge man ought to provide a rock-solid depth choice. He is comfy dealing with the ball on the high of the important thing and initiating a number of the actions, and Hatton has proven slightly capability to stretch the ground. He’ll must increase that space of his sport whereas getting stronger so as to work his approach into the rotation.Â
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