Mike Woodson Unaware of 'Malik Reneau Burger,' Knows Sophomore Needs To Step Up

Indiana coach Mike Woodson didn't know his sophomore forward Malik Reneau had a burger named after him at Big Woods restaurant in Bloomington, but he surely knows that Indiana needs Reneau to take a big step forward as a sophomore, without Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Indiana coach Mike Woodson is pushing his sophomore class to step up this season, but there's something he just learned about one of his players.

The Malik Reneau Burger.

"Where – What is that?" Woodson asked with a puzzled expression Tuesday at Big Ten media days.

Named after Indiana's sophomore forward, it's served at Big Woods Restaurant in Bloomington. 

"He has his own burger?" Woodson said. "What the hell, he shouldn't be eating burgers. Is it a veggie burger or something?"

Nope – it's an all-beef patty, with twice smoked bacon, American cheese, onion rings, barbeque sauce, served with pub fries and sauteed veggies for $17.99. 

Reneau struck an NIL deal with Big Woods last spring to get a menu item in his name, and it's for a good cause, too. Big Woods donates $1 from every burger sold to Reneau's chosen charity, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana.

"No, I didn't know about it," Woodson said. "I go to a certain few spots in Bloomington to eat. I don't know about all the other places."

Woodson scored over 2,000 points in his four-year Indiana career, enjoyed an 11-year NBA career, then coached in the NBA for over 20 years. That's enough to get a burger named after Woodson at some point along the way, right?

"Hell nah," Woodson said laughing. "No."

A look at the Malik Reneau Burger on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at Big Woods Speedway. The burger is a partnership between Indiana University basketball player Malik Reneau and the restaurant. A $1 donation is given to Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana for every burger purchased :: Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Indiana basketball forward Malik Reneau partnered with Big Woods restaurant last spring to create the "Malik Reneau Burger." $1 from every burger purchased goes toward Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana / via @malikreneau on Instagram

Indiana basketball sophomores Kaleb Banks (left), Malik Reneau (middle) and CJ Gunn (right) try the "Malik Reneau Burger" at Big Woods restaurant in Bloomington, Ind.  / via @malikreneau on Instagram

But based on Reneau's offseason development, eating his namesake burger hasn't slowed him down. Woodson said Reneau, like most of the team, stayed in Bloomington during the summer. Now he's in much better shape than when he arrived on campus as a freshman.

"His body fat's down and he's trimmed down," Woodson said. "So hopefully he's not eating too many of them. He's got his own burger, huh?"

Reneau is listed at the same 6-foot-9 and 233 pounds on the 2022-23 and 2023-24 rosters. But in August, he posted a graphic depicting the way he's transformed his body for the better, with the help of Clif Marshall, Indiana's director of athletic performance.

Renea's body fat has dropped 3.5%, his vertical leap increased 4.5 inches, he can do 10 more pull-ups and 14 more reps on the 185-pound bench press. 

1 Year Transformation 💪🏽👀 pic.twitter.com/s0ZbbPZTmx

— Malik A. Reneau (@MalikReneau) August 8, 2023

Reneau was originally committed to Florida, but he decommitted and flipped to Indiana when former Florida coach Mike White left for Georgia. He was ranked No. 30 in the nation and No. 4 among power forwards in the class of 202 and considered a four-star recruit out of Montverde Academy, where he was teammates with former Indiana guard Jalen Hood-Schifino.

As a freshman at Indiana, Reneau made three starts and played in all 35 games, logging 14.9 minutes per game. He averaged 6.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and shot 55.3 percent from the field. He spent his first year learning behind veteran bigs Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson, and now it's his turn to step into a bigger role.

Reneau showed impressive strength in the post for a freshman while also having soft touch around the rim. His flashes of perimeter skills have excited his teammates about the future.

"At the four spot, we've got Malik. I hope Race ain't here to hear this, but you know, he's a guy that he's more skilled than Race, honestly," Indiana senior point guard Xavier Johnson said. "He's a guy that has followed in Race's footsteps and has seen what Race did at the four, and he's a guy that can honestly grow."

Foul trouble was Reneau's biggest issue last year, as he picked up at least three fouls in 19-of-35 games and fouled out twice. But without Jackson-Davis, Race Thompson and Jordan Geronimo, Indiana needs Reneau to significantly reduce those numbers and stay on the court for longer stretches. 

Woodson has set a high bar for Reneau and fellow sophomores CJ Gunn and Kaleb Banks this year.

"I'm expecting big things out of [Reneau] because he's very talented and can do a lot of things on the floor," Woodson said. "So he's just got to continue to work. I'm pleased where he is today as well because he has been working his butt off."

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