Logan Duncomb's Offseason Development Leads To Double-Double Against Marian

Indiana sophomore center Logan Duncomb notched an 11-point 11-rebound double-double in Saturday's exhibition game against Marian. After playing sparingly as a freshman, he worked in the weight room and on the court to be ready to contribute in year two.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Logan Duncomb spun across the lane and finished with a soft touch off the glass with his left hand. He battled in the paint, grabbing 11 rebounds and scoring 11 points for his first-career double-double.

Following Indiana’s 78-42 exhibition win over Marian on Saturday, Duncomb received a compliment from his coach.

“I told him after the game and in front of everybody, I was just so proud of him,” Indiana coach Mike Woodson said. “Because he's hung in there with me and he's caught a lot of hell, and he responded."

Saturday was the first sign that Duncomb is a different player in year two. He played just nine games as a freshman, and took that as a personal challenge this offseason. He committed to changing his body in the weight room, and the result is a stronger, visibly confident, 6-foot-10, 241-pound sophomore ready to contribute.

“It's super rewarding because I felt like I put in a lot more effort this year over the summer, trying to get better to be able to go out there and play and contribute,” Duncomb said. “Super rewarding, super exciting. I had a giant smile on my face after the game."

Indiana's Logan Duncomb (51) shoots during the second half of the Indiana versus Marian men's basketball game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022 :: Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Duncomb arrived at Indiana as a four-star recruit and the No. 73 player in the class of 2022. With Thompson and Trayce Jackson-Davis, there wasn’t a pressing need for Duncomb to play major minutes as a freshman, and he wasn’t ready, either.

When asked if he could push Duncomb around last season, Thompson said, “Yeah. I think it bothered him a little bit.” On Saturday, Duncomb was honest about his freshman year, saying he didn’t play much because he didn’t put in the necessary work.

This summer, Duncomb trained with Indiana’s Director of Athletic Performance Clif Marshall to change his body. Thompson noticed a locked-in Duncomb taking his diet and work in the weight room more seriously.

The first on-court indication of Duncomb’s development came early this summer during a practice when Thompson felt someone push his back. He turned around, and there was Duncomb. Throughout the summer, Thompson saw a different Duncomb – smiling, playing hard and even talking some trash.

“I was like 'Alright, Logan. Here we go,'” Thompson said. “He’s heavy now, and last year he wasn't that heavy. You could move him around, and this year he's holding his ground. I think it's really exciting to see him put that into his game. It's really important for him to play at this level to be able to move somebody and not get pushed around, so I think he'll be able to help us this year."

Battling on the boards.@LoganDuncomb | 📺: B1G+ pic.twitter.com/uXnOgIi4xP

— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) October 29, 2022

Duncomb's role will still be limited by Thompson, Jackson-Davis, Geronimo and Reneau's collective production, but he appears fit to contribute off the bench as a sophomore.

Indiana boasts a frontcourt with high-level talent at the top and necessary depth off the bench. Jackson-Davis – the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year and a preseason AP All-American – was out with a wrist or hand injury during Saturday’s exhibition game, but Indiana didn’t skip a beat down low. 

Thompson was his usual, physical self in the paint, but also displayed improved versatility by splashing 3-of-4 attempts from 3. Freshman Malik Reneau led the Hoosiers with 14 points, and “passed with flying colors” in his first game, according to Woodson. Duncomb notched his first double-double, and Jordan Geronimo added six points and three rebounds.

“We just really push each other to be great in practice, always encouraging each other and playing hard,” Geronimo said. “It's at a point where we have enough depth and talent that the second squad is as good as the first squad.”

"With our offense, everything is interchangeable," Jackson-Davis said. "I think it's going to be good for us this year. We're kind of spread out more and more people are going to do more things."

Duncomb said this performance made him more comfortable on the court, and he’s feeling confident about where his game stands heading into the season.

“It's the first step in a long journey this season,” Duncomb said.

Related stories on Indiana basketball:

• GAME STORY: Former high school teammates Jalen Hood-Schifino and Malik Reneau had dazzling debuts in their first game at Indiana, leading the Hoosiers to a 74-42 exhibition game victory over Marian on Saturday at Assembly Hall. CLICK HERE
• THOMPSON SHOWS VERSATILITY: Indiana forward Race Thompson scored 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks, including a 3-for-4 night from 3 during Indiana's exhibition game against Marian on Saturday. CLICK HERE
• STEVE DOWNING RETRUNS TO INDIANA: During Saturday's exhibition game with Marian University, Indiana honored the 1972-73 team on the 50-year anniversary of its stunning Final Four run in Bob Knight's second year. That's what makes Indiana what it is, with its great ability to embrace its past. CLICK HERE
• WATCH MALIK RENEAU DUNK: Indiana freshman Malik Renau had 12 points and seven rebounds at halftime against Marian and also had a huge dunk. Watch the highlight here. CLICK HERE
• WATCH RACE THOMPSON 3-POINTER: Sixth-year forward Race Thompson hit Indiana's first 3-point shot of the season on Saturday in an exhibition game against Marian. CLICK HERE
• JACKSON-DAVIS, BATES OUT: Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis and guard Tamar Bates won't play in Saturday's exhibition game against Marian University. CLICK HERE