Three Improvements Indiana Needs To Make After Season Opener Against FGCU

Indiana has a talented roster on paper, but Tuesday night's narrow win over Florida Gulf Coast showed that it could take some time for the Hoosiers to reach their potential. Here are three improvements Indiana needs to make moving forward.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It wasn't always pretty, but Indiana opened the season with a 69-63 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Senior guard Trey Galloway led Indiana with 16 points, and sophomore center Kel'el Ware posted his first career double-double, along with four assists, three blocks and two steals.

As expected, the Hoosiers are a work in progress. The roster contains six new scholarship players who are learning to function in a cohesive manner, and coach Mike Woodson has tinkered with new lineups and rotations during two exhibition games and Tuesday's regular season opener

There were several positive takeaways from Tuesday's win, but here are three areas that need improvement.

Defensive rotations

Florida Gulf Coast's offensive game plan was clear. The Eagles were going to live and die by 3-point shots, and 13 of their 24 field goals came from beyond the arc. Indiana ultimately held Florida Gulf Coast to 63 points, which Woodson said is in the ballpark of where he wants to be, defensively. 

But he was displeased with the backside of Indiana's defense. Time after time, Indiana was often a step slow in its rotations and defensive closeouts on 3-point shooters, which Trey Galloway and Kel'el Ware attributed to miscommunications. With 10 new players, this team was always going to be a work in progress. And for Woodson, its all about reps in practice.

"Once you figure it out, it becomes natural," Woodson said of Indiana's defensive rotations. "Right now we're guessing, thinking too much. That's on me."

Offensive flow

Indiana scored just 28 of its 69 total points in the first half, and the offense often looked stagnant. The Hoosiers went on a field goal drought nearly eight minutes, from 13:10 in the first half to 5:31. Florida Gulf Coast played physical defense, racking up 15 fouls in the first half and 10 in the second half. That kept Indiana from getting in much of an offensive rhythm, but it also allowed the Hoosiers to maintain a narrow lead, as they made constant trips to the free throw line. Indiana didn't take full advantage of this, though, as it went 19-for-30 on free throws.

In the second half, Woodson made a lineup decision that seemed to reinvigorate Indiana's offense. He pulled Mackenzie Mgbako from the game with 15:34 remaining, and he didn't return. More than three minutes later, Woodson opted for a three-guard lineup, inserting freshman Gabe Cupps into the game alongside Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway. With this adjustment, Indiana's offense operated with more movement and efficiency. The Hoosiers went on a 14-0 run, which extended to a 23-7 run in about nine minutes.

The three-guard lineup allows Indiana's pick-and-roll centric offense to run through three different players, which makes Indiana more difficult to defend. Indiana still needs Mgbako to be a reliable scoring option this season, but don't be surprised if Woodson leans on the three-guard lineup more moving forward.

Production from young wings

If Indiana is going to reach its full potential, it needs five-star freshman Mackenzie Mgbako to live up to his first-round draft pick hype, and for CJ Gunn and Kaleb Banks to make sophomore jumps. That didn't happen Tuesday – offensively or defensively. Mgbako made 2-of-6 shots, Gunn missed both attempts, and Woodson pulled Banks from the game after just two minutes. Woodson was disappointed in their defensive efforts, too.

"My concern is CJ and Kaleb and Mackenzie," Woodson said. "All three of those guys are capable of scoring, too. So when they're in the game I got to get them comfortable number one, and they got to figure out what the hell we're doing from a defensive standpoint. A lot of that was miscues on their part."

Related stories on Indiana basketball

• GAME STORY: Indiana struggled for most of its season opener against Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday, but a big 14-0 run midway through the second half helped give them a 69-63 victory. Senior guard Trey Galloway led the way with 16 points, and four Hoosiers were in double figures. CLICK HERE
• WARE'S ALL-AROUND GAME: Indiana's 7-foot center Kel'el Ware showcased a versatile game that's landed him on NBA Draft boards in Tuesday night's 69-63 win over Florida Gulf Coast. Ware finished the game with 13 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals. CLICK HERE
• WHAT WOODSON SAID: Following Indiana's 69-63 win over Florida Gulf Coast, coach Mike Woodson discussed freshman Gabe Cupps' impact, Indiana's defense and much more. Here's everything Woodson said. CLICK HERE
• WHAT GALLOWAY, WARE SAID: Indiana senior guard Trey Galloway and sophomore center Kel'el Ware played key roles in the Hoosiers' 69-63 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday. Here's everything they said after the game. CLICK HERE