My Two Cents: For Hoosiers to Make Run, Their Stars Need to Align

There's no question that front-court guys Kel'el Ware, Malik Reneau and Mackenzie Mgbako are Indiana's three best players, but Reneau even admitted Friday that this team isn't ''in synch.'' For Indiana to get back in the postseason conversation, their three stars need to be at their best, and bring their A-games every night.

Tom Brew | Jan 26, 2024

My Two Cents: For Hoosiers to Make Run, Their Stars Need to Align /

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Indiana Hoosiers

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — We are 19 games into Indiana's basketball season, and we've learned a lot so far. We haven't necessary liked what we've learned, but we are getting smarter, aren't we?

One thing that's very clear and is not even debatable through this 12-7 start is that Indiana's front line can play with anyone on a lot of nights. Big guys Malik Reneau, Kel'el Ware and Mackenzie Mgbako are clearly the Hoosiers' three best players, and it's not even close. There's a massive dropoff after that.

But if we're doling out midseason grades, none of them would get an A because there are glaring imperfections with all of them. There's a lot of good — really, really good — and they'd all get a B-plus in my eyes.

What Indiana needs now through these final 12 Big Ten games is for all of them to step up their games. Be the A players they're capable of.

That will make a huge difference, because if they can do that, this still might be an NCAA Tournament team. It's a big if, I know, but it could still happen.

So what do we need from each of them? It's simple, really. There's this:

Kel'el Ware: The rail-thin 7-footer needs to be more physical defensively in the post. He's averaging 14.2 points and 9.4 rebounds a game, which is fine, but he needs to be more of a scrapper and not back down to other big bodies. That's been a problem against other high-level bigs, especially in the Connecticut and Purdue blowouts. He does that, and he's an A player.
Mackenzie Mgbako: The highly touted freshman was a huge liability defensively early in the season, but he's getting much better, especially on the ball. Still gets lost too often on the weak side, and if he fixes that, Indiana's team defense will be much better. He's been good from three-point range — he's a great 16-for-32 from deep since Dec. 29 — and can attack the basket as well. He's averaging 16 a game in the last four, and needs to do that every game going forward.
Malik Reneau: He's the team MVP so far, right? Hard to find much wrong, right? He's been able to score at will on many nights. Want more? Of course. I'd like to see him be a better passer when he gets double-teamed, which are coming more often. And, of course, he needs to be a better defender without fouling. I have no problem with him being a more forceful leader, too. Sure, he's only a sophomore, but he has the complete respect of all of his teammates. Speak up, and hold everyone accountable.

I asked Woodson about Reneau's ''in synch'' comments on Thursday, and was looking for more of a big-picture answer. He kept it to the Wisconsin game, which the Hoosiers played without Ware because of an ankle injury. They gave up 91 points and lost their fourth game in 16 days.

But his answer still shed a lot of light on why the Hoosiers aren't firing on all cylinders.

"We weren't expecting to go into the Wisconsin game without our big guy,'' Woodson said of Ware, who was a game-day decision. "And you know, having (sixth-year senior guard Xavier Johnson) still trying to find his way, we are soul searching as a team. Make no mistake about it, we were missing 14 and 9 rebounds in the big guy, a guy that can block shots. We scored enough points. We shot the hell out of the basketball, you know, from the free throw line, from the three-point line, and shooting twos.

"But our defense stunk, you know what I mean. You're not going to beat anybody giving up 91 points like that in the Big Ten. I mean, it's tough enough to win on the road. But you go out on the road with just an offensive mentality, you stand to lose. You've got to go out on the road with a defensive mentality and rebound the ball to keep the game intact, and I don't think we did a good job of that.''

Woodson is taking full responsibility for the flaws, especially on the defensive end.

"You know, that's on me. I've got to get us playing defense,'' he said. "I just didn't think we were defensively ready to play. We didn't do what we're supposed to do, and the miscues, and the scouting report, I thought we came out with great intentions. You know, we started the game out great, but as the game went along, we lost our way defensively.''

The Hoosiers have had the benefit of eight days between games. It does two things. One, it allows for tough, physical practices to get things fixed. Secondly, it also allows this group to hit the re-set button. There is still a lot to accomplish this season, and they can be better.

They think that. I can, too. I can still see a run in this team.

"Well, again, only time will tell,'' Woodson said. "I mean, practice is what it is. We've had some tough days of practice, which we should, you know what I mean. That's the only way you're going to work your way out of this. We're going to be tested at Illinois, there's no doubt about it. I watched them play (Wednesday) night (in a 96-91 loss at Northwstern), and it was a very competitive ballgame on both ends with both teams. I mean, it was a high-powered game, which is kind of nice to see, you know.

"And so we've got to go in with the mindset that we've got to try to play at that same level because that team, Illinois, is playing very, very well right now. They are. They lost a tough game in overtime, but they were right there ahead with a shot to win it before it went to overtime. We've got to be ready to commit ourselves for 40 minutes.''

There's no question that's a must. Even in victories this season, Indiana has played very few games where they've been at their best for 40 minutes. At least half of their 12 wins have come from one good late run.

That's why what I've said about the stars shining even brighter is really important. Indiana's guards are what they are, and they've struggled for much of the season. Sure, they need to play better, but the bigs need to carry them.

It would sure help a lot of Ware can be ready to go for Saturday's 3 p.m. ET game at Illinois. Indiana needs him. He's that good. Reneau can do his thing, and Mgbako needs to continue to get better, as he has been doing latey.

He's an incredible talent, but he's still very young and was a little overwhelmed by the college game early. But he grows up every day, and that's a good sign.

"He's been great, man. I mean, I have no complaints,'' Woodson said of Mgbako. "He's a freshman that came in with high accolades, but AAU and high school basketball is not the same as college basketball in the Big Ten. It's just not. So there's a learning curve for all these young players when they come to the next level.

"He had his struggles but he's continued to work, and we're trying to push him to play at a high level. He still has a ways to go, though, from a defensive standpoint. There are times out there that he's not understanding what we're doing, and he looks kind of lost and out of place. Those are things are correctable as he continues to grow as a young player. You know, I'm pretty pleased with his progress and where he is today. He's just got to keep working.''

They all do, of course. Indiana has a reasonable shot at winning all six remaining home games — against Iowa, Penn State, Northwestern, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Michigan State — and they need to find a way to win on the road.

The bigs could carry them. I know it's totally unfair to compare this group to last year, but I remember Indiana going into Champaign last year as a big 6.5-point underdog and whipping the Illini 80-65. The Illinois interior defense isn't good, and all three of these Indiana guys could go off.

Stars shine the brightest on the clearest nights, right? Indiana's stars need to shine brightly the rest of the way too, starting on Saturday in Champaign.

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