With a revamped roster and hopes for a deep postseason run, expectations are excessive for Indiana basketball this season.
Mike Woodson gathered one of many high switch lessons within the nation, filling a once-depleted backcourt with depth and bolstering the frontcourt. Wednesday night time, IU begins common season play in opposition to SIU Edwardsville.
Contained in the Corridor writers Will Foley, Matt Press and Kevin Vera supply their preseason staff superlatives and predictions for the season:
Group MVP
Will Foley: Oumar Ballo is unanimously the highest-ranked IU participant in preseason participant rankings, however I’ll say Myles Rice would be the staff’s most useful piece. The lightning-quick guard ought to lead a refreshing change of tempo in Indiana’s backcourt. A dependable scorer with stable playmaking talents, how properly Rice performs might dictate IU’s season.
Matt Press: You possibly can’t overlook how a lot Myles Rice transforms Indiana’s backcourt, however I’ll go along with Oumar Ballo for my MVP. IU was a poor rebounding staff final season and Ballo is a menace on the glass. He averaged a double-double with Arizona in 2023-24 (12.9 factors and 10.1 rebounds) and is an intimidating shot blocker. The free throw capturing is a priority, however with an opportunity to broaden his sport underneath Mike Woodson, I foresee a dominant yr in retailer for Ballo.
Kevin Vera: It’s exhausting to choose in opposition to Myles Rice for this superlative. Rice provides lots of dimensions to this Indiana staff in all the fitting methods. His intuition as a pure level guard will add layers to the IU offense and his management on and off the ground is plain. Rice is the precise sort of participant Indiana wanted to get within the portal, and now, in his first season as a Hoosier, Rice must be the heartbeat for this yr’s staff.
Prime newcomer
Foley: Since Rice is the apparent alternative as my MVP decide, I’ll go the standard route and say Bryson Tucker because the season progresses. The highly-touted freshman displayed his expertise within the Hoosiers’ exhibition win over Marian with 19 factors on 9-of-12 capturing. Whereas adjusting to Large Ten-level physicality could take a while, I’d financial institution on him enhancing steadily all year long and inserting himself in an instrumental position.
Press: Ballo was my MVP decide, and Rice might be equally as deserving, however I’ll swap issues up and go along with Kanaan Carlyle. Carlyle averaged 11.5 factors per sport as a freshman for Stanford final yr and he has an opportunity to match that manufacturing this season. He’s athletic and assured, and whereas he wasn’t a extremely environment friendly shooter in 2023-24, he gained’t be relied upon fairly as a lot to guide the offense at IU. Woodson raved about Carlyle’s scoring potential, and relying on his utilization, I believe Carlyle might star alongside Rice within the backcourt.
Vera: Mike Woodson introduced in Ballo, which ought to excite many Hoosier followers. The Arizona switch ought to discover success in Woodson’s system. With the items round Ballo and his fierce presence across the rim, it’s a recipe for achievement. He has the instruments to place up one in every of his finest seasons but.
Largest shock
Foley: Indiana sweeps Purdue. Mike Woodson has gained in West Lafayette earlier than (due to Jalen Hood-Schifino’s finest efficiency) and has a 3-3 document versus the Boilermakers by means of three seasons. Now dealing with perhaps the weakest Purdue squad since Woodson arrived, it wouldn’t be too shocking if the Hoosiers gained bragging rights over their rivals.
Press: Jakai Newton turns into a serious contributor. A lot of that hinges on his well being, as he’s constantly handled harm since arriving in Bloomington final yr. Nonetheless, his expertise is plain. Woodson dubbed Newton the perfect athlete on the staff, and his stint of play within the exhibition in opposition to Marian backed that declare. Newton is quick, sturdy and artful on the rim – barring any setbacks, I believe he has some engaging scoring potential.
Vera: My prediction right here stands once more with the expertise this staff provides. There are a number of engaging items on this yr’s squad, however I believe Bryson Tucker will shock many individuals along with his mature model of play. The one freshman on this staff, Tucker displayed nice potential in Indiana’s exhibition in opposition to Marian and has been stirring conversations about how good he might be in his first season. I wouldn’t be stunned if Tucker begins a couple of video games in the fitting state of affairs and performs important minutes for IU. He’ll grow to be a stable piece within the IU rotation.
Hardest matchup
Foley: Loads of engaging selections, however I’ll settle with the matchup in opposition to Rutgers in Meeting Corridor on Jan. 2. The Scarlet Knights’ star freshman tandem of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey will likely be some of the thrilling duos to observe in not simply the convention, however the nation. Steve Pikiell has constantly carried out properly in opposition to the Hoosiers and each matchup between the groups is a battle.
Press: With a comparatively weak nonconference slate, I’ll make a bland decide and go along with IU’s sport in opposition to Purdue on Jan. 31 in Mackey. Rutgers must be entertaining and I’m curious to see the Hoosiers in opposition to the brand new Large Ten additions, however Purdue ought to determine to stay in rivalry atop the convention. Even with out Zach Edey, the Boilermakers boast a Large Ten participant of the yr candidate in Braden Smith and IU will likely be coming into the sport hoping to avenge final yr’s sweep.
Vera: Indiana and Illinois will likely be a really entertaining sport to observe. Each rosters have lots of new items and each groups are full of expertise. Brad Underwood is a coach with a knack for placing all his items collectively and Woodson ought to have the ability to do the identical along with his squad, giving us a enjoyable head-to-head matchup in mid-January. Their lone matchup of the yr has the potential to be a particularly enjoyable battle in Meeting Corridor.
Postseason predictions
Foley: I think about this a down yr for the Large Ten, which leaves issues large open. The Hoosiers have the strongest roster on paper and I believe that is the yr it will get put collectively. I’ll say they simply miss out on an everyday season title however make a run in March and win the Large Ten match, earn a No. 3 seed and make the Elite Eight.
Press: All the pieces appears to interrupt proper for Indiana this season. The Large Ten isn’t fairly as sturdy because it’s been in recent times, and Woodson definitely boasts probably the most proficient staff he’s coached at IU. A loaded switch class and potential star freshman in Bryson Tucker ought to vault Indiana to a high three end within the convention and I agree with Will a few Large Ten Match victory. Whereas I gained’t rule out a deeper NCAA match run, I believe their journey ends within the Candy Sixteen.
Vera: That is the yr for Indiana to make a deep run within the match. It’s their most proficient roster in fairly a while and is proficient sufficient to push them late within the season. They are going to be one of many high groups within the Large Ten and in the event that they get every part clicking, this staff might have sturdy momentum come March. I believe Candy Sixteen is the place this staff will land, however there’s lots of promise for this yr’s staff that would give them higher outcomes on the finish of the season.
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