INDIANA UNIVERSITY MEN’S BASKETBALL GAME OBSERVATIONS VS. EIU
Coming into the matchup between Eastern Illinois and Indiana men’s basketball today, it is safe to say that nobody in their right mind was anticipating a dog fight. But contrary to common belief, the Panthers came into Bloomington and gave the Hoosiers a serious run for their money… in the 1st half. Heading into intermission, EIU held a 37-36 lead over HEAVILY favored IU (-20000 odds prior to tipoff). Thankfully, whatever Mike Woodson and his sideline companions said (or shouted) in the locker room clearly resonated well with the guys on the court. The Hoosiers came out looking completely rejuvenated in the 2nd half, outscoring the Panthers 54-18 en route to a 90-55 victory.
We had the privilege of attending this one live, and have plenty of observations to share from throughout the contest. With that being said, here are some straight-to-the-point game notes recapping what we saw:
Indiana was extremely sloppy to start things off, committing some ugly turnovers early on and allowing Eastern Illinois to get virtually whatever they wanted on the defensive end. It is only 1 game, but the lackadaisical nature which the cream and crimson displayed at the onset was a real cause for concern. It will be vital to this team’s success to ensure that they come out ready to play right from the opening tip every single night going forward.
Mackenzie Mgbako picked up right where he left off in the season opener, stuffing the stat sheet in this one to the tune of 18 points (game-high), 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals on 7-10 shooting (2-4 from distance). At this point we all know that Mgbakobe can put the ball in the basket, but it was nice to see him showcase some versatility. Woody praised his overall impact on the game during the postgame press conference, and this should serve as a building block performance for him as he continues to sprout towards stardom. It is abundantly clear that he is “the guy” for this squad.
Myles Rice finished with 5 assists in this one, again exhibiting an incredible feel and ability to make things happen when he gets going downhill towards the cup. However, there were a few occasions when he looked a bit sped up and out of sorts while penetrating and will need to improve his overall composure when attacking the rack.
Malik Reneau and Oumar Ballo were unstoppable down low in the trenches, combining for 34 points (17 apiece) on 16-22 shooting to go along with 15 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks. The spacing dilemma could undoubtedly lead to some trouble as the season progresses, but once they establish a heightened sense of chemistry working the high-low together they could easily blossom into the nation’s most lethal big man combination. Those 2 along with Mgbako are ALREADY one of the elite frontcourts in the country and they will only continue to get better with time and reps.
The bench mob came in and made an immediate impact even amidst the team’s overall struggles in the 1st half. Trey Galloway and Bryson Tucker were the first guys off the pine in both halves, and each made a world of difference for the team throughout the game on both ends of the floor.
Speaking of Galloway, it seems like good things always seem to transpire whenever he checks into a ball game. The beloved Hoosier really came into his own as a table setter last season (out of sheer necessity), and it is obvious that he has embraced this role once again even with Myles Rice running the show with the starters. The 5th-year senior now has an almost unthinkable 17 assists in only 35 minutes thus far, and his desire to get his teammates involved is always refreshing to watch.
Galloway’s bench buddy Tucker was equally tremendous today, finishing with 12 points (5-7 shooting) and 6 rebounds in his 21 minutes. We previously went into detail about this team’s need for the McDonald’s All-American to provide high quality minutes as a true freshman, and he definitely delivered against EIU. He defended his tail off, crashed the glass, and got out on the break/filled lanes in transition like it was his calling at birth.
It was certainly a pleasant sight watching Kanaan Carlyle bury a few triples (2-4 from beyond the arc), as he went scoreless in the season opener after missing the final exhibition with a rib injury. He has been a menace defensively early in the season, but his team will also need him to hit outside shots consistently as we look ahead to the rest of the schedule.
On the topic of hitting outside shots consistently, Indiana MUST find a way to make outside shots if they are going to be taken seriously this season. Both Carlyle and team marksman Luke Goode (and Mgbako) each knocked down a pair of treys, and that bodes well for their confidence moving forward. Still, the team finished a subpar 6-18 from outside in this one as a collective group. With the aforementioned cramping which stems from the twin towers down low (Reneau + Ballo) and Myles Rice not necessarily being known for his shooting stroke, it is crucial that these other fellas find their rhythm. The same holds true for guys like Gabe Cupps and Anthony Leal (whenever he returns from injury).
As a side note, shoutout to Eastern Illinois for their strong start. We can bash Indiana all we want for their slow start, but you also have to give the Panthers credit for showing up ready to compete. Nakyel Shelton was COOKING in the first half (15 points in the opening stanza), and he will be a name to keep an eye on among mid-major programs as the season progresses.
With all of these things being said, the Hoosiers came away victorious for the 2nd straight game. They now have nearly a full week to prepare for their next outing against South Carolina (this Saturday 11/16 at 3 PM), and the Gamecocks are fresh off of a lopsided win over South Carolina State. They are assuredly eager to sustain a wave of winning after an inexplicable opening night loss at the hands of North Florida at home, so Indiana NEEDS to come out ready for a fight from the moment that the ref blows the whistle and tosses the ball into the air.
GO HOOSIERS!