Welcome to “That’s A Wrap,” our player-by-player recap of the 2023-24 Indiana Hoosiers. Right this moment: Malik Reneau.
Reneau (33 video games): 15.4 factors, six rebounds, 2.7 assists and 55.8 FG% in 28.7 minutes per sport.
Beforehand: Gabe Cupps, Mackenzie Mgbako
Montverde Academy product and Miami, Florida native Malik Reneau took a leap ahead in his second season at Indiana.
A top-30 recruit out of highschool who dedicated to the Hoosiers within the spring of 2022 following a training change at Florida, Reneau began all 33 video games as a sophomore.
A lefty with a wide selection of publish strikes, Reneau and fellow sophomore Kel’el Ware labored nicely in tandem offensively for many of the season. Ware’s presence as a lob menace, coupled with Reneau’s savviness as a passer, led to loads of connections on the rim for the duo.
As a lot as Reneau’s scoring capacity within the paint is mentioned, his passing is one in all his main strengths. He completed Massive Ten play with an help charge of 18.1 %, which ranked Nineteenth-best within the league. Whereas he’s nonetheless studying to navigate double groups within the publish and generally saved the ball too lengthy relatively than making a fast cross, racking up 88 assists whereas enjoying primarily within the publish as a sophomore is spectacular.
Though he’s not an explosive athlete or leaper, Reneau’s physique and energy, coupled along with his footwork, helped him become one of many Massive Ten’s most effective post-finishers. The 6-foot-9 ahead shot 59.7 % on 2s in convention play, the Tenth-best mark within the Massive Ten.
Reneau scored 20 or extra factors seven occasions, together with a 34-point outburst in opposition to Kennesaw State on Dec. 29 when Ware was sidelined with COVID-19. He additionally confirmed off a capability to hit the occasional 3-pointer and largely had the inexperienced gentle to take pictures when open from a distance. For the season, he went 15-for-45 (33.3 %) on 3s.
The important thing areas the place Reneau can nonetheless fine-tune his sport transferring ahead are on the glass, free-throw taking pictures and his persistent foul points.
Reneau completed the Massive Ten season because the league’s Twentieth-best offensive rebounder however didn’t rank within the high 25 on the defensive glass. Upping his sport on the boards must be a transparent emphasis as he prepares for his junior season.
On the free throw line, Reneau shot 68.3 % on 142 makes an attempt. That proportion was higher than Indiana’s mark as a group, however entering into the mid-70s could be a welcome enchancment subsequent season.
The foul points, nonetheless, could be probably the most essential problem for Reneau to deal with subsequent season. He fouled out seven occasions and completed eight video games with 4 fouls. After averaging 6.8 fouls per 40 minutes as a freshman, in line with KenPom, Reneau averaged 4.3 fouls per 40 minutes in yr two. Whereas the advance was important, the room for progress in defending with out fouling is substantial.
Backside line: Reneau was an All-Massive Ten honorable point out choice as a sophomore, an correct illustration of his season that featured loads of ups and some downs. He’ll be considered as one in all Indiana’s leaders coming into subsequent season and there’s little question Reneau desires to win based mostly on the emotion and keenness he performs with each evening. For his sport to proceed to maneuver ahead, Reneau should be capable to play extra minutes with out fouling and turn into extra assertive on the glass on each ends of the ground.
Quotable: “I actually acquired the motivation from Trayce (Jackson-Davis) and Race (Thompson), seeing how they performed in the entire Massive Ten and seeing how they dominated. I simply wanted time to grasp the sport and go on the market. Now I’m enjoying good and with my tempo and with the ability to rating on both block and end with each arms, step out and create my shot from the three ball, shoot the three ball, too. I simply really feel just like the yr I had simply watching Trayce’s stuff, I noticed lots. And now my sport is slowing down and I’m capable of create performs for myself and for others.” – Reneau on Dec. 29 after scoring 34 factors in opposition to Kennesaw State.
Filed to: Malik Reneau
