With the beginning of faculty basketball season approaching, we’ve moved from our take a look at different Large Ten applications to our player-by-player previews of the 2024-25 Indiana roster.
In the present day, our participant profiles proceed with junior Malik Reneau.
Beforehand: Bryson Tucker, Jakai Newton, Myles Rice, Mackenzie Mgbako, Gabe Cupps, Kanaan Carlyle
Malik Reneau took a serious step ahead as a sophomore.
As a freshman for the Hoosiers, Reneau was behind All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis on the depth chart and averaged 14.9 minutes per recreation. He was nonetheless extremely productive in these restricted minutes and averaged 6.1 factors and three.7 rebounds. Reneau shot 55.3 % from the sector, a stellar mark for a freshman.
Foul points, nonetheless, prevented Reneau from taking part in extra minutes in his first season. He averaged 6.8 fouls per 40 minutes, based on KenPom. A lot of the fouls have been pointless. Reneau was usually out of place or reached in when he didn’t have to.
With a season of expertise underneath his belt, Reneau was able to shoulder a much bigger load in his second season as a Hoosier.
After the departure of Jackson-Davis to the NBA, Reneau turned a go-to scoring choice in Mike Woodson’s offense. He had the seventh-highest utilization price of any Large Ten participant in league video games at 27.3 %. Reneau averaged 15.4 factors, six rebounds and a couple of.7 assists in 28.7 minutes. He minimize down on the fouling, too. The Miami, Florida native averaged 4.3 fouls per 40 minutes as a sophomore.
Reneau additionally developed a synergy with frontcourt mate Kel’el Ware and confirmed off one in all his finest expertise, passing. His help price of 18.1 % ranked among the many prime 20 within the Large Ten. One different wrinkle from Reneau was the addition of a fringe shot. He tried simply eight 3s as a freshman and took 45 as a sophomore. He related on 33.3 % from deep.
At season’s finish, Reneau earned All-Large Ten honorable point out honors. Now a junior, much more is anticipated from the left-handed large man.
For Reneau to unlock his full potential, he should make features in a number of areas. Enhancing on the glass must be a transparent focus for Reneau, who ranked simply twentieth in offensive rebounding share within the league final season.
“It’s been emphasised lots,” Reneau stated at media day. “Particularly the threes, fours and fives crashing the offensive glass. Particularly understanding that we have been a foul rebounding staff final yr. In my case, too, I used to be a foul rebounder. I gotta emphasize it in my thoughts that I gotta rebound, too.”
Chopping down on fouls ought to stay a transparent space of emphasis for Reneau. He minimize down on his fouls per 40 minutes by 2.5 final season, however 4.3 per 40 minutes continues to be a excessive quantity. Over his four-year profession at Indiana, Jackson-Davis by no means averaged greater than 2.7 fouls per 40 minutes.
With Oumar Ballo now within the fold, Reneau is anticipated to proceed logging main minutes on the 4. Final season, Reneau performed primarily within the submit with Ware’s skill to area the ground. Ballo isn’t a fringe risk, so the Hoosiers want Reneau to function extra confidently away from the basket. He’ll additionally want to have the ability to defend fours reliably.
“I really feel like nearly all of my fouls have been ticky-tack,” Reneau stated. “So simply not being the antsy one on the court docket the place I’m swiping lots and never getting these dumb fouls like that which is one thing I are likely to do lots.”
Reneau stated the teaching employees has had him guard extra guys on the perimeter this offseason to assist him turn into extra snug defending away from the basket. He’s additionally labored on his lateral quickness and staying in entrance as a defender.
Backside line: Reneau is among the most gifted post-scorers within the nation. He has distinctive footwork, is aware of learn how to get to his spots and confirmed off stable contact from the perimeter, too. He talked at size at media day that rebounding and fouls are the areas the place he wants to enhance in his third season and he’s able to making important features in each areas. It gained’t be a shock if Reneau leads the Hoosiers in scoring this season and finds himself on one of many All-Large Ten groups come March.
Quotable: “Bodily, he was dedicated to the exercise, his consuming habits, his physique has modified. His summer season play was fairly good and he’s taking part in fairly good basketball for us now. I hope it’s a pleasant carry over into when it actually begins.” – Mike Woodson lately on Reneau’s improvement.
Media day interviews with Reneau:
Filed to: 2024-25 season preview, Malik Reneau
