Indiana improved to 3-0 with an 87-71 win in opposition to South Carolina on Saturday afternoon at Simon Skjodt Meeting Corridor.
The Hoosiers led practically your complete contest as 5 gamers scored in double figures. Listed here are 5 takeaways from the win in opposition to the Gamecocks:
Myles Rice shines in an environment friendly 23-point effort
After main Indiana to a slender win at Tennessee in a charity exhibition final month, Myles Rice confirmed how he can elevate the ceiling of this gifted Hoosier roster.
Whereas Rice is that this group’s level guard, he’s additionally a succesful scorer who could make 3s and get to the rim. On Saturday in opposition to South Carolina, the redshirt sophomore had his full scoring arsenal on show.
The 6-foot-3 guard hit three of his 4 3-point makes an attempt. He was additionally 4-for-6 on 2s and went an ideal 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Rice was simply the most effective guard on Department McCracken Courtroom.
One factor Rice has proven via Indiana’s first three video games is that he isn’t going to pressure something. Rice all the time seems to be to get his teammates concerned first, however on Saturday, he discovered himself large open quite a few instances on the perimeter. With no hesitation, Rice confidently knocked down his alternatives.
“It’s simply inside a move,” Rice stated postgame. “Whether or not I’ve two factors, ten assists or 20 factors, two assists, I’m all the time simply going to attempt to make the precise play.”
Oumar Ballo owned the paint
Saturday was simply Oumar Ballo’s finest sport but in an IU uniform.
The 7-footer from Mali solely scored seven factors and had only one subject purpose, however his impression was felt within the paint all afternoon. Ballo pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds – three offensive – and blocked six pictures. He additionally had an help and a steal in half-hour.
Whereas Ballo averaged a double-double final season at Arizona, scoring shouldn’t be essentially the most impactful a part of his sport. He’s not a constant back-to-the-basket scoring menace within the submit. A lot of his scoring alternatives will come from putbacks on offensive rebounds or out of pick-and-roll conditions.
However the Hoosiers don’t want Ballo to attain rather a lot to win video games. 5 different Hoosiers reached double figures on Saturday. Ballo performed his function completely by dominating the glass and defending the rim.
Indiana had a robust 3-point and free-throw taking pictures efficiency
Indiana’s taking pictures is improved from final season three video games into the season.
The Hoosiers have now scored 80 or extra factors in each sport. And improved taking pictures is driving their stronger offense.
Indiana was 8-for-17 (47.1 %) on 3s and 27-for-33 (81.1 %) from the free throw line. Indiana is taking pictures 39.2 % on 3s and 79 % from the free-throw line this season.
The three-point taking pictures quantity isn’t up considerably, however the Hoosiers made the 3-ball rely on Saturday afternoon due to how properly they shot.
“Tonight was a step ahead in making threes,” Mike Woodson stated postgame. “You understand, what did we shoot? 47 % from 3. Anyone in faculty basketball would take that. So we simply obtained to maintain working at it and maintain bettering.”
The improved free-throw taking pictures can be notable. On Saturday, Indiana made its final 14 free throws, which allowed the Hoosiers to carry off a late cost from South Carolina. The Gamecocks by no means obtained nearer than 9 factors as a result of Indiana saved changing from the road late.
South Carolina star Collin Murray-Boyles by no means will get going
It was a nightmare afternoon for South Carolina star Collin Murray-Boyles, thought of the most effective NBA prospect on the ground.
Murray-Boyles entered the sport averaging a double-double and had been scoring greater than 20 factors. However early foul hassle by no means allowed him to get a rhythm and Indiana was capable of foul him out in 19 minutes.
As a result of Murray-Boyles was in foul hassle, South Carolina needed to accept 3s for a lot of the first half. This technique labored for a half, because the Gamecocks went 7-for-20 from distance over the primary 20 minutes.
Nevertheless, Indiana cleaned up its perimeter protection within the second half, because the Gamecocks went simply 1-for-9 from distance. Maintaining Murray-Boyles in test all afternoon was pivotal within the snug 16-point win.
“We refused to let him play,” Woodson stated postgame. “Doubled him from the again aspect slightly bit and confirmed him completely different seems to be, some from the highest. He struggled slightly bit tonight. We would have liked that as a result of he’s been on fireplace coming into this ballgame.”
Indiana remains to be a serious work in progress and that’s OK
As many good issues because the Hoosiers did on Saturday, there’s nonetheless loads to work on. And that’s anticipated three video games into the season with so many new faces.
Woodson stated postgame that he wasn’t proud of how Indiana performed offensively regardless of the 87 factors. The Hoosiers additionally couldn’t put South Carolina away utterly till late. The three-point protection was shaky within the first half, IU struggled to protect off the dribble at instances and allowed 13 offensive rebounds.
The truth for this Indiana group is that it’s mid-November and this group ought to proceed to make progress because it will get extra video games below its belt. Anticipating the Hoosiers to seem like a completed product three video games into the season with three new starters is unrealistic.
Via three video games, Indiana is 3-0, has gained each sport by not less than 16 factors and has moved up 10 spots in KenPom for the reason that begin of the season.
Whereas there will likely be bumps within the highway, this group’s upside is way increased than a season in the past.
Filed to: Myles Rice, Oumar Ballo, South Carolina Gamecocks
