Welcome to “That’s A Wrap,” our player-by-player recap of the 2023-24 Indiana Hoosiers. First up: Gabe Cupps.
Cupps (33 video games): 2.6 factors, 1.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 36.4 FG% in 21.7 minutes per sport.
Accidents to Xavier Johnson thrust Gabe Cupps right into a extra vital position than anticipated in his debut season within the cream and crimson.
A 6-foot-2 guard from Centerville, Ohio, Cupps began 22 video games as a freshman as a result of sixth-year level guard Xavier Johnson was out and in of the lineup with varied accidents.
The 2022 Ohio Mr. Basketball, Cupps made his first begin towards Maryland on Dec. 1, a 65-53 IU victory at Simon Skjodt Meeting Corridor. He went scoreless with an help in 24 minutes.
Cupps scored in double figures for the primary and solely time in a 104-76 blowout loss towards Auburn in Atlanta on Dec. 9. Cupps scored 11 factors towards the Tigers, connecting on two of his three makes an attempt from past the 3-point line.
Whereas level guard is Cupps’s main place, he hardly ever performed the position of lead distributor in his first season. When Johnson was out of the lineup, Mike Woodson opted to place the ball within the palms of Trey Galloway, a extra skilled playmaker able to making performs for himself or his teammates.
Cupps began the ultimate 12 video games for Indiana, however his statistical profile was extraordinarily restricted in his debut season. Over the ultimate 12 video games, he totaled 27 factors and 11 assists.
From a capturing standpoint, Cupps went 14-for-39 (35.9 %) on 3s general and 7-for-22 (31.8 %) in convention play.
His shot weight loss plan on 2s consisted of a good quantity of leap pictures within the midrange, the place he related at a 31.4 % price, in response to hoop-math.com. Whereas his launch regarded clear, Cupps usually pale to at least one aspect when he shot the ball.
When Cupps was in a position to get his ft set and have just a little time on the perimeter, he regarded the a part of a participant with the shot to develop right into a dependable risk.
Defensively, Cupps by no means backed down from a problem, even when he was overmatched at instances towards the Large Ten’s finest level guards. The expertise gained from going towards gamers like Boo Buie, Jahmir Younger and Braden Smith ought to solely assist him know the place he wants to enhance transferring ahead.
Cupps additionally must turn out to be extra comfy as a distributor. He completed the season with 41 assists in 33 video games in comparison with 27 turnovers (1.51-to-1 ratio).
One factor that was by no means questioned about Cupps was his competitiveness and work ethic. It’s no secret that Cupps was at all times within the fitness center attempting to good his sport and get higher and the hope transferring ahead is that his mindset can rub off throughout the locker room as he prepares for his second season in Bloomington.
Backside line: Indiana is working to deal with its guard depth by means of the switch portal and the expectation is Cupps will play a reserve position in Bloomington subsequent winter. He nonetheless initiatives as a helpful contributor in the long run, however he must turn out to be extra assured as a playmaker and a shooter. He usually regarded tentative to shoot in his first season however his 35.9 % mark from distance is one thing to construct upon for the long run.
Quotable: “Little doubt he’s going to play high quality minutes. He’s confirmed that. That’s the explanation why we recruited him. He simply does all of the little issues that you simply’re speculated to do. Now, he’s going to have his ups and downs based mostly on matchups and issues of that nature, however he’s a tricky competitor. Typically toughness will get you thru it. So I’m more than happy along with his progress and hope that he simply continues to develop and be taught the school sport as a result of he’s obtained a protracted strategy to go.” – Woodson on Cupps on Nov. 6, 2023 previous to the season opener towards Florida Gulf Coast.
Filed to: Gabe Cupps
