Gabe Cupps was thrust right into a larger-than-expected function for Indiana as a freshman.
Ohio’s 2022 Mr. Basketball, Cupps dedicated to the Hoosiers in November 2021, earlier than his junior season at Centerville Excessive College.
Previous to the 2023-24 season, Cupps was anticipated to function Xavier Johnson’s backup. Taking part in behind Johnson, a sixth-year participant, would afford him — and this system — an easing into the rotation function in his first faculty season.
However that isn’t the way it labored out.
Johnson handled a number of accidents and struggled to remain wholesome in his last season in Bloomington. With little level guard depth, Mike Woodson turned to Cupps, who made his first begin in IU’s Huge Ten opener in opposition to Maryland at Meeting Corridor.
“I didn’t come into the season pondering that I used to be going to start out and play Gabe the minutes that he that he performed,” Woodson mentioned in late Could at Huber’s Vineyard.
Cupps made the most effective of a tough scenario. However after a 2022-23 marketing campaign the place the Hoosiers had the league’s freshman of the yr at level guard, there was a major statistical drop-off going from Jalen Hood-Schifino to Cupps.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard performed in all of Indiana’s 33 video games, making 22 begins. He completed the season with averages of two.6 factors, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 21.7 minutes per recreation.
Offensively, Cupps hardly ever seemed to attain regardless of capturing almost 36 p.c on 3s. A few of the reluctance to shoot or attempt to rating was by design, as the main focus of the IU offense was the put up and getting appears for Mackenzie Mgbako and Trey Galloway.
“Not that he didn’t deserve it and never he didn’t maintain his personal, I assumed Gabe had a hell of a freshman yr,” Woodson mentioned of Cupps in late Could. “However we actually counted on Xavier (Johnson) to be again in any case his accidents… we simply thought we had him again and that crushed us.”
Indiana addressed its level guard wants within the spring by signing Myles Rice, who arrives in Bloomington after incomes All-Pac-12 first-team honors at Washington State. The Hoosiers additionally returned Trey Galloway, who performed loads of minutes final season at level guard, and added Kanaan Carlyle, who can deal with the ball and create.
These adjustments imply Cupps will see a change in his function as a sophomore for the Hoosiers. He isn’t anticipated to start out recurrently or play greater than 20 minutes per recreation like he did as a freshman.
Nonetheless, Cupps can nonetheless make good points as a sophomore and maximize the variety of minutes he performs. And that’s precisely what the expectation must be for Cupps, identified for his relentless work ethic.
“He received thrown into the fireplace in a way,” incoming switch Luke Goode instructed Sleepers Media in June. “Xavier Johnson being harm, it put numerous strain on him to carry out, and typically freshman, it’s powerful, they don’t have what they should deliver. However he’s going to take that leap, for positive, sophomore yr, and I’m excited to see how he performs subsequent yr.”
Whereas Cupps shot a wholesome proportion from the perimeter final season, he was usually reluctant to shoot. When Cupps had an opportunity to get set and sq. his ft, he confirmed off a succesful stroke on 3s.
However when he rushed his shot, it usually led him to fade, which harm his capturing proportion. In accordance with Hoop-Math.com, Cupps shot simply 31.4 p.c on 2-point bounce pictures.
Goode mentioned capturing has been a transparent offseason focus for the Ohio native.
“I believe he’s the second-leading 3-point shooter this summer time in simply taking part in and talent exercises,” Goode defined. “So he’s actually improved. He’s in there each morning, about 6 a.m., getting pictures up.”
Off the courtroom, Cupps has the traits to develop as a pacesetter on and off the ground. At the same time as a freshman, you would see him continuously speaking to his teammates on the courtroom.
When Oumar Ballo visited Bloomington in April, Cupps popped into Ballo’s photograph shoot to make the large man really feel welcome.
His capability to attach with teammates is equally vital to his statistical contributions on the ground.
“Gabe is likely one of the most personable guys I’ve ever met in my life. The day that I received to campus, he was the primary individual I talked to, first man I hang around with, nonetheless my man,” Goode mentioned. “We get dinner most likely three or 4 instances every week. However he’s simply that dude, man. He’s within the fitness center earlier than all people figuring out, he’s the final one to go away. He’s within the locker room leaping on folks like a clown and doing all of his stuff. He’s an ideal teammate.”
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