Five takeaways from Indiana's win against Miami (OH)

Indiana improved to 7-2 with a 76-57 win against Miami (OH) on Friday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Here are five takeaways from the win against the RedHawks:

Oumar Ballo was dominant

Indiana continues to try to figure out rotations around its two frontcourt scorers, Oumar Ballo and Malik Reneau. Are the Hoosiers better off going with just one big? Or should they continue to play Ballo and Reneau together?

On Friday, against an opponent with inferior size in the post, Mike Woodson opted to play Ballo and Reneau together frequently. The result was Ballo’s best statistical performance of the season to date.

The Arizona transfer finished with 14 points, 18 rebounds, six assists, two blocked shots, a steal and two turnovers in 28 minutes.

Indiana was +29 with Ballo on the floor.

Through nine games, Ballo is shooting 67.7 percent from the floor. His free-throw shooting has improved slightly from last season. He’s taken a team-high 48 attempts and is 54.2 percent from the stripe.

Turnovers continue to plague Indiana

Another game, another night of unnecessary turnovers committed by Woodson’s fourth Indiana team.

The Hoosiers turned it over 16 times in Friday night’s win for a turnover percentage of 23.9. Indiana finished the game with just 15 assists.

Indiana ranks 281st nationally in turnover percentage at 19.6, the second-worst among Big Ten programs (Michigan).

Nine different Hoosiers committed a turnover in the win. Many of the mistakes – which has been a theme through nine games – result from careless passes or players trying to force plays that don’t need to be made. Examples on Friday included two late first-half turnovers by Myles Rice and an instance in the first half where Ballo attempted to dribble the ball up the floor and lost possession.

Indiana overcame its mistakes on Friday because it was playing an inferior opponent. However, that won’t be the case when Big Ten play begins.

Trey Galloway needs to be a permanent fixture in the starting lineup

With Kanaan Carlyle sidelined for the last three games, Trey Galloway has started three consecutive games.

Given Carlyle’s limited production in six games and the playmaking that Galloway brings to the Hoosiers, his inclusion in the starting lineup should be permanent.

Friday marked a stellar performance for Galloway, who finished with 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the field. He was 3-for-4 on 3-pointers.

Galloway is now 8-for-14 (57.1 percent) on 3s after shooting just 26 percent last season.

“I’m making shots right now, so it’s good,” Galloway said postgame. “Just the same work I’ve been doing, just continuing to be consistent with it. But I think just trusting it and having confidence.”

It’s essential to get Carlyle back healthy and contributing in the backcourt. Right now, Galloway has earned the starting position, and the Hoosiers are a better team with him on the floor.

Indiana is not playing with urgency

There are moments within Indiana games this season where the Hoosiers have exhibited signs of urgency.

But those moments are short-lived.

Rather than showing an appetite to step on an opponent’s throat when it builds a double-digit lead, Indiana relaxes and allows its opponent back into the game.

It happened multiple times on Friday. The Hoosiers built three leads of 10 or more points in the first half against the RedHawks. Each time, Miami answered quickly and Indiana led by just three points by halftime.

“These are growing pains, man,” Woodson said postgame. “When you get a team down, you just got to keep stepping and building. We just didn’t do that early on.”

Indiana will have to play with more urgency with the start of Big Ten play in just two days. The Hoosiers host Minnesota on Monday before traveling to Nebraska on Friday.

Improved free throw shooting continues to pay dividends

Indiana’s transformation from one of the nation’s worst free throw shooting teams to one of the best continues to pay dividends.

On Friday against Miami, the Hoosiers went to the line 19 times and converted 14 of those chances, for a percentage of 73.7 percent. And that was a worse–than–usual performance for these Hoosiers.

Indiana is shooting 77.3 percent from the stripe through nine games, which ranks 36th nationally.

The most notable improvement on the roster from the line has been Malik Reneau. The junior shot 71.4 percent from the line as a freshman and just 68.3 percent last season. This season, Reneau is 30-for-34 (88.2 percent) from the stripe.

It also helps that IU has Myles Rice (94.7 percent), Luke Goode (93.8 percent), Mackenzie Mgbako (92 percent), Trey Galloway (83.3 percent) and Bryson Tucker (76.9) all shooting well from the line.

With Big Ten play on the horizon and opponents looking to slow it down and force IU to play in the halfcourt, getting to the line and converting will be key.

Filed to: Miami Ohio Redhawks, Oumar Ballo, Trey Galloway