Indiana
Malik Reneau Enters Freshman Season as Valuable Piece to Indiana Frontcourt
A 6-foot-9, 233-pound body dribbled up the courtroom throughout an Indiana basketball observe early this offseason.
He was taking pictures from the surface, displaying exact footwork and a good deal with. As preseason All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis put it, “He was killing everybody. We couldn’t guard him.”
“Me and Race [Thompson] had been like, ‘How are we guarding this dude?’” Jackson-Davis stated.
It was Malik Reneau, and he made his presence recognized throughout his first week on campus. Reneau decommitted from Florida when coach Mike White left for Georgia, and determined to observe Jalen Hood-Schifino, his teammate at Montverde Academy, to Indiana. Jackson-Davis stated Reneau had a “Huge Ten physique” when he joined the crew this summer season as an ESPN five-star recruit.
Indiana enters the 2022-23 season because the Huge Ten favourite, headlined by veteran forwards Jackson-Davis and Thompson. Meaning Reneau should wait his time – to crack the beginning lineup, not less than – however he initiatives to be a worthwhile depth piece for significant minutes in a convention crammed with gifted frontcourts.
“I am certain in some unspecified time in the future [Reneau] goes to be All-Huge Ten first crew and all of that,” Thompson stated. “He is a very gifted freshman and I am actually excited to look at him develop.”
Throughout matchups in observe, Thompson stated Reneau is hard to protect as a result of he doesn’t get sped up. He’ll play at his tempo it doesn’t matter what, and he’s proven tender contact across the rim with each his proper and left hand. Thompson and Jackson-Davis agreed that Reneau already has a physique constructed for the Huge Ten, however Thompson additionally known as the Indiana freshman “lowkey fast.”
Rising up, Reneau’s favourite NBA participant was Carmelo Anthony. He studied the best way Anthony operated within the mid-post space, and now he enjoys watching Julius Randle of the New York Knicks.
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Indiana coach Mike Woodson likes the aggressive spirit the Indiana freshman class has proven, and that’s definitely been the case with Reneau since he arrived. He anticipated a tricky problem with Jackson-Davis and Thompson, so he approached it with a mindset of taking part in exhausting and letting his sport converse for itself. Reneau had his shot blocked just a few instances by the veterans, but it surely’s helped him study to dam out negativity and transfer to the following play.
“It has been enjoyable going in opposition to Race and Trayce, competing at a excessive degree,” Reneau stated. “Understanding that Race and Trayce have been right here, they know what it takes, and that has been an enormous issue after they begin speaking to us.”
From Jackson-Davis’ perspective, Reneau’s subsequent step of vital enchancment comes on the defensive finish. He has a elegant offensive sport, however Jackson-Davis is instructing Reneau the assorted defensive schemes, serving to him be in the fitting spot and studying easy methods to acknowledge the opponent’s tendencies.
On paper, Indiana seems to have improved frontcourt depth in comparison with latest years. Jackson-Davis and Thompson kind one of many nation’s prime duos within the publish, and all indicators level to Reneau being a direct contributor. Jordan Geronimo stated he’s taking part in extra of the small ahead than energy ahead place in observe, however he’s at all times been a gifted rebounder and inside defender. Add Logan Duncomb, who Jackson-Davis and Thompson stated is stronger in yr two, and Indiana may go 5 gamers deep on the frontcourt positions.
“It should work,” Thompson stated. “We’ve got an awesome coach with Coach Woodson, all the opposite coaches. We’re nice gamers. We all know easy methods to play with one another. We have been taking part in with one another all summer season. Me and Trayce know easy methods to play with one another, after which Malik has match proper in with us.”
Associated tales on Indiana basketball:
- JACKSON-DAVIS AP ALL-AMERICAN: Hoosier ahead Trayce Jackson-Davis was named a preseason AP All-American as the one Huge Ten participant, becoming a member of Oscar Tshiebwe, Drew Timme, Marcus Sasser and Armando Bacot. CLICK HERE
- INDIANA-KENTUCKY RETURNING: Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari commented on the return of the Kentucky-Indiana rivalry on Wednesday at SEC Media Day. CLICK HERE
- ASA NEWELL VISITS INDIANA: Indiana basketball hosted an official go to this weekend for Asa Newell, a top-10 recruit from Montverde Academy. CLICK HERE
Indiana
Indiana turns to transfer portal again, lands Cal QB, Maryland RB
A notable transfer class helped Indiana win 11 games for the first time in school history and make a surprise appearance in the college football playoff this season.
It appears coach Curt Cignetti is attempting to recreate that magic in 2025, landing a pair of notable offensive weapons through the portal ahead of Christmas.
On Monday, the Hoosiers landed Maryland running back Roman Hemby, who rushed for 607 yards and six touchdowns this year and has 2,347 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground in his career.
He has led the Terps in rushing in each of the last three seasons while earning All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors twice and being named a Freshman All-American.
Henby will compete with senior Kaelon Black and UAB transfer Lee Beebe Jr. for snaps in the spring.
The Hoosiers got more good news on Tuesday, landing Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza via the transfer portal, 247 Sports reported.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound signal-caller has made 19 starts with the Golden Bears over the last two seasons, completing 66 percent of his passes for 4,712 yards with 30 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
He has also rushed for 197 yards and four touchdowns during his time in Berkeley.
He is the older brother of IU true freshman quarterback Alberto Mendoza. His arrival in Bloomington is huge for the team that needs to replace Kurtis Rourke.
Georgia, Missouri, and UCLA were the other schools that were aggressively pursuing Mendoza, according to 247 Sports.
Mendoza will be the favorite to start at QB next season after top backup Tayven Jackson entered the transfer portal this week.
Indiana lost to Notre Dame in the first round of the first 12-team playoff on Dec. 20. The Hoosiers open the 2025 season against Old Dominion on Aug. 30.
Indiana
Pacers 111-105 Warriors (Dec 23, 2024) Box Score – ESPN
Warriors’ Kuminga responds to Kerr criticism by starring off bench
After Warriors coach Steve Kerr delivered his most pointed criticism about Jonathan Kuminga’s decision-making and shot selection of late, the fourth-year forward responded with one of his best and most aggressive games of the season Monday night.
Indiana
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