“We are going to change the lineup up somewhat bit with (Xavier Johnson) being out,” Woodson stated throughout his radio present on Monday evening with Don Fischer. “We’ll begin Tamar and convey Galloway off the bench to type of again the second unit as a result of I want one other ball-handler in that regard.

“After I suppose again to final season, plenty of video games we acquired off to a reasonably good begin, and it is type of been a roller-coaster experience this 12 months. So we’ll must shake the lineup up a bit most likely to see if that works.”

By a lot of December, Indiana has struggled to attain factors in bunches early. They fell into deep holes in each showcase video games in opposition to Kansas and Arizona and likewise of their lone Massive Ten loss at Rutgers. They by no means acquired again over the hump, regardless of grinding out some comeback stretches in all three losses.. They even let Kennesaw State cling round for a lot too lengthy of their final recreation on Dec. 23 earlier than pulling away late for a 69-55 win.

Woodson thinks having Bates within the beginning lineup would possibly assist the Hoosiers get off to raised begins. The Hoosiers (10-3, 1-1 within the Massive Ten) play at Iowa at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday evening.

“One way or the other, I’ve acquired to make the changes by way of who begins and who comes off the bench,” Woodson stated. “It is vital if you’re enjoying the great groups, the actually good groups just like the Kansas’s, the Arizona’s, the Rutgers’, you may’t get off to a gradual begin. And in all three video games, we acquired off to a gradual begin and we paid for it. And that is one thing shifting ahead that we have talked about somewhat bit.”

Bates has scored 19 factors or extra 3 times this season, and through Indiana’s first 13 video games, he’s averaging 9.2 factors and 22.0 minutes per recreation, whereas capturing 41.7 % (20-for-48) from three-point vary, 52.3 % from the sector and 100% (10-for-10) on the free throw line.

Woodson beloved the concept of getting two level guards on the ground on the similar time when he began Johnson with freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino. They spent a lot of the summer season working with Galloway and Bates on their ball-handling expertise. Galloway will now see extra time on the level when Hood-Schifino wants a break.

“[Ball-handling is] one thing that we tried to coach him and Tamar Bates, and even CJ (Gunn) somewhat bit,” Woodson stated. “We skilled Tamar and Galloway this summer season simply because of this alone, simply in case one thing was to occur to one of many level guards. So it isn’t nothing new, they simply acquired to reveal it after we’re enjoying video games.”

• ANTHONY LEAL FEATURED ON CBS EVENING NEWS: Indiana basketball participant Anthony Leal turned one thing of a nationwide hero on Christmas Day after he thrilled his older sister Lauren by paying off all of her scholar loans for her reward. The video went viral, and the pair was featured in a narrative on the CBS Night Information on Monday evening. Here is the video. CLICK HERE
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• BIG TEN ROUNDUP (Jan. 2): Issues all the time appear to end up unhealthy for Purdue each time they’re ranked No. 1 and must play Rutgers, and the identical factor occurred Monday evening when Cam Spencer hit a three-pointer within the closing seconds to present Rutgers a 65-64 win. It was the second time in two years that they beat Purdue as a No. 1 seed. Here is our roundup for Jan. 2, together with the three bowl video games and Tuesday’s basketball preview. CLICK HERE
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• PAT FORDE COLUMN: Whereas the Massive Ten made huge waves this previous offseason, the on-field outcomes are nonetheless a piece in progress after losses by Michigan and Ohio State within the School Soccer Playoffs on Saturday. Right here is Sports activities Illustrated author Pat Forde’s column. CLICK HERE