Indiana is coming off of a demoralizing loss to Northwestern on Tuesday in which 5 players were suspended.
On Thursday, Mike Woodson said all 5 will 'be available to play' on Saturday against Michigan State. Obviously that is a big help for an IU team that was very burnt out towards the end of the Northwestern matchup.
A lot of people have discussed the starting lineup and today Mike Woodson addressed that with a lot more openness than he had previously.
On potentially Trey Galloway starting: 'He's been fantastic... it's a thought. We will have to make that decision after practice today to see where we are. But he's done well enough to push for that.'
I'm not 100% sure if a lineup change will happen, but this would be the time to do so, so it wouldn't surprise me.
As many of you would assume, IU assistant coach Dane Fife has the scout/gameplan for this weekend's game. He spent 10 seasons under Tom Izzo before coming back to IU.
Mike Woodson Q&A:
indiana.rivals.com
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As for recruiting, the biggest development over the last week + has been the recruitment of 2023 Memorial (OH) big man Austin Parks. He announced that he will make his college decision this Sunday. His top three is Indiana, Ohio State and West Virginia.
Parks has visited OSU and IU multiple times.
As of now, things seem to be pointing to him staying in state and heading to Ohio State.
Indiana and Ohio State have always been the top programs for Parks but the home school pull seems to be a lot to overcome in this one.
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As for as other potential 2023 big men, there is one name that IU has been 'involved' with. That is 6-foot-10 Colorado Prep forward Baye Ndongo. Indiana has seen him in person earlier this year.
He currently has offers from Penn State, Washington State, Arizona State, Colorado, New Mexico, Providence and more.
He's originally from Senegal and is a very athletic big. He is a terrific shot blocker and rebounder and finishes well around the rim. Pretty smart player who knows how to utilize his skillset and the best ways to attack a defense. His touch in the mid range game is very good and can stretch out to the three-point line. Overall, rim-runner, athleticism and high-motor are the three ways to describe Ndongo.
We will see how involved IU gets moving forward, especially since the Hoosiers are in a need for big men.
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Rivals released their updated 2022, 2023 and 2024 rankings this week.
The biggest news was the jumps Jalen Hood-Schifino and Gabe Cupps made. Hood-Schifino moved from No. 20 to No. 16 and is now a five-star prospect. Cupps moved up from No. 141 to No. 125 in the 2023 class and is now a four-star.
Both players have been tremendous this season and deserved the rise in the rankings.
Other IU commits, 2022 forward Kaleb Banks moved down a few from No. 121 to No. 126. 2023 commit Jakai Newton dropped from No. 43 to No. 46. 2022 guard CJ Gunn remains unranked.
A big riser in the class of 2023 was IU target and forward Coen Carr. The South Carolina prospect was unranked and jumped all the way to No. 68 overall in the class.
2023 five-star forward KJ Evans dropped one stop to No. 5. 2023 four-star forward Xavier Booker dropped just one stop to No. 38 overall.
Full 2022 list:
Full 2023 list:
Full 2024 list:
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Other notes...
Trayce Jackson-Davis was named to the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Midseason Team.
Kyler got a chance to see CJ Gunn again in person earlier this week against Carmel. Gunn had 27 points in a seven-point loss.
Here is some video from the game:
indiana.rivals.com
Here is a recent article on Frederica Academy (Ga) 2024 forward William Jobe. Jobe is a 6-foot-9 stretch forward who has been to Indiana on a visit. The family is a big IU family.
Long way to go in his recruitment but Indiana is definitely a program heavily involved.
thebrunswicknews.com
More background on Jobe:
indiana.rivals.com
On Thursday, Mike Woodson said all 5 will 'be available to play' on Saturday against Michigan State. Obviously that is a big help for an IU team that was very burnt out towards the end of the Northwestern matchup.
A lot of people have discussed the starting lineup and today Mike Woodson addressed that with a lot more openness than he had previously.
On potentially Trey Galloway starting: 'He's been fantastic... it's a thought. We will have to make that decision after practice today to see where we are. But he's done well enough to push for that.'
I'm not 100% sure if a lineup change will happen, but this would be the time to do so, so it wouldn't surprise me.
As many of you would assume, IU assistant coach Dane Fife has the scout/gameplan for this weekend's game. He spent 10 seasons under Tom Izzo before coming back to IU.
Mike Woodson Q&A:
TheHoosier - Coach Q&A: Mike Woodson previews Michigan State
IU head coach Mike Woodson previews Indiana's matchup with Michigan State on Saturday afternoon.
indiana.rivals.com
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As for recruiting, the biggest development over the last week + has been the recruitment of 2023 Memorial (OH) big man Austin Parks. He announced that he will make his college decision this Sunday. His top three is Indiana, Ohio State and West Virginia.
Parks has visited OSU and IU multiple times.
As of now, things seem to be pointing to him staying in state and heading to Ohio State.
Indiana and Ohio State have always been the top programs for Parks but the home school pull seems to be a lot to overcome in this one.
--
As for as other potential 2023 big men, there is one name that IU has been 'involved' with. That is 6-foot-10 Colorado Prep forward Baye Ndongo. Indiana has seen him in person earlier this year.
He currently has offers from Penn State, Washington State, Arizona State, Colorado, New Mexico, Providence and more.
He's originally from Senegal and is a very athletic big. He is a terrific shot blocker and rebounder and finishes well around the rim. Pretty smart player who knows how to utilize his skillset and the best ways to attack a defense. His touch in the mid range game is very good and can stretch out to the three-point line. Overall, rim-runner, athleticism and high-motor are the three ways to describe Ndongo.
We will see how involved IU gets moving forward, especially since the Hoosiers are in a need for big men.
---
Rivals released their updated 2022, 2023 and 2024 rankings this week.
The biggest news was the jumps Jalen Hood-Schifino and Gabe Cupps made. Hood-Schifino moved from No. 20 to No. 16 and is now a five-star prospect. Cupps moved up from No. 141 to No. 125 in the 2023 class and is now a four-star.
Both players have been tremendous this season and deserved the rise in the rankings.
Other IU commits, 2022 forward Kaleb Banks moved down a few from No. 121 to No. 126. 2023 commit Jakai Newton dropped from No. 43 to No. 46. 2022 guard CJ Gunn remains unranked.
A big riser in the class of 2023 was IU target and forward Coen Carr. The South Carolina prospect was unranked and jumped all the way to No. 68 overall in the class.
2023 five-star forward KJ Evans dropped one stop to No. 5. 2023 four-star forward Xavier Booker dropped just one stop to No. 38 overall.
Full 2022 list:
Full 2023 list:
Full 2024 list:
--
Other notes...
Trayce Jackson-Davis was named to the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Midseason Team.
Kyler got a chance to see CJ Gunn again in person earlier this week against Carmel. Gunn had 27 points in a seven-point loss.
Here is some video from the game:
TheHoosier - Video Scouting: 2022 Indiana signee CJ Gunn highlights vs Carmel
TheHoosier.com got another extended look at 2022 Indiana signee CJ Gunn this past Monday against Carmel.
indiana.rivals.com
Here is a recent article on Frederica Academy (Ga) 2024 forward William Jobe. Jobe is a 6-foot-9 stretch forward who has been to Indiana on a visit. The family is a big IU family.
Long way to go in his recruitment but Indiana is definitely a program heavily involved.
He Got Game: Frederica Academy's William Jobe is a name to remember
Standing 6-foot-9, sophomore William Jobe has started every single game for the Frederica Academy Knights boy’s basketball program since his eighth grade year.
More background on Jobe:
TheHoosier - Indiana visit leaves strong impression on 2024 forward William Jobe
2024 forward William Jobe and his family came away impressed following Indiana visit.
indiana.rivals.com
