Indiana Basketball: 2019-20 end of season awards

Breakout Performer: Race Thompson

I don’t think anyone saw this breakout coming from Race Thompson, especially this season, but it was a great light into what he can provide next season.

Despite averaging just 3.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game this season, Thompson’s energy and effort was something that gave the Hoosiers life down the stretch of the season.

In the final nine games of the season, Thompson averaged 5.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while playing 19.6 minutes a game. Why do those numbers matter? He became one of the best defenders on the team – team high 90.8 rating – and helped the Hoosiers get through a tough time while Joey Brunk was in a big slump.

With two double-digit rebound performances and five games with seven or more points, Thompson’s step forward in his production gave Archie Miller the ability to use the ‘small-ball’ lineup to space the floor and thus help the offensive production.

While Thompson is not going to be someone to average 15 points and eight rebounds a game next year, his play in the final quarter of the 2019-20 season has him ready for a huge step up in production as a junior.