Indiana basketball vs. St. Francis exhibition: Six takeaways for IUBB

#3. Race Thompson will be our rock for this entire season

Statistically, Thompson had a sub-par game in the second exhibition matchup, registering just four points, five rebounds, one assist, two blocks, and two steals in 17 minutes. If I looked at that box score without watching the game, I’d be ready to substitute Malik Reneau into the starting lineup ASAP.

It’s more than just stats when talking about Thompson. He is the rock of this roster and without Thompson, this Indiana basketball program will not be successful this season. Last season, Race Thompson was one of three players to rank in the top 15 in the Big Ten in total rebounds (8th) and steals (tied for 13th). The other two players were selected in the lottery of the 2022 NBA Draft (Keegan Murray – Iowa and Johnny Davis – Wisconsin).

Thompson will play significant minutes with many different lineups this season, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him and Hood-Schifino paired up with the seniors (TJD, Kopp, and X) along with the younger guys (Bates, Geronimo, and Reneau). This is going to be a big season for Thompson, as he’s hoping to make a name for himself as one of the most important players in the country.