Indiana basketball vs. Morehead State: Six takeaways from season-opening win

Indiana Hoosiers guard Jalen Hood-Schifino (1). (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Indiana Hoosiers guard Jalen Hood-Schifino (1). (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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Indiana basketball
Tamar Bates #53 of the Indiana Hoosiers. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

#3. Hoosiers might have the best bench in the country

The Hoosiers bench that will be contributing significantly this season produced 36 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocks in a combined 70 minutes played. That group includes Malik Reneau, Jordan Geronimo, Tamar Bates, and Trey Galloway. The bench shot 15-for-21 (71.4 percent) from the field and 5-for-8 (62.5 percent) from the free-throw line.

If you were to include the entire bench that played in this blowout win, Indiana outscored Morehead State 45-8 in bench points, which is a huge margin overall.

Somehow, someway, if Mike Woodson can find ways to ensure his bench unit gets enough time to make an impact, not sure if any team in the country can realistically handle nine players that could all start on Big Ten teams this season if they weren’t on Indiana. That’s how good this unit played on Monday night.