Indiana basketball vs. Bethune-Cookman: Six takeaways from 52-point win
On Thursday night, Indiana basketball dominated the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats by 52 points, winning 101-49, with the Hoosiers hitting 10 three-pointers.
Yes, Indiana was knocking down three after three against the Wildcats on their way to a 2-0 start to begin the 2022-23 season.
Though it may seem like Trayce Jackson-Davis was the clear standout in the game, in my eyes I saw the impressive playmaking by guards, knockdown shooting by multiple players, and energy-boosting from the bench that were the biggest keys to the win.
One question mark for me still is the fact that Coach Woodson is still playing around with his lineups as we approach a key road game against Xavier on November 18.
Does Jalen Hood-Schifino need to play 30-35 minutes for the Hoosiers offense to run smoothly or can Xavier Johnson do enough defensively to offset mistakes? Can Trayce Jackson-Davis and Malik Reneau play together?
Still waiting on answers to these questions and more as we approach the biggest game of the season thus far next Friday.
Six takeaways from Indiana basketball win vs. Bethune-Cookman
#6. This Hoosiers’ bench unit is FUN to watch
Not sure if it’s just me or every time in these two games for Indiana, the bench has provided a lift both statistically and on the court but also spiritually. The energy from Malik Reneau, Jordan Geronimo, Tamar Bates, and Trey Galloway is something that we Hoosier basketball fans have not seen in quite some time.
The four bench unit players that could all be starters on other power conference teams combined for 35 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, four steals, and five made three-pointers.
In the two games thus far this season, this bench unit is averaging 35.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 4.0 steals, and 3.0 made threes. Compared to last season’s first two games, the first four guys off the bench averaged 20.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.5 steals, and 2.5 made threes. That’s a significant improvement.
One of the bigger problems Mike Woodson will have this season is splitting the time in big games between starters and bench guys. Will he have to mix and match what’s working or will he stick with his starters as his finishers in big games, like our next matchup against the Musketeers?
I’m glad I don’t have to make that decision, but the bench is very fun to watch and this team as a whole looks like they’re playing together and for each other, which is a big difference from what we’ve seen since 2017.