Indiana basketball escapes shame & more takeaways vs. Kennesaw State

#1. Tamar Bates’ shooting and confidence have come up huge for the Hoosiers

Bates earned MVP in Friday’s win against Kennesaw State, tallying a team-high 19 points in 31 minutes off the bench. Bates shot 7-for-12 from the field and 3-for-7 from beyond the arc, adding two rebounds, two assists, and just one turnover.

Since December 1, Bates has tied for the most made threes (12) by major conference players off the bench (David Singleton – UCLA) and has been shooting at a 42.9 percent clip in December.

Scoop ranks seventh among major conference players in three-pointers made (20) off the bench this season, but fourth among bench players in the Big Ten. His 41.7 percent shooting mark this season ranks tied for 12th among major conference players and fifth among Big Ten players off the bench.

It seems like it’s time for Tamar to get his opportunity to flourish in the starting lineup alongside Jalen Hood-Schifino and Trayce Jackson-Davis, especially as we approach conference play and offense will be hard to come by at times.