A lot has transpired since the last time we took a stab at power ranking the players for the Indiana men's basketball team in early January. Unfortunately, there has not been much good going on in B-Town during that roughly month long span. Things are not looking very good when it comes to this team's chances when the NCAA ranks the most qualified clubs for the big dance. The time for those collective rankings will soon come.
For now, here is a look at where each individual Hoosier now stands within the overall hierarchy in Indiana.
11 - 6
11 = Kaleb Banks
After a promising 12-point outing in the Hoosiers' final game of 2023 against Kennesaw State, it looked like things were on an upward trend for Banks heading into the start of 2024. So far, he has scored just 3 points, dished out just 1 assist, and grabbed just 4 rebounds in his 36 combined minutes in 2024. The sophomore received a dreaded DNP in the loss to Penn State, and his spot in the rotation looks grim going forward.
10 = Payton Sparks
Indiana needs Sparks simply due to his size and strength. With Ware missing some time, Mike Woodson does not have much else choice but to utilize the Ball State transfer. He scored 7 in the loss to Wisconsin, and has shown a few flashes here and there that have offered glimpses of a promising future.
9 = CJ Gunn
Where IU needs Sparks in the size department, they need CJ Gunn in the area of athleticism. Gunn's offense has been sporadic and mostly silent all season, but his tangibles alone make him arguably Mike Woodson's best option for perimeter defense. At 6'6" and 200 pounds with a 6'9" wingspan, he has the shell of a stopper. Gunn has grown a lot defensively in year two, and that is where he is going to earn his minutes as we look ahead.
8 = Anthony Leal
The local legend Leal was crucial in the Hoosiers's win over Iowa, and showed that he is always ready to contribute when called upon. The senior has not seen the court much thus far, but the team could really use more of his spirit and enthusiasm. Leal should see an uptick in action in the home stretch of the season.
7 = Xavier Johnson
Prior to missing the loss to Penn State with an injury, Xavier Johnson was slowly starting to turn things around from an individual perspective. In the 3 games that took place in the week of January 9th - 16th (Rutgers, Minnesota, Purdue), Johnson averaged just 1.3 PPG, 1.3 RPG and 1.0 APG. He made just 1/11 shots from the field in that stretch. Over the next 3 games (Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa), he averaged 10.3 PPG, 3 RPG and 2.1 APG on an efficient 11/23 (47.8%) from the field.
Those numbers are not spectacular, but if he could simply sustain that level of output and avoid unnecessary turnovers/mental mistakes then it would be huge for the Hoosiers.
6 = Anthony Walker
Walker has been a subtle hero for Indiana in 2023-2024. His averages of 6 points and 3 rebounds are not significant, but he has nonetheless been a consistently useful source of energy to turn to off the bench. The former Miami Hurricane has been a huge spark for this team, and they will need his efforts to continue.