Early rotation adjustments could propel Indiana basketball

Indiana basketball is off to a perfect 4-0 start, but while the record looks good, it’s clear that adjustments are still needed if the Hoosiers want to compete for a Big Ten championship and make a deep NCAA Tournament run. The recurring issue? Substitution patterns. With four games of data and film in hand, the evidence is clear: the current approach disrupts rhythm, stalls momentum, and has allowed weaker opponents to claw their way back into games. It’s a problem that can no longer be ignored, and I believe a manageable solution is within reach.

The Problem: A Familiar Pattern

Indiana’s starting five has shown promise, often building substantial leads early in games. However, once substitutions begin, the efficiency dips, allowing opponents to close the gap. Consider these examples:

• SIU-Edwardsville: Indiana surged to a 20-9 lead in the first seven minutes. After heavy substitutions, the lead dwindled down to a 27-27 tie.
• Eastern Illinois: After a rough start, the starters orchestrated a dominant 38-5 second half run to secure the blowout win.
• South Carolina: A 14-4 lead in the first six minutes dwindled to a one possession game following substitutions.
• UNC-Greensboro: A 21-5 lead vanished after Myles Rice subbed out of the game to complete the sub pattern, sparking a 35-19 run by UNC-Greensboro to tie the game.

These lapses have become a concerning trend, creating unnecessary pressure on a team that should be putting games out of reach early. Losing a game solely because of a poorly managed five-minute stretch would be incredibly frustrating, especially when the issue can be addressed with a few tweaks.

The Solution: A Set of Lineup Rules

This isn’t about playing the starters for 40 minutes or abandoning the bench. It’s about maintaining balance and ensuring that Indiana always has key players on the court who can create and sustain momentum while the game is still being decided. The solution revolves around three players: Mackenzie Mgbako, Malik Reneau, and Myles Rice.

These three have been Indiana’s most consistent contributors on both ends of the floor, showing the ability to score and create offense independently. To ensure that momentum is sustained, these three players should never sit at the same time in the 1st half. Here’s how the substitution rules could work:

1. If Myles Rice sits, Trey Galloway must be on the floor along with both Mgbako and Reneau.
2. If Mgbako and Reneau sit simultaneously, Myles Rice must remain in the game.

This simple framework ensures that Indiana basketball always has a shot creator and reliable scorer on the court, minimizing the scoring droughts and defensive lapses that have plagued them in these early games. The rotation pattern also allows the bench to mix in well with the starting group. By keeping the pressure manageable, role players can shine in their natural roles without overstepping their limits. This is not the NBA, it’s a tough ask for the 7th or 8th man to lead and make important decisions over a five minute segment.

Why this should work

The goal is to sustain momentum, not to give opponents a window to gain confidence. By following these rules especially when Indiana jumps on teams early, the Hoosiers can maintain offensive flow and defensive intensity, even during stretches when the bench sees action. This approach also allows head coach Mike Woodson to continue utilizing a nine-man rotation without sacrificing the team’s rhythm or allowing leads to evaporate.

Indiana has the talent to contend at a high level, but bad substitution patterns have been a recurring obstacle. Fixing this issue now, while the team is still learning and building chemistry, could be the difference between a solid season and competing for championships.

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