How ‘trusting the process’ and ‘playing within the system’ has been instrumental in Mackenzie Mgbako’s surge for Indiana basketball

Making the adjustment from high school to college is difficult for any player, regardless of the resume they bring with them to that level. The ‘freshman wall’ is a saying, but it’s also a reality for nearly every first year player. For Indiana basketball freshman Mackenzie Mgbako, that wall came early as the adjustment did not come as easy.

Mgbako was a top-10 prospect in the class of 2023 and arrived at Indiana with high expectations to be someone that would contribute day one. But, that didn’t happen. Instead he was nearly unplayable because of his defensives lapses and struggles shooting the ball.

In the first five games, Mgbako averaged just 5.0 points on 32.0 percent shooting in 18 minutes a game. He had 13 points in his third game but totaled just 12 points combined in the other four.

He started the season just 1-of-13 from three.

“He’s a young player, man,” Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson said back in November. “All you guys expect him to be a great player right now because he’s got that five star tag on him. I think that’s bullshit. The bottom line is, he’s still young and he’s trying to learn the college game.”

While that is all well and fine, the media wasn’t alone in putting some of the expectations on Mgbako. It was Mike Woodson, himself, who said during the preseason that he’s ‘expecting big things’ from Mgbako.

“Only time will tell. He’s capable of putting the basketball in the hole. He’s shown that this summer. We’ve got to help him as coaches and put him in the best position possible to be successful and help us,” Woodson said during Indiana basketball media day “I’m expecting big things from him, but I’m not putting a lot of pressure on him. He’s a freshman.”

The 6-foot-8 freshman came to Indiana with an ability to score from the perimeter as well as have the ability to use his shot making ability to beat opponents in the paint. While it took some time, he has now blossomed.

Since his five game struggles to start, Mgbako has scored in double-figures in 20 of the last 24 games and averaged 13.5 points on 35.9 percent shooting from three. His emergence as a threat from the perimeter has been the only saving grace for Indiana’s three-point shooting.

Indiana basketball currently ranks 259th in three-point percentage at 32.9 percent and 345th in three-point shot rate. It also averages just 5.1 made 3s per game.

Mgbako has taken on that role as a shooter — averaging 1.5 made 3s per game this season and 1.7 in conference games. He has now hit multiple 3s in 15 of the last 21 games.

That shooting performance was on display like it hadn’t been before on Sunday in Indiana’s win over Maryland. As IU faced a 16-point second half deficit, it was Mgbako who took over and shot Indiana back into the game.

He scored 18 points and hit two 3s in the second half alone en route to a new career-high 24 points. He was 8-of-15 from the floor and 4-of-8 from three. It was his third new career-high in the last five games.

“I was just like, ‘We gotta get the dub’. That’s all it was,” Mgbako said postgame. “Just playing within the team. And my teammates got me some good shots and I just had to knock ‘em down.”

None were bigger than when Indiana was down seven, 58-51, with 12:09 remaining. Mgbako went on to score the next seven points himself, including back-to-back 3s and a four-point play.

“I think he played an overall great game,” Xavier Johnson said. “He shot the ball, he took his chances. He was in the right spots at the right times. We trust him to make a shot.”

In the last five games, Mgbako has proven to be a guy who can ‘make a shot’. He is averaging 17.4 points on 38.7 percent from three (12-of-31) in that span — making 2.4 3s per game. He’s shooting 46.7 percent from the field with a true shooting percentage of 59.7 percent and effective field goal percentage of 56.7 — by far his best stretch this year.

“His last two games, if you look at his stat line, were incredible. For a freshman, where we started with this young man and where he is today, I’m happy as hell,” Woodson said of Mgbako on Monday. “He’s improving right in front of us … You’ve got to have somebody on your team that can break someone down and go get it (a bucket).”

So what’s been the reason for recent surge?

“It’s just letting the game come to me and not forcing anything,” Mgbako said on Tuesday. “Playing within the system and being confident in myself and my teammates to make the right play.

“Staying in the game (mentally), being able to know where to be at on the court. Knowing how to get to my spots — if Gallo (Trey Galloway) is coming off a screen, I need to rise above the corner. Or if he’s driving baseline, go to the deep corner. Just knowing where to be on the floor so I can knock down the shot or make a play for somebody else.”

But, the issue hasn’t been Mgbako’s offense. It’s been his defensive lapses that have caused the struggles and the negative sentiment around the country. He’s been improving in that as well — even if it’s not always visible.

“I feel like defense creates offense. And just being able to play solid defense and move my feet creates offense,” Mgbako said. “Then the offense comes from within the team and just getting open shots.”

Indiana basketball is just 16-13 overall and 8-10 in Big Ten play, and while there haven’t been a lot of positives to come from the season, the growth and development that Mackenzie Mgbako has shown is a testament to him, his support system and the coaching staff — for continuing to allow him to play through some of his mistakes as of late.

“Sometimes you gotta fail to be successful,” Woodson had said last month. “I like his work ethic. When he’s in practice, he gives you what he’s got … I’m happy with Mack, man, I just think he’s gonna continue to get better as the games go along.”

“The people I have around me. I have a good sport system that helps me keep my head on my shoulders and keep me on the right path,” Mgbako added. “So keeping my head down, working hard and trusting the process is how it’s helped me.”

SEE ALSO: Indiana Basketball Mailbag — What to make of Mike Woodson and Indiana during final stretch run amid difficult season