‘I don’t feel like I’ve proven myself just yet’: Kel’el Ware turns in another dominant performance for Indiana basketball as he continues to change his narrative

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware came into this season with doubters. Doubters around his toughness. Around his motor. And, around his true potential following a disappointing season at Oregon as a freshman. What has he done? Silenced the doubters and Sunday was yet another performance that adds to it.

Indiana won its fourth-straight game to end the regular season on Sunday with a 65-64 win over Michigan State. And, Ware was a huge reason why.

The 7-footer turned in 28 points on 13-of-19 from the field, 12 rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 37 minutes.

His 28 points tied a career high and was the third game in his last four with at least 26 points.

“Honestly, before he got here I overheard some questions about his motor,” Indiana basketball senior guard Xavier Johnson said postgame. “I think that was something that was well-known about him. Coach Woodson and the team has stayed on him about it, and I think that’s the reason he’s averaging what he is averaging right now, and he’s doing a hell of a job, and I think he is going to continue to be that type of guy and continue to play like that.”

Sunday was Ware’s 10th game this season with at least 20 points. It was also his fifth time with at least 25 points.

It was also Ware’s 14th double-double and 15th game with at least 10 rebounds. Ware had zero double-digit rebounding games as a freshman. He also didn’t have a 20-point game last year.

And, Indiana basketball needed every single part of it on Sunday. After watching a 20-5 lead turn into a 43-36 deficit at the 15:23 mark of the second half, Indiana went to Ware on almost every possession to close out the game.

He went on to score 12 of the next 14 points for Indiana — in addition to having the assist on the only other made field goal in that stretch.

In the second half alone, Ware had 19 points and was 9-of-13 from the floor. What got into him — ‘just wanting to win’.

“Just wanting to win,” Ware said postgame. “You know, of course I’ve been wanting to win the whole season, but I feel like looking past it I just need to be more aggressive, and that’s what I’ve been doing on the offensive end, and just trying to help my team as much as I can on the defensive end just to come up with the end.”

Ware finished the regular season averaging 16.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.9 blocks per game all while shooting 59.9 percent from the field. But, it’s been in conference games where his play has even taken another step up.

More: Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson says Trey Galloway ‘still being evaluated’ following knee injury

Ware is averaging 16.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting a Big-Ten best 63.2 percent from the floor.

“Mike’s done a hell of a job with Ware. He deserves a lot of credit,” Michigan State had coach Tom Izzo said after the game. “I played against him (Ware) last year and wasn’t very good. Now, Kinda like our kid (Xavier) Booker, I think strength, I think he’s tougher and — earlier in the year he was okay, but the last half of the year he’s been a force to be reckoned with. I give Mike a lot of credit and Ware a lot of credit. He made some tough shots.

“He made a couple that were pretty well defended and yet I have to do a better job of where we double from and that and they just kept going to him. We tried to react with a couple different things but that falls on me.”

Whether they were dunks, fadeaway jumpers, layups or turnaround jumpers, Ware had everything in his repertoire working. But, it was a shot that nobody was defending that won Indiana the game.

Ware went to the free throw line with 14.5 seconds left to shoot two free throws. He missed the first. At that point, he was 0-of-5 from the foul line on the afternoon. Then, he took a second to walk back past the three-point line to collect his thoughts. What was he saying to himself?

“Just don’t think, shoot,” Ware said. “That was all I was thinking. Just don’t think, shoot.”

He sank the next free throw, ultimately giving Indiana the one-point win.

“All I can tell you guys after that first month, he’s been a totally different player,” Woodsons said of Ware. “I got to give tribute to your coaching staff and how they work, and we pushed him and his teammates believe in him and I believe in him. He’s been phenomenal, been playing unbelievable, which is kind of nice to see.”

So, as Indiana turns the page on an inconsistent regular season, one thing is for certain; the play of Kel’el Ware was about the only consistency.

Now, Indiana basketball heads into the Big Ten Tournament which it will still likely need to win in order to make the NCAA Tournament field. But, that doesn’t matter at the current moment. It’s one game at a time for a team that has been in that mindset for the last month.

And with Ware leading the charge, there is still more that both he and Indiana want to show.

“It’s always still more to prove,” Ware said. “So I don’t feel like I’ve proven myself just yet.”

SEE ALSO: Tom Izzo vocalizes support of Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson

Make sure to follow Hoosier Illustrated, part of the Full Ride Network, on Twitter @Indiana_FRN, Facebook and YouTube to stay up to date on all of the news, updates and coverage of Indiana University athletics. You can also listen to the Talking’ Bout the Hoosiers podcast on Spotify.

Looking for a place to get more Indiana content? Hoosier Illustrated has partnered with Tom Brady’s company ‘Autograph’ to streamline our coverage, so you can continue to do what you do best – follow IU sports. Use the CODE: Indianafr to get started today. For more info, you can start here.