Indiana Basketball Game Preview: Florida Golf Coast – key storylines, injury report, how to watch

Indiana basketball opens its 124th season of competition in men’s basketball with a matchup against Florida Gulf Coast at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Tip off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.

The Hoosiers are coming off two exhibition games last week which saw dominant outcomes while also showing the new-look 2023-24 roster.

The Eagles finished 17-15 in the first season of the Pat Chambers era in Fort Meyers, Fla. Chambers, the former head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, owns three career victories over the Hoosiers, including one in Bloomington.

Below is the full preview of Indiana game vs Florida Golf Coast.

Key Storylines

Will Kel’el Ware be able to put a complete 40-minutes together?

Two (exhibition) games in and we have seen just why sophomore center Kel’el Ware was brought in for because of the sheer talent he brings on the floor.

While Ware has been able to put out impressive totals, most of his production has come in the second half of both games. In the first half of each, it has taken him a little bit to get that motor to fully click, something that himself realizes from this small sample size.

“I would say in the first half I’m sort of just moving at a fast pace when all I’ve got to do is just slow down,” Kel’el Ware said postgame. “Once I slow down everything will just come to me and everything will open up for the team.”

Moving forward, as the teams that Indiana will play get better and better, it would be crucial for Ware to adjust early and often and put together full 40-min performances. The motor was always the question with Ware, but you see it’s more mental than anything.

“I mean, he’s big enough when we run our pick and roll offense, he’s big enough to roll and demand the ball as a big target,” Woodson added. “He can run the floor and get buckets that way. He can get offensive rebounds.”

Once it clicks fully for Ware, Indiana becomes very dangerous in the front court….

Indiana is going to have one of the more versatile front courts in the country

…and speaking of the Indiana basketball front court, the Hoosiers can right now make a case for having one of the more versatile front courts in the entire country. With the rotation of Kel’el Ware, Malik Reneau, Anthony Walker, Payton Sparks, Mackenzie Mgbako, and Kaleb Banks, there are so many options of what Mike Woodson can go with depending on matchups.

In both of the exhibition games, the front court proved what many had thought they would thus far and is showing their ability to stretch the floor as well as have a consistent inside-out game. The spacing on the floor has looked much more improved than what we have seen in recent years and the bigs have shown they are willing to step out and guard the perimeter as well. The spacing on the floor will also force more traditional, opposing bigs to have to step out and guard the versatile Indiana front court.

It is safe to say, even the back court guys are benefiting from the Indiana front court and their style of play.

“But playing with guys like Kel’el, it makes the game a lot easier just to be able to read ball screens and be able to come off, like you can just throw it up if somebody’s not there or if they’re trailing it or if they can’t see the ball,” Gabe Cupps said postgame. “So it definitely adds a whole other element to the game that makes it more fun.”

As long as the Indiana front court rotation continues to grow and become more comfortable on the floor, they could a true matchup problem for any team that does not have the versatility to matchup.

First ‘real’ game

It’s finally here. The first true game of the season for the Indiana basketball ballclub. After working out the butterflies in the exhibition games, things get real from this point on for the Hoosiers.

The Hoosiers come in as the heavy favorites but will now start facing teams where wins and losses matter. While Florida Golf Coast is not a D1 powerhouse, they are much more talented and provide more of a challenge than what UIndy and Marian gave Indiana basketball.

“We’ve got a long way to go in terms of our schedule and the teams that we play, and it starts tomorrow night,” Woodson said on Monday. “Florida Gulf Coast is a good basketball team. So we’ve got to come ready to compete and put in a 40-minute ball game.”

There are still a lot of moving parts for this Indiana team. They are still figuring it out for the most part. But slow starts and taking time to adjust to games will not fly anymore moving forward. This Indiana basketball team has to start off fast and realize how much talent they have on the floor at once.

The season is here and now is when we will start to figure out what this Indiana is all about.

Related: Indiana basketball roster undervalued in CBS Sports’ Top 101 players list

Series History

Indiana defeated Florida Gulf Coast by a score of 88-60 in the only meeting between the two programs on Nov. 12, 2010.

Current Team and Recruiting Coordinator Jordan Hulls knocked down 6-of-9 attempts from the 3-point line in the IU triumph to score 18 points in 22 minutes of run. Hulls was one of three Hoosiers in double figures, joined by Christian Watford (24) and Maurice Creek (13).

The Hoosiers hold an all-time record of 19-1 against teams currently residing in the Atlantic Sun Conference. 

Fun fact: IU has opened the season against a team with an Eagle mascot in three-consecutive seasons after toppling Morehead State, 88-53, to open the 2022-23 campaign and Eastern Michigan, 68-62, in head coach Mike Woodson’s Indiana basketball coaching debut.

Watch: Mike Woodson previews Florida Golf Coast

Injury Updates

Indiana:

Payton Sparks: The junior center missed last Friday’s exhibition due to an ankle injury. His status is questionable for the season opener

Jakai Newton: Newton had a lower body surgical procedure done this past offseason to help fix a previous injury he sustained during high school. He is still recovering and is not expected to play awhile at this point.

More: Indiana Basketball: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly from the Hoosiers final exhibition against Marian

FGCU: 

Isaiah Thompson: The senior guard will be a game-time decision for the opener with an upper-body injury.

Quick Hitters

Who?: Indiana vs Florida Golf Coast

When?: Nov. 7, 2022 • 6:30 PM ET

Where?: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall

TV: BTN (Matt Schumacker and Robbie Hummel)

Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)

Betting Lines: Indiana opens up as 12.5-point favorites against Florida Gulf Coast.

SEE ALSO: Indiana Basketball Opponent Scouting Notes: Florida Gulf Coast

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