Anthony Leal has solidified himself as the ‘glue guy’ for Indiana basketball: ‘He’s a connector, man. You just can’t say enough about him.’

Indiana basketball is coming off one of their biggest wins of the season be defeating in-state rival and top 20 team Purdue 73-58 to earn a massive quad 1 win. The Hoosiers have now won 2 of their last 3 games (both Quad 1 wins) and now have a pretty clear path to making the NCAA Tournament this year. 

With Indiana basketball needing to find a spark, Mike Woodson and his staff elected to place 5th-year senior wing Anthony Leal into the starting lineup vs Ohio State back in mid January. Since then Leal has started in 8-straight games this year with no signs of him losing that starting spot.

While Leal is not the guy that is ever going to score the most points in a game or overall stuff the stat sheet, it has been the little things that has earned him the respect out of the fanbase and coaching staff to put him in a prominent role for the Hoosiers. Leal shows hustle on the floor, passion, the understanding of what it means to wear an Indiana jersey, and just overall the extra effort needed for success.

To put a label on it? Anthony Leal is the ‘glue guy’ for Indiana basketball.

“He’s our glue guy,” said Indiana basketball assistant coach Yasir Rosemond on Monday night when speaking to Don Fischer. “He’s a big reason as to why we’ve been able to win some of these games against these pretty good opponents.”

Watch: In Touch with Indiana Sports Ep.86 — Signature win for Indiana basketball over Purdue, Hoosiers back on the NCAA Tournament bubble

It is well-documented by now that it has been a rollercoaster of ride for Anthony Leal’s career playing for Indiana. Through the five years he has represented the program, he has seen many roles from being the last guy on the bench, to starting, and all of it in-between.

Fast forward to this year, Leal has seen his most important role as of yet being a part of the starting unit. A big part of his current role is guarding the best player on the opposing team, as we have seen him do in the past month, and causing havoc while doing so. In Indiana’s win over Purdue, Leal was tasked with defending Boilermaker guard Braden Smith and was a big part as to why Smith had 6 turnovers.

Based off of what we saw, it was confirmed by Yasir Rosemond that Leal will be in charge of defending Penn State guard Ace Baldwin on Wednesday night. If Leal can replicate what he did to Braden Smith over the weekend, Indiana could be in line with another win.

“He’s just been great, whether we’re good or bad. Even when Anthony (Leal) doesn’t play, he’s a key part to our team,” said coach Rosemond. “He’s defended the best player the last seven games he’s started. He’s a connector, man. You just can’t say enough about him.”

A ‘connector’ is one of the best words you can use to describe Anthony Leal for Indiana basketball. There is no one on this roster that loves wearing the cream and crimson more than what Leal does and with that, he takes advantage of every second he has on the floor for this team.

His hard work and passion has led him to be rewarded on the floor and it will do the same thing when he is off of it in just a month’s time.

Overall, it still has not been the season that many had hoped it would be for the Hoosiers however, Leal has been such a bright spot to watch for this team regardless.

This dude bleeds Indiana basketball.

“That’s a tribute to him…..That’s a tribute to who he is and why he will be successful in whatever he chooses to do, said Rosemond.”

“He will probably become the mayor of Bloomington, sell all of the houses here. That’s what we call him all the time, we say he is the mayor of Bloomington.”

Indiana basketball is back in action on Wednesday night vs Penn State.

SEE ALSO: ‘I’ve had it awhile’: The case of Bob Knight’s missing thrown chair was concluded by none other than Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson

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