‘I feel a lot more comfortable’: Indiana basketball sophomore guard Gabe Cupps looking to take that next step this season to help the Hoosiers achieve success

It is well-known as the season approaches that Indiana basketball has developed some high expectations heading into the 2024-25 season. Mike Woodson and his staff have gotten great praise for how well they did this offseason bringing in transfers to fill important needs as well as bringing back very strong core of returners from last year’s squad.

In total, Indiana basketball is bringing back six players from the 2023-24 roster, most having a great amount of experience. One of those returners is sophomore guard Gabe Cupps who, whether it was by design or not, comes back as one of the more experienced players on this roster, even if it is only his second season with the program.

Going into his freshman season for Indiana basketball, it was expected by many that it would be more of leaning year than anything for the young guard. The thought going in was that he was going to be taken under the wing of then senior guard Xavier Johnson. Very early in the season, the role that Cupps was expected to be in changed in an instant.

When injures occurred to Xavier Johnson once again, Cupps was thrusted into the starting back court along with Trey Galloway. In 33 games, the freshman guard averaged 2.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists. He would average 21.7 minutes per those 33 games, much more playing time than he was originally expected to get his first season.

In those 33 games, Cupps started in 22 of them.

Regardless of how rough of a challenge it was for Cupps, the guard out of Centerville, Ohio gained so much valuable experience. Although it was very clear that Cupps was not ready for that type of role, you always knew that this was going to help out the Indiana basketball program in the long run, and especially this upcoming season, as well.

“Yeah I mean I think the biggest thing was just having that time,” said Gabe Cupps when speaking to Fort Wayne 15 News at a fan event. “I feel a lot more comfortable around the coaches, around the players, just around college basketball now so I think that’ll help me a lot in the season.”

Cupps is a well-known workhorse when it comes to this Indiana basketball team. With his high IQ, competitive fire, and willingness to better himself, you knew Cupps was going to go into this offseason and put in the work and build off the experience he got last season.

“I think that I have got a lot bigger and stronger,” Gabe Cupps added. “I think that’ll help me a lot. Just have more confidence in my game, just keep working. I work out all the time, so just trust in that work.”

More: Indiana Basketball Returner Focus: Sophomore Guard Gabe Cupps

With the new look Big Ten conference starting in the 2024-25 season, Gabe Cupps knows the transfers for Indiana basketball will be a huge help

Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

The pressure for Gabe Cupps this upcoming season should not be as high as it was a year ago, given the improvements Mike Woodson and his staff made in the backcourt. The problem that occurred last season that resulted in Cupps seeing the floor much more was the lack of depth that Indiana had at guard.

This upcoming season however, the Hoosiers have a legit 5-6 players that can play in the backcourt for the Hoosiers. In that group, the Hoosiers bring back not only Cupps but fifth-year seniors Trey Galloway and Anthony Leal. To add to that, Indiana got even better with adding Washington State guard Myles Rice and Stanford guard Kanaan Carlyle. The addition of those two dynamic guards gives Indiana’s back court so much more depth and the most amount of depth that Mike Woodson has had during his tenure as head coach of the Hoosiers.

Sticking with the transfers, not only did Indiana basketball upgrade at the guard spot, they also got better in the wing and front court, specifically with Arizona transfer center Oumar Ballo and Illinois transfer wing Luke Goode. Those two, plus the other additions all were able to seemingly build chemistry throughout the offseason summer workouts.

Gabe Cupps got a first hand look at these transfers throughout the offseason, being impressed with both Ballo and Goode specifically.

“All of the transfers have been really great over the summer, said Cupps. “(Oumar) Ballo I think has done a great job. He’s obviously a big body that can play and has played at a high level before so we expect a lot from him and I think he’ll give us that and more this year.”

“Luke Goode, I have grown really close with him. He’s one of my best friends on the team now. He’s just a smart player, guy that is going to do his job every night and he just helps you win games. He’s going to knock down shots, going to make everybody else better around him.”

Trending: Multiple IU basketball players listed as top 25 ‘Impact Transfers’ for 2024-25 season

Mike Woodson and his Indiana basketball program had pretty much zero choice to get better this offseason with the big change happening to conference with Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington joining. Those four west coast teams will add a new dynamic and challenge for not only Indiana, but for the rest of the Big Ten teams.

For the Hoosiers to bounce back from a lackluster season a year and look to get back to the NCAA Tournament, as well as compete for a Big Ten championship, the Hoosiers will have to hope that the transfers they brought in makes them better and the returners make the leap they need to.

Cupps, with how competitive and determined he is to be better, embraces the challenge because he knows, the reward is worth it.

“Just new teams, new players, new competition to go against,” Cupps said. “It’s great for our game, great for out conference so you know the better the conference is the harder it’s going to be but the more joy you feel when you’re able to accomplish things in the conference.”

You can watch the full interview with Gabe Cupps below.

SEE ALSO: As he enters his final season, Trey Galloway’s ‘success would be being remembered as a winner’ as he looks to leave behind an incredible legacy for Indiana basketball

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