Indiana Basketball Media Day: Kyler’s Notebook

Indiana basketball had it’s third annual institutional media day featuring both the men’s and women’s team.

The media got to listen to both head coaches Mike Woodson and Teri Moren along with all the players from both the men’s and women’s program.

Sticking with the men’s side, Mike Woodson and the players did a great of recapping the summer as we head into this upcoming season. Both Woodson and the Indiana basketball players talked about the team’s goals this season, the players that stood out over the summer, injury updates, and more.

With that said, time to empty out my notebook and talk about some takeaways that stood out from Indiana basketball media day.

Watch: Coach Q&A: Mike Woodson at 2024 Indiana Basketball Media Day

Small ball is going to be featured way more this season

Indiana fans are going to jump with joy if this true, but based off what was said at Indiana basketball media day, it looks as though Mike Woodson is going to play a lot smaller this season.

It is no secret that Mike Woodson is a coach that likes to play inside, he has been that way ever since he took over as Indiana basketball head coach. In some ways, you can’t really blame Woodson for pounding the ball more inside when you have had dominant bigs in Trayce Jackson-Davis, Kel’el Ware, Malik Reneau, and now Oumar Ballo.

In today’s college basketball game however, the teams that have success at the highest level utilize small ball lineups. Mike Woodson has been stubborn in a lot of ways as he has chosen to go more traditional which as we saw last season, did not go the way he or the fanbase wanted. Once Indiana started to go with playing Mackenzie Mgbako more at the four, his natural position, Indiana played much better as the season went along.

Woodson saw that the small ball lineup works and now, it looks like it is something he is going to utilize even more this season seeing both Mgbako and newcomer Luke Goode getting run at the four, playing alongside either Malik Reneau or Oumar Ballo.

Mike Woodson:

"I'd like to get some small ball this year. Where Mackenzie Mgbako and Luke Goode can play some four." #iubb

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) September 18, 2024

Myles Rice is THAT guy

Throughout the entire time at Indiana basketball media day, one name seemed to be mentioned consisnelty from both Mike Woodson and all the players.

Myles Rice.

Rice, a sophomore Washington State transfer, was arguably the biggest pickup of the offseason for the Hoosiers as he gave Mike Woodson and Indiana their most dynamic lead guard that they have seen since Jalen Hood-Schifino. Both Woodson and every player gave high praise to Rice when asked about what players stood out this summer as well as players that will make a big impact to this team.

Not one player is expected to make as big of impact that what Rice will for Indiana basketball. He is extremely dynamic as well as very quick on the ball so no Indiana basketball has a true playmaker that can, not only facilitate, but get a bucket as well.

The entire Indiana basketball seems more than thrilled to have Rice as primary ball-handler  this upcoming season.

Watch: Returning Players Q&A: Indiana basketball Media Day

Mike Woodson recognizes Indiana basketball’s insane depth

This Indiana basketball team this deepest team we have seen under Mike Woodson in the four years he has been head coach of the Hoosiers. In reality, he has legit 12 men that can contribute in some form or way this upcoming season. There is balance at nearly every position on this roster.

The downfall for Indiana last season was their lack of depth. When a player went down, it was hard for Indiana to go deep into their bench to find a suitable replacement. This season is different. If a player is out for any reason, there are players you can plug in to fill the void.

When speaking to the media at Indiana basketball media day, Mike Woodson gave high praise to the depth of this roster and although he stated he can’t play all 12-13 guys as the season progresses, he still loves how deep this team is.

As we all are very aware, this Indiana basketball team has a lot of weapons to throw out there on the floor this season which is why they are one of the teams in college basketball with highest ceiling.

Mike Woodson: "I wish I could play 12 guys, but it is just not the nature of the business." #iubb

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) September 18, 2024

Goode, Cupps, and Tucker were standouts this summer

You could easily say that every player on this Indiana basketball team stood out in some form or way over the summer. When you spoke to every player at Indiana basketball media day, they had something great to say about their teammates and about how they will be a factor this upcoming season.

Three other players that both Mike Woodson and the players had fantastic things to say about their performances this summer was senior wing Luke Goode, sophomore guard Gabe Cupps, and freshman wing Bryson Tucker.

Mike Woodson and the players had high praise for Luke Goode and what he is going to bring with shooting and spacing the floor. From multiple accounts, Goode has lived up to the hype he had coming into this summer which is going to improve Indiana’s three point shooting.

Mike Woodson stated that Cupps had a great summer and was once again a workhorse for the team. He noted the this competitiveness was once again high all summer and that he is going to force his way into have a premium role for the Hoosiers.

Bryson Tucker, the lone freshman of the team, has shown he belongs with the team according to Woodson. It is really unknown what the role of Tucker is going to be this season for Indiana basketball but if it is true from what we have heard about his play, it sounds like Tucker is going to see the floor this season.

SEE ALSO: Newcomers Q&A: Indiana basketball Media Day

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