Indiana basketball one of only five programs to have 4 players listed in CBS Sports rankings

The Indiana basketball season is here and while there has not been an official game as of yet, everyone got a chance to the see the No. 17th ranked Hoosiers for the first time this season with their charity exhibition win over No. 12 Tennessee 66-62 on Sunday.

While it was not the prettiest or most complete performance by Indiana basketball, it did show what this team is capable of for the 2024-25 season.

Indiana basketball has arguably the most talented roster in the entire Big Ten, which is why Senior CBS Sports Analyst and Writers featured four players from the program in “The Top 100 and 1 best players entering the 2024-25 season.” Those four players featured Oumar Ballo, Myles Rice, Malik Reneau, and Mackenzie Mgbako.

Indiana basketball was one of only five programs to have 4 players listed in CBS Sports player rankings.

Starting with Ballo, he was arguably the top player from the transfer portal this season after spending his last two years playing for the Arizona Wildcats. He made his presence felt in Indiana’s exhibition win over Tennessee with his 6 points and 11 rebounds outing.

He came in at No. 18 on this list.

“A two-time All-Pac-12 First Team selection, Ballo was one of the biggest prizes to be had out of the transfer portal last spring,” Adam Finkelstein wrote. “He is essentially a walking double-double, who averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds last year, all while finishing with the highest field goal percentage in Arizona program history. A major physical presence on both ends of the floor, he’s an emphatic finisher offensively who thrives when he can get deep post-ups or roll to the front of the rim. The biggest question at Indiana, is what type of spacing they’ll be able to surround him with alongside Malik Reneau and for a program with a notable history of not taking many threes under Mike Woodson.”

The next player that came up in the rankings was Washington State transfer guard Myles Rice, who came in at No. 43.

Rice was a major highlight in Indiana’s exhibition game at Tennessee finishing with 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting. He also added 4 assists in 31 minutes of play as well. When Rice entered the portal this offseason, Indiana basketball made him a priority with them needing to upgrade the backcourt from a season ago.

“Rice beat cancer and he beats almost every defender off the bounce, too,” Isaac Trotter wrote. “The Washington State transfer is a jitterbug with the ball in his hands. His explosive first step should be the life raft that Indiana’s pitiful pick-and-roll offense desperately needed. Rice is a walking paint touch who shot over 61% at the rim while bringing it on the defensive end. Rice, simply, refuses to get screened. That’s a skill. Oumar Ballo is ranked higher, but Rice is Indiana’s most important addition.”

More: Key takeaways from the IU basketball 66-62 exhibition win over Tennessee

The first returning player for Indiana that was featured in this rankings is junior power forward Malik Reneau, who entered here at No. 63. Reneau had arguably the best performance out of every player from the exhibition game at Tennessee leading Indiana basketball to victory with his 21 points on 8-of-12-shooting including going 1-for-1 from behind the arc. He also added 8 rebounds.

Reneau was a All-Big Ten Honorable Mention last season with a chance to make be an official All-Big Ten selection this season.

“Reneau is Indiana’s returning leading scorer from last season and should once again play a crucial role in the frontcourt for coach Mike Woodson in Bloomington,” Cameron Salerno wrote. “Reneau averaged 15.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists on 55.8% shooting from the floor.”

The last player listed for the Hoosiers is sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako, who landed at No. 87.

After going scoreless in the first half vs Tennessee, Mgbako turned it on in the second half finishing with 12 points. The reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year is looking to make a big jump his second year in Bloomington.

“Mgbako won Big Ten Rookie of the Year honors after averaging 12.2 points and 4.1 rebounds,” David Cobb wrote. “The former five-star prospect still has plenty of room to increase his efficiency and could blossom into one of the Big Ten’s top players.

SEE ALSO: Indiana basketball to face Kansas in Las Vegas in 2027

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