Intriguing storylines to follow for Indiana basketball ahead of Hoosier Hysteria

Hoosier Hysteria is on Friday and gives fans the first look at the new-look Indiana basketball team ahead of the 2024-25 season.

While it’s the first time this group will be on the floor for others to see, Hoosier Hysteria has been and will continue to be more for the fans than the team.

Regardless, there are a few things to keep an eye on ahead of Friday night. Let’s break it down.

Will Jakai Newton see the floor?

This is has been one of the most consistent talking points over the last year — the availability of Jakai Newton. Newton redshirted last season due to a knee injury that has kept him off the floor consistently ever since his senior year of high school. When he has been on the floor, however, he’s been extremely productive and a standout.

“He’s probably the best explosive athlete on our team in terms of playing above the rim,” Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson said at Big Ten Media Day. “It’s scary how good he is in that regard.”

Indiana doesn’t necessarily need additional depth in the backcourt at the moment, but it’s clear that Newton can be a productive member of this group when he’s on the floor. It’s about keeping him there — something that is in the hands of Mike Woodson at this point.

“He’s doing fine.  He can’t go everyday and that’s because we won’t allow him to go everyday,” Woodson said.  “We basically are slow-walking him back. But the days he’s been out there, he’s been pretty impressive … But we just gotta get him back fully healthy, but he’s not there yet.”

Does Indiana show any of its ‘new look’ offense in the scrimmage?

The scrimmage portion of Hoosier Hysteria is back and will be a highly anticipated portion of the night. But, will Indiana show anything of value?

All offseason has been the conversation around the offense and what it will look like with the dynamic guards and wings that the Hoosiers added through the portal. Whether it’s Myles Rice, Kanaan Carlyle, Luke Goode or others, there is a lot of excitement about what this team will look like in the open floor and pushing the pace.

I’d like to play a little bit quicker this year, where we’re not walking it up,” Woodson said at Indiana basketball media day last month. “There were times we had fast break points that we made off of turnovers with our defense. But I’d like to play a little bit faster on makes. That’s something we’ve been working on since we put this team together this summer.”

“Playing a faster pace,” Carlyle said of what will be different with IU this year. “Me and Myles playing together on the defensive end and being able to pick up the ball 94 feet and then being able to push the ball on the offensive end, get to the rim and make plays for each other and other teammates.”

It’s been clear throughout practice that IU wants to push it — especially from someone who has been with Mike Woodson since the start.

“They’re game changers,” IU guard Trey Galloway said. “Both of them can really score the ball and do many things to help the team win. They bring a different feel the way they push the pace and doing so many things on the offensive end. I’m excited to have these guys alongside us.”

More: ‘They’re game changers’: Mike Woodson wanted to play a specific style. Now Indiana basketball has the guards to do so

What does the front court rotations look like in the scrimmage?

Going with the scrimmage discussion, what will the front court rotation look like? Will Oumar Ballo and Malik Reneau play together or separate? Is Langdon Hatton someone who can play significant spot minutes for the Hoosiers this year — we’ll see if he shows some glimpses on Friday.

How about small ball — Luke Goode and Mackenzie Mgbako at the 4 is a real possibility this season. That’s an intriguing option that could be on display Friday night.

“I’d like to get to some small ball this year like I had in New York,” Woodson said. “Where Mack (Mackenzie Mbgako) and (Luke) Goode can play some four, and we can still be athletic enough out on the floor with one of the bigs able to compete at a high level.”

What growth can we see from M&M?

There won’t be a lot we can truly take away from Friday night, but one intriguing topic to follow will be what Mackenzie Mgbako and Malik Reneau look like. After an extremely rough start to his freshman season with Indiana basketball, Mgbako was the Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year and emerged as a real perimeter threat for an IU team that had very little production from the wing.

Reneau had tremendous games in the non-conference but fell off in conference play once again due to foul issues and defensive lapses.

Now in year two and three, respectively, it’s about consistency and being All-Big Ten type performers.

Both have had good summers — especially Reneau who has taken the initiative to change his body once again.

“He’s physically put himself in a better position to play at a high level,” Woodson said of Reneau. “I thought he made a hell of a jump from his freshman year to last year … Now physically, he has really committed to his workout and eating habits. His body has changed and his summer play was pretty good. He’s playing pretty good basketball for us right now so you hope it’s just a nice carry over when it really starts.”

“Just fixing those little things because the sky is the limit for him,” Trey Galloway said of Reneau. “He’s done a really good job this summer getting his body right and really trying to focus on staying in shape because there were a lot of times where he would get tired and their would be a lack of discipline.”

For Mgbako, his play the second half of last year was phenomenal. But, he needs to take another step up if IU wants to reach its goals this season.

“It built my confidence a lot,” Mgbako said of the finish to his freshman year. “It let me know where I was as a player and where I want to reach.”

“You make a jump, there’s always another jump in basketball that you got to try to reach. And he’s played well this summer,” Woodson added. “He’s improved from last year … once he started to figure out some things, he became a pretty good player for us. But this summer, he’s made another jump.”

SEE ALSO: Myles Rice has ‘natural’ leadership skills and that was evident to his Indiana basketball teammates from day one: ‘We haven’t had a vocal leader like him’

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