IU basketball reaping the benefits of ‘vital’ Oumar Ballo as his confidence and dominance is growing

The success for IU basketball throughout Mike Woodson’s tenure has been on the back of a dominant big man. Through 13 games this season, that hadn’t really been the case, thus, there was inconsistent play and concern over whether or not the team would be able to turn a corner as conference play resumed.

As the clock struck all zero’s in Sunday’s 77-71 road win over Penn State, center Oumar Ballo let out a big yell. He was quite emotional all afternoon. But, that’s not something common for the 7-footer. However, a performance like he had and the importance of Sunday’s game called for just that.

Ballo was dominant all game and IU basketball needed every last bit of it. He finished with 25 points — tying a season-high this year — on 9-of-15 from the floor and grabbing 13 rebounds. It was on the heels of his most dominant performance of the season, a 17-point, 12-rebound and 3-block performance against Rutgers.

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Ballo began where he left off, scoring 14 of Indiana’s 29 points in the first half. He got everything he wanted, and still left a few opportunities out on the floor. He added nine first-half rebounds, including three offensive.

“He was huge for us,” Woodson said postgame. “We featured him, and he responded big time. He made some shots over the top of the big 7-footer that they had (Yanic Konan Niederhauser), who I think is a hell of a player.”

In the past two games, Ballo has averaged 21.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.5 blocks per game and is attempting 10 free throws a game. He’s combined for 11 offensive rebounds as well.

The most important stretch for Ballo and Indiana was not what he did — but what he didn’t do. And that was foul when he had four fouls at the 5:38 mark. Just two minutes prior, Ballo was replaced by reserve big man Langdon Hatton. It was a 10-point lead that then shrunk to just four. Woodson went with his 7-footer to close out the game, something that paid dividends as Ballo responded with four straight points.

That sort of discipline is a new level of production for the IU big man. On the season, Ballo is one of two players among major conferences to average 13+ points, 9+ rebounds, 2.5+ assists and 1.5+ blocks per game (Johni Broome; Auburn). Add in his 60+ percent field goal rate and he’s the only player with those numbers.

Part of that recent success is playing by himself as the lone big man on the floor. With the injury to Malik Reneau, it’s forced Mike Woodson’s hand. Play small and feature Ballo.

“There is more space and it’s harder to double when you have more shooters around him,” IU basketball assistant coach Brian Walsh said on Monday.

Those numbers — and the recent lineups — will need to stay with Reneau not expected back ‘any time soon’.

“Ballo is a vital, vital component to this equation,” IU wing Mackenzie Mgbako said. “So just being able to have him on the court is very essential to our growth and how we’re gonna continue the season.”