Mike Woodson confident early struggles will pass for Indiana basketball wing Mackenzie Mgbako

The early struggles for Indiana basketball freshman wing Mackenzie Mgbako have been well documented through the first five games of the season.

Those struggles were heightened even more over the weekend during Indiana’s two games in the Empire Classic.

And, it boiled over again on Monday afternoon in Indiana’s 74-66 win over Louisville when Mgbako played just nine minutes.

While Indiana fans have been itching to see some of the playmaking ability from Mgbako — patience is needed, says Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson.

“He’s a young player, man,” Woodson said following IU’s win over Louisville. “I mean all of you guys expect him to be this great player right now because he’s got this five-star tag on him. I think that’s bullshit. The bottom line is, he’s still young. He’s trying to learn the college game.”

Mgbako’s nine minutes were a season-low. He picked up two fouls just two minutes into the first half resulting in him sitting until halftime.

Related: Indiana basketball aims to get Mackenzie Mgbako out of early slump by ‘paying attention to the details’

He came out in the second half aggressive, engaged and active — three things that typically lack from a five-star prospect who is struggling. Mgbako played just seven second half minutes but had four points, two assists and one rebound.

Woodson knows the importance of Mgbako this season — and it has been shown in the early struggles for Indiana offensively. The first play of the second half was a designed play for the talented wing. He curled off of a screen and got an open look from the left elbow. He drained it.

“I thought he played well but he got two early fouls so I took him out and brought someone else in,” Woodson said. “He’ll be fine.”

Mgbako is averaging 5.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 18.0 minutes per game through five games.

Mgbako’s scoring this season is as follows: 4 points, 2 points, 13 points, 2 points and 4 points.

His shooting is as follows: 8-of-25 from the field overall, 1-of-13 on 3s and 8-of-8 from the free throw line. He’s attempted free throws in just two games.

While his offensive struggles have been evident on the box scores, it’s been his defense that has kept him off of the floor. He is noticeably lost when he’s an off ball defender and it’s been a real liability when he’s been on the floor.

Mgbako’s offensive rating is 90.7. His defensive rating is 102.2

“He needs to continue to understand how the game is played,” Calbert Cheaney said about Mgbako during last Monday’s radio show. “The college game is totally different from high school. He just needs to pay attention to the details of what coach (Mike Woodson) wants him to do. He’ll be fine.”

Coming to Indiana, Mgbako was rated the No. 8 overall prospect in the 2023 class. He was also a McDonald’s All-American.

He was named the preseason Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

“Only time will tell. He’s capable of putting the basketball in the hole. He’s shown that this summer. We’ve got to help him as coaches and put him in the best position possible to be successful and help us,” Woodson said at Indiana media day. “I’m expecting big things from him, but I’m not putting a lot of pressure on him. He’s a freshman … But, Mackenzie is a big part to the puzzle. That’s why we went and recruited him.”

SEE ALSO: 5 things we learned following showing at the Empire Classic for Indiana basketball

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