BASKETBALL

Oumar Ballo is now ‘featured’ in an offense — and starting to excel. How his growth will be instrumental in success of Indiana basketball

Oumar Ballo continues to grow his skillset. And, that’s going to be extremely critical for the success of Indiana basketball this year.

Published

2 weeks ago

December 7, 2024

Alec Lasley

Oumar Ballo continues to grow his skillset. And, that's going to be extremely critical for the success of Indiana basketball this year. (Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images)

Friday night was a coming out party for transfer center Oumar Ballo. He did it all; scoring, defending, rebounding and making plays for teammates. It was the first time this year Ballo showcased the versatility that Indiana basketball targeted when they brought him in this offseason.

Ballo dominated in all facets, finishing with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting, 18 rebounds, six assists and two blocks in 29 minutes. He had a team-high+/- of +29 in Indiana’s 76-57 win over Miami (OH).

Indiana has seen that kind of dominating play in short stretches, or in one area of his game. Friday highlighted everything.

“I’m pleased with his play,” IU coach Mike Woodson said postgame. “This is really the first time Ballo in his career has been featured. I mean, he’s such a big load. We had the size advantage tonight. I thought we took advantage of it.”

Ballo is averaging 12.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 blocks per game this season. While the points aren’t a career high, his 67.7 field goal percentage is a career best, as is his assists and blocks per game — both by a very significant amount.

The playmaking ability from IU’s centers under Mike Woodson is noticeable. From Trayce Jackson-Davis to Kel’el Ware, the development both made passing the ball allowed Woodson to run the offense through his big men. Ballo’s six assists on Friday tied a career high.

Last season Ballo had just three games with above two assists. In the last two years, he’s had just two games with more than three assists in a game.

This year alone? Ballo has four games with at least three assists — in nine games.

“Yeah, for sure. Coach have a lot of trust in me to making the right play,” Ballo said on Friday. “That’s why ball screen situation, the ball is in my hand a lot, to make the right read. Fortunately for us tonight the shots were falling, so happy with the result.”

Friday’s performance was Ballo’s first double-double of the season for Indiana basketball — it was also the third time in the last 30 years an IU players posted a stat line of 10+ points, 15+ rebounds and 5+ assists in a single game.

While Jackson-Davis and Ware were more versatile athletes in the paint, Ballo is the opposite. At 7-feet and 265 pounds, Ballo uses his body in a different way than Indiana has had from its centers in the past. His ability to produce at a high level in the paint, produce easy points and find ways to give the Hoosiers efficient possessions is something that continues to be a work in progress, however — especially playing alongside Malik Reneau.

There have been growing pains, but on Friday it was one of the best performances from the two bigs. Reneau put together a 19-point and seven-rebound performance to go with Ballo’s.

Reneau is leading the Hoosiers in scoring this year, while Ballo is third on the team. They rank first (Ballo) and second in rebounding and third (Ballo) and fourth in assists per game.

“Malik is not the first big that I play with,” Malik is really easy to play with ’cause whenever he get the ball to him, I know he going to try to find me or find an open guy. I feel we have a really good flow together. I’m excited to see it for the rest of the season how it going to turn out to be.”

Indiana now turns its attention to Big Ten play — Minnesota and Nebraska next week. The step up in competition will provide another opportunity for Indiana’s bigs to be on full display. And they’ll need it.

“I think they’ve (Big Ten) seen Ballo over the years. Yes, the Big Ten is big. Everybody’s got big guys. Four and fives are huge in the Big Ten,” Woodsons said. “It won’t be a surprise when we play Big Ten schools that got the five and four that matches Ballo and Malik.

“I mean, we just got to continue to get him better. Malik’s got to continue to grow because it will be a challenge each and every night that we step out on that floor once we start the Big Ten.”