Oumar Ballo knew he would be pushed when he committed to Mike Woodson and the IU basketball program this offseason. He also knew he was coming into a situation where there would be high expectations for him after Indiana sent back-to-back centers to the NBA Draft in consecutive years.
Through 13 games Ballo is averaging 12.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 blocks per game in 28.8 minutes a game. While his scoring is the lowest since his sophomore season in 2021-22, he’s grabbed more rebounds through this point in the season than any other year and he’s already pacing to have his highest field goal percentage in his career, in addition to assists and blocks.
He’s had his ups and downs through the first two months of the year, but the highs have been high. And that was on full display again on Thursday in IU’s 84-74 win over Rutgers. Ballo had 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting with 12 rebounds, two assists and three blocks. Indiana needed all of it after losing Malik Reneau, the team’s leading scorer to a knee injury just 29 seconds into the game.
Though Ballo had started 12 of his first 13 appearances, Thursday was an appearance off of the bench. It was also arguably his highest motor and highest energy game of the season on both ends of the floor.
“I thought he played great,” IU baskeball coach Mike Woodson said after the win. “He’s a big part of our team winning tonight. He had 17 and three rebounds, a few blocked shots, plugged the hole up for us like he’s supposed to, so I thought he played well.”
Ballo was brought off the bench after missing Sunday’s win over Winthrop for undisclosed reasons. There was question about how long he may be out, and questions that continued to be related to his motor and energy when he was on the floor.
He answered the call on Thursday from the first possession he stepped on the floor.
Ballo had an offensive rebound on his third offensive possession, then an assist the next play, While he didn’t score until the 6:31 mark, he had four rebounds, one assist and one block up to that point. Three of his rebounds were offensive. He would go on to score or assist on nine of the next 12 points of the half.
Then to start the second half, Ballo had the first four points for IU en route to 10 points and seven rebounds in the second half alone.
“It was great. He played dominant,” IU senior guard Anthony Leal said. “We know that what he can do. That’s why we brought him here to be a dominant presence down there and that’s where we needed him today, just continue to build on that and stay focused on what we’re doing.”
In three Big Ten games, Ballo is now averaging 14.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 blocks per game. While his overall scoring is the lowest it’s been in three years, if you segment conference play out that number is the highest Ballo has seen when playing conference opponents.
On the season, Ballo ranks second in the Big Ten in rebounds, fourth in offensive rebounds, fourth in blocks, and seventh in block rate.
He’s had games of 25 points and four rebounds against Gonzaga, 14 points, 18 rebounds and six assists against Miami (Oh.), 18 points and seven rebounds against Minnesota and then his 17-point outing against Rutgers. IU is 3-1 in those games.
So, the production has been there, but it’s about the consistency he can provide moving forward that is the key.
It’s clear he plays an extremely important role for IU basketball. Everyone knew he would when he committed and that hasn’t changed — if anything, his importance has been heightened if his dominant performances can be seen more frequently.
And with an unclear timeline for front court partner Malik Reneau, Indiana will need more of Thursday’s performance.
Indiana faces Penn State on Sunday, a chance to keep momentum going.
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