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Will Indiana finally return to glory in 2024-25?

Indiana hasn’t quite been the same program since shortly after the turn of the century, but the roster they have for 2024-25 seems to have a chance to reach the school’s first Sweet 16 since 2016, and an outside shot at the first Elite Eight since 2002. Mike Woodson has repeatedly fallen short of the preseason expectations handed out to Indiana as head coach. including a round of 32 exit in 2023 with Trayce Jackson-Davis and a tournament miss in 2024 with Kel’el Ware, but this year’s roster may be his most complete yet.

To begin the roster construction, Woodson brought back three of his top four scorers from this past season in Malik Reneau (15 ppg, 6 rpg), Mackenzie Mgbako (12 ppg, 4 rpg), and Trey Galloway (11 ppg, 5 apg). This trio gives the frontcourt formidable strength with Reneau and Mgbako while Galloway gives an experienced option in the backcourt. Gabe Cupps (3 ppg) and Anthony Leal (2 ppg) also return, and top-20 recruit Bryson Tucker will make his way to campus this summer.

The transfer portal additions are where this team gets fun though, starting off with Pac 12 Freshman of the Year and Washington State transfer Myles Rice (15 ppg, 4 apg). If Rice doesn’t get you excited enough, then you’re in luck, as Mike Woodson brought in another flashy Pac 12 freshman point guard in Stanford’s Kanaan Carlyle (12 ppg, 3 apg). The playmaking ability of the backcourt will be among the best in the Big Ten this season when you combine these two with Galloway. The shooting category is where this trio may lack, although I do have hope for Carlyle and Rice, especially the latter, to take big jumps in their efficiencies in their sophomore seasons. Even if you don’t buy that, Woodson has you covered, bringing in Big Ten veteran and Illinois transfer Luke Goode (6 ppg, 38.9% 3P%) to come in off the bench.

All of these guards transferring in, and we still haven’t touched the duo of big men also transferring into IU. Oumar Ballo (13 ppg, 10 rpg) is the headliner here, the big man being a key piece in Arizona’s run to a #2 seed and Sweet 16 this past season. Langdon Hatton (11 ppg, 7 rpg) gives a fourth option behind Ballo, Reneau, and Mgbako, as he transfers in from Bellarmine after a breakout junior season.

With all this being said, the question still comes back to if Mike Woodson can get the most out of this group. To begin my answer, I will say that this is the most complete roster he has constructed yet. They have guys that can play at each position, but like this past season I’m still a little worried about the outside shooting. Luke Goode is the only proven option right now, but I do think Myles Rice can take a jump. The frontcourt options of Ballo, Mgbako, and Reneau results in the best trio in the country most likely, and I’m intrigued as to how Woodson will get the best out of all three.

I believe that individual talent-wise, this is a top-10 roster, although I’m not sure Woodson can get much more than a Sweet 16 appearance out of it in 2024-25. The Hoosiers should be a top-25 team most of the season and fight at the top of the Big Ten, but I’m not sure I see any conference silverware in their future either.

Other Things to Note:

• St. John’s transfer Glenn Taylor Jr. (4 ppg, 2 rpg) will visit Memphis this week