2022 Record: 23-12 (12-8)

Head Coach: Mike Woodson (Career Record 44-26)

Projected Rotation:

PG: Xavier Johnson (9.9 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 4.9 Ast)

SG: Trey Galloway (6.7 Pts, 3.0 Reb, 2.1 Ast)

SF: Mackenzie Mgbako

PF: Malik Reneau (6.1 Pts, 3.7 Reb, 0.8 Ast)

C: Kel’el Ware (Oregon 6.6 Pts, 4.1 Reb, 0.5 Ast)

6: C Payton Sparks (Ball State 13.3 Pts, 8.7 Reb, 1.9 Ast)

7: PG Gabe Cupps

8: PF Anthony Walker (Miami 2.8 Pts, 1.2 Reb, 0.3 Ast)

9: SG CJ Gunn (2.0 Pts, 0.6 Reb, 0.4 Ast)

10: SF Kaleb Banks (2.0 Pts, 0.9 Reb, 0.3 Ast)

11: SG Jakai Newton

12: SG Anthony Leal (0.2 Pts, 0.2 Reb, 0.1 Ast)

Returning players for the Hoosiers expected to start next season are: Xavier Johnson, Malik Reneau, and Trey Galloway. Johnson is returning to college basketball for a 6th season after getting a waiver from suffering a foot injury early in the season. Johnson is a true floor general at the point guard position. He’s averaged at least 4.5APG every year and shoots a career 35% from beyond the arc. He’s had some problems with turnovers in the past, but he’s cleaned that up a bit following his transfer from Pitt to Indiana. 7 out of the 12 scholarship players on the team are freshman or sophomores so Johnson will have to take on a leadership role as a 6th year player. Galloway was a sharp shooter last year for Indiana putting up a 46% mark from 3 point land. He will be relied upon this year to be one of the primary marksmen from deep. Reneau came to Indiana last season after decommitting from Florida and he impressed during his freshman season. He flashed at times showing true potential of what he can become. He’s an extremely athletic forward that should flourish in a full time starting role next season.

The remaining returning players for the Hoosiers next season are Kaleb Banks, CJ Gunn, and Anthony Leal. All 3 players saw minimal action this past season. Banks and Gunn are former 4 stars and are still young players so they have a chance to develop over the course of their careers. Banks shot 55% from the floor shooting well from inside the arc. CJ Gunn is more of a threat from the outside but he really struggled shooting the ball during his freshman season only going 2/24 from 3 point range. Leal saw his minutes decrease over the course of his Hoosier career. He only saw action in 11 games with an averaged of 2 minutes played per game.

Indiana also signed 3 transfer big men this offseason. Anthony Walker from of Miami, Payton Sparks from Ball State, and Kel’el Ware from Oregon. Walker’s production has decreased over the course of his career at Miami. He does add to the much needed depth for the Hoosiers at the forward position though. Walker is expected to come off the bench in a reserve PF role for the Hoosiers this season. Payton Sparks was a very productive player in his 2 years at Ball State. He started all 62 games in his career with the Cardinals. He is a player that finishes really well on the interior and can also rebound at a high level. Sparks will be one of the first players off the bench for the Hoosiers each game backing up Kel’el Ware at the center spot. Kel’el Ware was the big transfer get for Indiana this offseason. Ware is a former 5 star recruit who performed very well in his freshman season at Oregon. His stats don’t jump off the page at 6.6PPG and 4.1RPG, however his analytical data and future projections have him as one of the best transfers this offseason and now he’s in a system where he could thrive as a primary option.

Indiana also signed 3 freshman as part of the 2023 class. The class was headlined by former Duke commit Mackenzie Mgbako who ultimately chose Indiana over Kansas in the end. Mgbako is expected to start at the SF position for Indiana this season and was ranked as the #8 recruit in the country according to 247 sports. Indiana also signed PG Gabe Cupps who was ranked as the 95th best recruit in the country and is expected to see a ton of action off the bench in a backup PG role. The final recruit in the class is SG Jakai Newton who is ranked #118 in the country.

Indiana had to replace a ton of lost production last season especially Jalen Hood-Schifino and Trayce Jackson-Davis. This Indiana team isn’t as talented as they were this past season, but they made some talented additions in both HS and the portal that can try and make up from some of the losses this offseason. Indiana should make the tournament this season, but it could take some time for some of the young players and transfers to adjust after losing so much in the offseason.