No. 16 Indiana aims for improvement

The 2024-2025 college basketball season has already showcased impressive performances from teams across the country, and No. 16 Indiana is among the early standouts. Their strong start to the season, with a perfect record of 3-0, highlights the promise this team holds as they aim to contend for higher aspirations. Despite their success, however, the Hoosiers are far from complacent. As they prepare for Thursday evening’s home matchup against UNC Greensboro in Bloomington, Indiana, the team is taking a critical look at their play and recognizing areas where improvement is still needed.

Coach Mike Woodson, now in his third season at the helm of the Indiana basketball program, has consistently emphasized the need for growth and development in all areas of play. Following Indiana’s commanding 87-71 victory over South Carolina on Saturday, Woodson expressed confidence in his team’s progress, but he also made it clear that there is more work to do. One key area where Woodson sees room for improvement is in defending against penetration, particularly in limiting opponents’ ability to score in the paint.

“We’ve got to get better at defending off the bounce,” Woodson said. “We can’t be allowing teams to get into the paint and score easily. That’s something we’ve got to work on.” This self-awareness from the Hoosiers’ coaching staff is a sign that, despite their early successes, they are approaching the season with a mindset that values continuous improvement, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

Indiana’s victory over South Carolina was solid, but there were aspects of the game that left the coaching staff wanting more. Myles Rice, the transfer guard from Washington State, was a bright spot in the win, scoring a team-high 23 points, including three 3-pointers. His offensive output was a key part of Indiana’s dominance over the Gamecocks, but even with such an impressive individual performance, Coach Woodson noted that there were shortcomings in the Hoosiers’ offensive execution.

“We didn’t move the ball as well as we need to,” Woodson said. “We only had 12 assists in the game, and that’s not going to get it done. We have to be better in that area. We were too stagnant at times, and the ball wasn’t moving as it should. That’s an area we’ve got to improve on.” The lack of fluid ball movement was something that stood out to Woodson, as it prevented Indiana from fully unlocking their offensive potential. Even with a solid shooting night from beyond the arc, the Hoosiers were unable to create the kind of offensive rhythm that Woodson wants to see from his team.

Rice, who has quickly become one of Indiana’s key players, acknowledged the issues with the offense and took responsibility for the lack of crispness in the Hoosiers’ execution. “We didn’t have the crispness of how we want to run the plays,” Rice admitted. “That’s on us. We’ve got to be better at getting into our sets and making sure the offense flows the way it’s supposed to.” His honesty and self-reflection reflect the mentality of a team that understands the importance of executing well on both ends of the floor.

One of the more promising developments for Indiana this season has been the growth of their backcourt. Coach Woodson made it a point to prioritize developing depth in the guard position over the offseason, and three games into the season, he feels confident in the Hoosiers’ perimeter play. “We’ve got enough guys to play perimeter basketball,” Woodson said. “If someone goes down, I feel good about the guys who can step in and contribute. I think we’ve got enough talent to make basketball plays and keep things rolling.”

Indiana’s shooting from beyond the arc has been particularly encouraging. In the game against South Carolina, the Hoosiers shot 47.1% from 3-point range, hitting 8 of 17 attempts. This marks the third consecutive game in which Indiana has demonstrated strong perimeter shooting, as they made six 3-pointers in each of their first two contests. This improved shooting from deep has been one of the bright spots of Indiana’s offense so far this season. However, Woodson cautioned that consistency is the key moving forward, especially in maintaining their shooting efficiency over the course of the entire season. “We’ve got to keep working at it,” Woodson said. “The percentage is good, but we’ve got to develop consistency. That’s going to be a big part of how successful we are.”

As Indiana prepares to face UNC Greensboro on Thursday, they know they will be tested in new ways. UNC Greensboro, with a 2-1 record, comes into the matchup with a solid defensive reputation. Their most recent win, a dominant 99-54 victory over Division III North Carolina Wesleyan, highlighted the Spartans’ ability to execute on defense, though they have not yet faced a team with the caliber of Indiana. The Spartans’ head coach, Mike Jones, is well aware of the challenge that awaits his team in Bloomington. “Going into a hostile environment against a really good team, a well-coached team, is going to be a challenge for us,” Jones said. “I’m looking forward to putting our guys in position to go in there and compete for a win.”

UNC Greensboro’s defensive prowess will be tested against a high-powered Indiana offense that has shown potential to be dangerous, especially with players like Myles Rice in the fold. For the Spartans to have a chance at an upset, they will need to maintain their defensive discipline and limit Indiana’s opportunities in the paint while also preventing the Hoosiers from getting hot from 3-point range. Jones emphasized the importance of his team staying alert and improving defensively as the season progresses. “We’ve got to be more alert,” he said. “We’re good at it, but we’re not great at it yet. We’ve got some ways to go.”

In addition to their defense, UNC Greensboro has shown flashes of offensive effectiveness, particularly in their win against North Carolina Wesleyan, where they recorded 22 assists on 36 made field goals. Coach Jones believes that sharing the ball and playing with pace are essential to the Spartans’ offensive success. “The one rule we have on offense is just share the ball,” Jones said. “We’ve been working on playing with more pace, and I thought we had some great possessions against North Carolina Wesleyan where we played fast and got great looks.” While they will likely need to play even better offensively against a team like Indiana, the Spartans’ ability to move the ball and generate open shots will be crucial in their efforts to pull off an upset.

As the Hoosiers look to build on their solid start to the season, they will be keeping a sharp focus on their weaknesses, particularly in defending the bounce and improving their ball movement. With their strong backcourt and perimeter shooting, Indiana has the potential to be a well-rounded and dangerous team. However, their success this season will depend on their ability to clean up the areas where they have faltered, particularly in making sure they execute their offensive sets with greater precision. Woodson’s focus on development and improvement will be key to the Hoosiers’ ability to reach their full potential.

For Indiana, the matchup with UNC Greensboro serves as another opportunity to continue growing and refining their game. While they have shown promising signs of success in the early part of the season, the Hoosiers know that each game presents a new challenge. The upcoming contest will be an important test as they aim to get better, not just in individual aspects of the game but also in playing together as a cohesive unit. As they head into this matchup, the Hoosiers are committed to staying hungry, focused, and ready to make the improvements necessary to take their game to the next level. With their sights set higher, Indiana is determined to keep improving as they push forward in the season.