Indiana is through the nonconference portion of its schedule along with two December league games.
And as we do each year at this time, it’s time to take a look at where the Hoosiers stand nationally in the advanced metrics.
Big picture, here is where IU ranks overall according to three of the main analytic resources. Obviously the NCAA’s NET tool is used to select the field of 68 in March.
- NCAA NET Ranking: No. 65 (14th in Big Ten)
- KenPom: No. 56 (13th in Big Ten)
- Bart Torvik: No. 56 (13th in Big Ten)
Overall Indiana is the 59th most efficient offense and defense according to KenPom through games played on Dec. 30.
Here’s a look at some of the key factors where the team and players stand out — both on the plus side, and the negative.
Data from KenPom is used below. There are 364 teams in Division I.
OFFENSE – POSITIVE
Indiana’s efficiency inside the arc has been very good. IU is making 57.8% from two, good for No. 38 in the country. 58.3% of the Hoosiers total points have come from two, the 15th most in the country.
Part of the reason why IU has been good from two — they don’t get their shots blocked. Opponents have blocked just 6.2% of IU’s shots, good for No. 21.
OFFENSE – NEGATIVE
While Indiana’s 3-point shooting looked like a potential positive early in the season, their accuracy from long range has fallen off a cliff of late. The Hoosiers have made just 18-of-89 from three over the last four games, good for just 20.2%. They’ve now fallen to 30.6% for the season, which ranks No. 279 nationally. IU started the season 57-of-156 (36.5%).
Indiana’s turnover rate (18.2%) is the highest of any Mike Woodson team thus far. That percentage ranks No. 210 in the nation. But things have been trending favorably. IU has not had more than 10 turnovers in any of their last three games. The Hoosiers are allowing a steal rate of 10.8%, which ranks No. 271.
OFFENSE – NEUTRAL
There was a lot of talk coming into the season about playing faster on the offensive end. Right now IU is averaging 15.8 seconds per possession, which ranks No. 45. That would be the shortest offensive possession average in the Woodson era, but that’s not an easy metric to keep low during league play.
With how bad things have been going from three, you’ll have to decide if you like the fact that IU ranks just No. 329 in percentage of total shots (32.2%) that are taken from beyond the arc. And only 11 teams in the nation get less of their total points from three.
IU’s free throw percentage (72.7%) is middle of the road nationally. But if that percentage held through the season it would be the best by an IU team since 2016-17.
DEFENSE – POSITIVE
Most of IU’s defensive resume is in top third to top half of the national rankings, but not much of it can be characterized as elite. Insert something about lacking an identity here. And of course the defense gave up 87 a game in their three losses, exposing some hidden weaknesses against better competition.
Indiana has done a pretty good job of keeping teams off the free throw line. Opponent free throw attempts are just 26.5% of field goal attempts. That ranks No. 47.
The Hoosiers are generally forcing longer possessions. Teams are averaging 18 seconds a possession, and that ranks favorably at No. 287.
And one thing trending favorably worth monitoring: Opponents are taking less threes as a percentage of total shots this season compared to any of Woodson’s other teams. 38.6% of opposing shots have come from long range, which ranks No. 173. IU appears to have at least at times tweaked their help principles to get there.
DEFENSE – NEGATIVE
There is nothing too terribly glaring about IU’s defensive profile to this point. But it’s worth noting they’ve only played the No. 180 non-conference strength of schedule.
One thing worth noting — opponents are assisting on 55.3% of their makes (No. 244), which suggests IU can be schemed against if teams focus on ball movement, and forcing switches and rotations.
And IU isn’t forcing a lot of turnovers. Their opponent turnover rate is 17.3%, No. 187 in the nation. This is not a very disruptive defense, as the Hoosiers are getting steals on 9.6% of possessions, No. 192.
THE PLAYERS – POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE
- Malik Reneau’s effective field goal percentage (61.2%), offensive and defensive rebounding rates (8.3%/17.9%) and turnover rate (14.7%) are the best of his career, but he continues to spend too much time on the bench with a fouls per 40 rate (4.3) that is the same as a year ago.
- Myles Rice is shooting better from two (56.8% vs. 51%), three (31.4% vs. 27.5%) and the free throw line (89.3% vs, 81.1%) than a year ago, but his turnover rate is six percentage points higher, and his assist rate is 2.5 percentage points lower.
- Mackenzie Mgbako’s metrics have improved pretty much across the board save for a turnover rate up four percentage points. His overall effective field goal percentage is up more than 10 percentage points. He is not getting to the line nearly as often, with a free throw attempt rate down 10 percentage points.
- Oumar Ballo has posted his highest effective field goal percentage of his career (70.1%), but his offensive and defensive rebounding rates are both down compared to last year. He has posted his highest assist and turnover rates, both by wide margins.
- Trey Galloway is posting a high-end assist rate (25.8%) for the second season in a row. But his turnover rate (25.7%) is the highest of his career. He has improved in the latter area the last three games, posting just one turnover per contest.
- Bryson Tucker has taken the third highest percentage of the total shots (23.2%). He also has the third best defensive rebounding rate on the team. Among players with meaningful roles, he has the second lowest turnover rate (12.6%) and the lowest assist rate (6.2%) on the team.
- Luke Goode is taking a higher percentage of his team’s shots when on the floor then any other season. He’s also already nearly surpassed his highest total free throw attempts in a season (17 this year vs. 23 last year). Obviously his 30.4% from three is the glaring comparison, down vs. his previous worst year at 37.2%.
- Kanaan Carlyle’s numbers are down pretty much across the board except for his turnover rate. But that might also be part of what appears to be an overall lack of an aggressive mindset on offense. He’s at 1.9 fouls drawn per 40 this year vs. 5.0 last year. His usage is down more than 10 percentage points.
For complete coverage of IU basketball, GO HERE.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
- You can follow us on Twitter: @daily_hoosier
- Find us on Facebook and Instagram
- Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no cost to you.
