NCAA Basketball: Preseason top 25 power rankings for 2022-23 season

There’s plenty of optimism for the Hoosiers, bringing back eight players who got minutes for them last season and all three double-digit scorers. That includes one of the best players in NCAA Basketball in Trayce Jackson-Davis, who led the team with 18.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg, and 2.3 blocks per game.

He’s one of the best offensive players in NCAA Basketball, with numerous 25+ point games and even a 43-point effort last season. Jackson-Davis also improved greatly defensively as well to become a more well-rounded player. And his frontcourt partner, Race Thompson, also is a double-digit scorer and solid rebounder as well.

The other key returning player is point guard and 5th-year senior Xavier Johnson, who was the team’s best player during their late run to make the NCAA Tournament. Although he shot 41% from the field, the playmaker did make 38% from deep as well. Johnson can be turnover-prone and inefficient but when he’s playing well, he’s one of the best guards in the country.

There’s also a pair of incoming five-star freshmen in Malik Reneau and Jalen Hood-Schifino. Reneau will be the backup forward, while Hood-Schifino could potential start alongside Johnson or at least be the backup point guard off the bench. And besides returning starting small forward Miller Kopp, there’s a bunch of returning guards (Trey Galloway, Anthony Leal, Jordan Geronimo, Tamar Bates) that’ll be competing for playing time as well. Bates, a former five-star prospect as well, is a breakout candidate to watch.

The one weakness for Indiana from last year is the three-point shooting, especially before Johnson had his hot streak in February. That’ll have to improve, as well as the overall perimeter scoring, in order to be a consistently ranked program this season. But the experience and starpower at the top give them a chance.