Indiana got big news when Jackson-Davis returned
Much like last season, the Hoosiers will be known for two things, one of the country’s best defenses and length all over the floor. Spearheading the defense will be senior forwards Race Thompson and Trayce Jackson-Davis who returns to Bloomington somewhat surprisingly after flirting with the NBA. The length and defensive versatility come in spades for Indiana with just two players in the rotation under 6’5.
Thompson and Jackson-Davis are the team’s top two scorers, combining to average over 29 points per game for an Indiana team that struggled to shoot the ball at times, shooting 46% from the field and 34% from deep. The dynamic duo is also a menace on the boards pulling down nearly 16. Fellow senior Miller Kopp also returns for his second season with the Hoosiers. The 6’7 forward had his best three-point shooting year since 2019-20 and the sometimes offensively challenged Hoosiers could use another bump there.
The backcourt will see the return of point guard Xavier Johnson. The senior did a little bit of everything last season with 12 points, 3.6 rebounds, and five assists, but he was a little hit-or-miss last year also committing 2.6 turnovers per contest. The last starting spot will likely go to five-star recruit Jalen Hood-Schifino who like Johnson can do everything but in a 6’6 frame. Like most of his new teammates, he also has a propensity to struggle shooting the ball.