Big Ten Basketball: 10 key storylines to watch for 2023 offseason

6. Indiana will have to wait on Xavier Johnson’s redshirt request

No roster will have as much turnover at the top in Big Ten Basketball than Indiana, who is set to lose each of its top four scorers. Seniors Miller Kopp and Race Thompson don’t have any eligibility left, while star forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (20.9 ppg and 10.8 rpg) has already stated that he’s moving on.

That means that the Hoosiers don’t return anyone that averaged more than 6.7 ppg this past season. However, they may be getting back a starter in Xavier Johnson, who produced 9.9 ppg and 4.9 apg in 11 games before suffering what ended up being a season-ending foot injury. He was in his 5th season and second with the Hoosiers after three years at Pittsburgh.

If freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino is certain to enter the NBA Draft, it’s an absoute must that Johnson returns to stabilize the backcourt. He’s a proven double-digit scorer and without Jackson-Davis, likely will need to score more next season.

But Indiana will need to know sooner or later if he’s able to get the official redshirt to return for the 2023-24 campaign. If not, the team will have to go in the portal and get a lead guard. It’s hard to do so with the status in limbo and soon, the top free agent ball-handlers will get scooped up. They know they need to add at least one frontcourt player but depending on what happens with Johnson, will also need at least one ball-handler too.