Indiana Basketball was a competitive bunch in Big Ten basketball in 2022-23. They finished second in the conference at 12-8 while boasting a 23-12 record into an NCAA Tournament appearance in Year 2 under head coach Mike Woodson. They made yet another appearance in the tournament though, this time, they were given an early exit in the second round this time. It’s progress, in their appearance in 2021-22, they lost in the First Round as a 12-seed.
After earning a 4-seed in the tournament this past season, they’ll need to replace two NBA Draft picks in Jalen Hood-Schifino and Trayce Jackson-Davis to replicate last year’s performance. They do return six players from last year’s roster but just Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway have a ton of starting experience.
6-foot-9 big man Malik Reneau is one of those returners that will be looked upon to grow into a bigger role. He made 35 appearances this past season for the Hoosiers as a reserve and returns eager to do more with a starting role in the frontcourt.
That doesn’t mean the newcomers won’t get any playing time. The Hoosiers have plenty of room for freshmen Gabe Cupps, Jakai Newton and former Duke signee Mackenzie Mgbako to grow in the rotation. Transfer portal additions Anthony Walker, Kel’el Ware and Payton Sparks should also give this squad some depth and experience. The addition of Ware certainly raises their potential to make another NCAA Tournament appearance. He’s a 7-footer that should be quite the two-way presence for this squad.
There’s potential for the Indiana rotation to be another successful one as they look to make it three NCAA Tournament appearances in a row. Check out the breakdown for the Indiana Hoosiers projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2023-24.
Point Guard
Starter – Xavier Johnson (25 mpg)
Xavier Johnson returns looking to bounce back from a broken foot that saw him appear in just 11 games (all starts) for the Hoosiers in 2022-23. He appeared in about 25 minutes of action this past season, averaging 9.9 ppg, 4.9 apg, 3.3 rpg and 1.2 spg on 41.5 percent shooting from the floor. There’s no question he can run an offense, he’ll just need to stay healthy doing so.
He’ll have a few different weapons at his disposal to rely on, especially in the frontcourt. Look for Johnson to push the pace and really up his assist production in 2023-24.
In his last full season of action, he produced 12.1 ppg, 5.1 apg, 3.8 rpg and 1.2 spg on 40.6 percent shooting from the field and 38.3 percent shooting from deep in 2021-22. He appeared in 34 games, all starts, before suffering his foot injury back in December.
Bench – Gabe Cupps (15 mpg)
Gabe Cupps joins the Indiana rotation after much fanfare coming out of Centerville High in Ohio. He’s a talented sharpshooter with a high IQ for making things happen for others given his fundamental skillset. Look for him to play some minutes at the backup point guard spot.
Shooting Guard
Starter – Trey Galloway (30 mpg)
Trey Galloway is another returner with starting experience that should grow into a bigger role for Indiana in his senior season. Galloway came off the bench in seven of 12 games before starting the final 20 games for the Hoosiers this past season. He averaged 27.7 mpg while putting up 6.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 2.1 apg on 46.2 percent shooting from deep and 47.2 percent from the field.
He’s a name due to make quite the splash with the departures of Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino looming large. At 6-foot-4, he’s shown he’s capable of scoring when given opportunities. He finished with a season-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor and 4-of-6 shooting from deep along with four rebounds against Nebraska in conference action back on Dec. 7. Look for more efficient shooting performances from him as a full-time starter.
Bench – C.J. Gunn/Jakai Newton (10 mpg)
C.J. Gunn made 20 appearances off the bench for the Hoosiers in 2022-23. He’s a 6-foot-6 presence that’s shown he can rebound the ball and defend. He’ll split time with Jakai Newton at the shooting guard spot.
Jakai Newton is another freshman newcomer that should get solid minutes at the backup shooting guard role, though he underwent surgery recently. Newton joins the squad out of Newton High in Covington, GA over the likes of Georgia, Vanderbilt and Arizona looking to crack the rotation.
Small Forward/Wing
Starter – Anthony Walker (17 mpg)
Anthony Walker joins the Hoosiers out of the transfer portal acquisition. He spent 2019-23 as a member of the ACC’s Miami Hurricanes where he finished up with 4.9 ppg and 2.5 rpg on 43.2 percent shooting from the field. The biggest thing that stands out right away with him is his length and potential at 6-foot-9.
Walker could never really find his footing in the Miami rotation, but the small forward/wing spot is wide open given the departure of Trayce Jackson-Davis. He won’t be looked upon to do a ton as a new face but he’ll at least need to improve on his perimeter shooting to stay on the floor.
Walker shot just 20.6 percent from deep during his career with the Hurricanes. He’ll need to improve on those numbers if he hopes to remain a staple in their rotation.
Bench – Mackenzie Mgbako (15 mpg), CJ Gunn (8 mpg)
Mackenzie Mgbako should see minutes at both forward spots. It wouldn’t be entirely surprising for him to crack the starting rotation at either role, either. He’s an active forward presence that continues to improve his game as an attacker off the bounce.
C.J. Gunn’s name comes up once again as a name to provide reserve minutes at the small forward/wing role. With more opportunities on the horizon, he’ll have an opportunity to increase his production all around.
Power Forward
Starter – Malik Reneau (27 mpg)
Malik Reneau is another returning name for Indiana that should grow into a bigger role this upcoming season. Reneau put up solid numbers in his debut season with Hoosiers in 2022-23, with 6.1 ppg and 3.7 rpg on 55.3 percent from the field. He’s a paint presence that doesn’t try to overdo things with his size at 6-foot-9.
Reneau should also take a lot more shots from deep with the departure of key shooters from last year’s squad. He’s capable of doing so, as he went 2-of-8 this past season. His development in the frontcourt will be a key to the Hoosiers’ success. He posted 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a steal in his best performance off the bench against Ohio State in conference action back on Jan. 28.
Bench – Payton Sparks (7 mpg), Mackenzie Mgbako (6 mpg)
Mackenzie Mgbako could get the bulk of his minutes at the power-forward spot. It wouldn’t be surprising if he shared the floor with Ware off the bench or even move into a starting role here. It’ll be tough, though, with Payton Sparks and Reneau both in the rotation.
Payton Sparks is another transfer portal acquisition that should play big minutes off the bench for Indiana. He’s a menace in the painted area that averaged 13.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg and 1.9 apg on 58.8 percent from the field in the MAC at Ball State in 2022-23. He was a second-team All-MAC performer that finished third in offensive rebounds (98) and should really bolster the Indiana frontcourt in the Big Ten in 2023-24.
Center
Starter – Kel’el Ware (25 mpg)
Kel’el Ware joins Indiana in the Big Ten after spending the past season making his college debut with the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12. Ware is probably the biggest transfer portal acquisition that the Hoosiers will rely on this season. He’s a versatile presence with his size at 7-foot that can mimic much of what Trayce Jackson-Davis was for them during his career as a Hoosier.
Ware doesn’t shoot as many 3-pointers, but he’s a two-way presence that’s shown he can make his presence felt. He finished this past season putting up 6.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 1.3 bpg on 45.7 percent shooting from the field and 27.3 percent from deep. His 3-point efficiency is certainly something he can improve upon, but he’s ready to embrace a starting role that’s wide open for him.
Bench – Payton Sparks (10 mpg)
Look for Payton Sparks to play some minutes at the 5-spot as head coach Mike Woodson works with the versatility they have in the frontcourt. He brings experience with him out of the MAC as a burden on the interior and given his solid 240-pound frame, he’s definitely not easy to move on both ends of the floor. Look for him to act as a defensive anchor in 2023-24 at the center role.