Big Ten Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season
By Tuck Clarry
5. Indiana Hoosiers
Despite a foot injury that derailed senior guard Xavier Johnson’s season, the Indiana Hoosiers found themselves finishing second in the conference last season. The team lived and operated through junior big Trayce Jackson-Davis who averaged 20.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 4 assists, leading the team in all three categories and blocks as well.
Jackson-Davis is now in the pros, leaving Mike Woodson to reassemble a squad that also lost freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino to the draft and two other starters from last season. The third year Hoosier coach attempts to solve the TJD absence by bringing back big man Malik Reneau for his sophomore season and acquiring transfer sophomore Kel’el Ware and top-10 freshman Mackenzie Mgbako.
Ware was viewed as a surefire one-and-done going into last season at Oregon, but the 7-foot rim-runner couldn’t find a way to earn minutes under Dana Altman. Ware struggled to succeed at his skillsets, making just 60% of his shots at the rim and only 45% of those rim attacks in transition. He often settled on three-point shows, shooting 27% on 55 attempts. If Ware wants to become the lottery pick many pegged him as a fresh star will be essential.
Mgbako is a far better pairing with Ware than N’Faly Dante was at Oregon last season. Mgbako will help stretch the floor with his perimeter shotmaking that makes him a clear future pro. The 6-foot-8 forward shows impeccable footwork that will make him a tough matchup on offense and a positive contributor on defense.
The biggest question for Indiana will be guard play, with what will be Johnson’s sixth season in college. Johnson offers consistent offense and size for the Hoosiers, but it will still be necessary to see if he can limit turnovers running the offense. He’s averaged almost 3 turnovers per game since heading to Bloomington in 2021.
With an elevated upper half of the Big Ten, it’s not out of the question for Indiana to fight with the teams mentioned later on this list, but it will require consistency and health from Johnson and a complete 180 from Ware at his new school. If the surrounding talent can raise the floor of this team and some of the ceiling is captured by Woodson, this is a team that could finish not just in the upper parts of Big Ten conference play but national rankings as well.