In a significant milestone for Hoosoer’s basketball program, Malik Reneu has been named the winner of the prestigious Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Award. This honor highlights Reneu’s exceptional performance on the court and places him among the nation’s elite basketball players.. full details below 👇

In a significant milestone for Hoosier’s basketball program, Malik Reneu has been named the winner of the prestigious Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Award. This honor highlights Reneu’s exceptional performance on the court and places him among the nation’s elite basketball players.. full details below 👇

One of the few bright spots in an otherwise difficult season for Indiana was Malik Reneau’s growth from his freshman to sophomore years. Last season, Reneau improved as a passer, defender, and paint finisher with dynamic big man Kel’el Ware.

It is evident that Reneau’s coach, Mike Woodson, was not happy with his current level of development. Lean yet commanding enough to not try to back down in the paint, Reneau looks to be in the best physical condition of his life.

How much time he will spend in the paint this season is less certain. The stretch center that Reneau had next to him in Ware last year is not the same as his current front court counterpart, Oumar Ballo.

The paint may get crowded with the two of them out there, even if Ballo will not require as many paint touches as Ware did because he lacks any significant perimeter game. Given Indiana’s recent spacing problems, this may seem concerning, but there are several reasons to believe Woodson is not relying on such a post-centric system.

He is been expressing since the spring that he wants Reneau to do “certain things differently this year,” to start. Woodson reaffirmed his desire for Reneau to make more 3-pointers to open things up while Ballo is on the court before to the Tennessee scrimmage.

Although he did not shoot many 3-pointers last season, Reneau made 33.3% of his 45 tries and shown some sparks, such as going 2-4 versus Kansas. We could see an increase in his percentage and attempt numbers as he was surrounded by stronger shooters

Second, Woodson has hinted that this year, Reneau and Ballo might not be on the same court as frequently as people think. Reneau’s inability to stay on the court because of foul trouble is another issue. Reneau fouled out six times in his expanded role last season, with the number of fouls rising toward the end of the campaign.