Welcome to “That’s A Wrap,” our player-by-player recap of the 2023-24 Indiana Hoosiers. At this time: Malik Reneau.
Reneau (33 video games): 15.4 factors, six rebounds, 2.7 assists and 55.8 FG% in 28.7 minutes per recreation.
Beforehand: Gabe Cupps, Mackenzie Mgbako
Montverde Academy product and Miami, Florida native Malik Reneau took a leap ahead in his second season at Indiana.
A top-30 recruit out of highschool who dedicated to the Hoosiers within the spring of 2022 following a training change at Florida, Reneau began all 33 video games as a sophomore.
A lefty with a wide selection of submit strikes, Reneau and fellow sophomore Kel’el Ware labored properly in tandem offensively for a lot of the season. Ware’s presence as a lob risk, coupled with Reneau’s savviness as a passer, led to loads of connections on the rim for the duo.
As a lot as Reneau’s scoring means within the paint is mentioned, his passing is considered one of his main strengths. He completed Huge Ten play with an help price of 18.1 p.c, which ranked Nineteenth-best within the league. Whereas he’s nonetheless studying to navigate double groups within the submit and generally stored the ball too lengthy fairly than making a fast go, racking up 88 assists whereas enjoying primarily within the submit as a sophomore is spectacular.
Though he’s not an explosive athlete or leaper, Reneau’s physique and power, coupled along with his footwork, helped him grow to be one of many Huge Ten’s most effective post-finishers. The 6-foot-9 ahead shot 59.7 p.c on 2s in convention play, the Tenth-best mark within the Huge Ten.
Reneau scored 20 or extra factors seven occasions, together with a 34-point outburst in opposition to Kennesaw State on Dec. 29 when Ware was sidelined with COVID-19. He additionally confirmed off a capability to hit the occasional 3-pointer and principally had the inexperienced mild to take photographs when open from a distance. For the season, he went 15-for-45 (33.3 p.c) on 3s.
The important thing areas the place Reneau can nonetheless fine-tune his recreation transferring ahead are on the glass, free-throw capturing and his persistent foul points.
Reneau completed the Huge Ten season because the league’s Twentieth-best offensive rebounder however didn’t rank within the high 25 on the defensive glass. Upping his recreation on the boards ought to be a transparent emphasis as he prepares for his junior season.
On the free throw line, Reneau shot 68.3 p.c on 142 makes an attempt. That proportion was higher than Indiana’s mark as a workforce, however entering into the mid-70s can be a welcome enchancment subsequent season.
The foul points, nonetheless, may be probably the most crucial situation for Reneau to deal with subsequent season. He fouled out seven occasions and completed eight video games with 4 fouls. After averaging 6.8 fouls per 40 minutes as a freshman, based on KenPom, Reneau averaged 4.3 fouls per 40 minutes in 12 months two. Whereas the development was vital, the room for progress in defending with out fouling is substantial.
Backside line: Reneau was an All-Huge Ten honorable point out choice as a sophomore, an correct illustration of his season that featured loads of ups and some downs. He’ll be seen as considered one of Indiana’s leaders getting into subsequent season and there’s little question Reneau desires to win primarily based on the emotion and fervour he performs with each evening. For his recreation to proceed to maneuver ahead, Reneau should be capable to play extra minutes with out fouling and turn into extra assertive on the glass on each ends of the ground.
Quotable: “I actually received the motivation from Trayce (Jackson-Davis) and Race (Thompson), seeing how they performed in the entire Huge Ten and seeing how they dominated. I simply wanted time to grasp the sport and go on the market. Now I’m enjoying good and with my tempo and with the ability to rating on both block and end with each arms, step out and create my shot from the three ball, shoot the three ball, too. I simply really feel just like the 12 months I had simply watching Trayce’s stuff, I noticed rather a lot. And now my recreation is slowing down and I’m in a position to create performs for myself and for others.” – Reneau on Dec. 29 after scoring 34 factors in opposition to Kennesaw State.
Filed to: Malik Reneau
