‘Indiana pulled itself up a little bit’ to get OT win vs. Ohio State
IndyStar IU Insider Zach Osterman breaks down the Hoosiers’ 77-76 overtime win in Columbus.
EVANSTON, Ill. — IU basketball is expected to get one of its top scorers back for Wednesday’s Big Ten game at Northwestern, the IndyStar has learned.
Malik Reneau is expected to be available for the Hoosiers (14-5, 5-3) for their 7 p.m. tip-off against the Wildcats (11-7, 2-5) at Welsh-Ryan Arena. IU coach Mike Woodson said Tuesday morning that Reneau was going to do a fitness test before the team’s flight later that day to determine if he’d be able to play. Woodson said Reneau had been more active recently and able to participate more.
Reneau missed the last five games after he suffered a knee injury in the first minute of IU’s win over Rutgers on Jan. 2. He was seen without crutches or walking assistance at Friday’s overtime win against Ohio State.
Oumar Ballo elevated his game with Reneau out. Over those six games, Ballo averaged 18.7 points and 12.7 rebounds with 10 blocks. He is the team’s leading scorer (14.5 ppg) and rebounder (10.3 rpg) and surpassed Reneau, who has added 14.1 points per game across his 14 starts.
The Hoosiers were 3-2 without Reneau, but the last three games were problematic. IU suffered its worst league loss in the Woodson era, 85-60, to Iowa. A return to Assembly Hall turned ugly as the Hoosiers trailed by as many as 30 in a 94-69 loss to Illinois. Fans chanted “Fire Mike Woodson” and were flooding the exits early. While IU won its game at Ohio State, it had a 10-point lead with 5 minutes, 12 seconds left. It evaporated as the Buckeyes went on a 13-3 run to force overtime.
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