With the beginning of school basketball season approaching, we’ve moved from our have a look at different Massive Ten packages to our player-by-player previews of the 2024-25 Indiana roster.
At this time, our participant profiles proceed with redshirt senior Oumar Ballo.
Beforehand: Bryson Tucker, Jakai Newton, Myles Rice, Mackenzie Mgbako, Gabe Cupps, Kanaan Carlyle, Malik Reneau
Dominant post-play has been a staple of Mike Woodson’s three-year tenure in Bloomington. From Trayce Jackson-Davis to Malik Reneau to Kel’el Ware, the Hoosiers have prioritized taking part in via the publish for the final three seasons.
After Ware left for the NBA final spring, the Indiana teaching employees returned to the switch portal to discover a publish presence to pair with Reneau.
The Hoosiers landed one of many nation’s greatest bigs from final season: Oumar Ballo. He was thought of the very best large man obtainable within the portal.
“Oumar is a dominating publish presence on each ends of the ground with a successful background,” Mike Woodson stated shortly after IU signed Ballo. “His expertise taking part in on the highest degree will elevate our program. He’s a giant fella with gentle contact across the rim, good palms, and strong footwork. He’s very bodily and is an ideal slot in our system and our league.”
Ballo, a 7-foot, 265-pound middle who started his profession at Gonzaga earlier than transferring to Arizona, is without doubt one of the most bodily imposing bigs within the nation.
He’s been one of many nation’s greatest facilities during the last two seasons. Within the 2022-23 marketing campaign, Ballo averaged 14.2 factors, 8.6 rebounds and shot 64.7 p.c. Final season, Ballo averaged a double-double: 12.9 factors and 10.1 rebounds whereas capturing 65.8 p.c.
The Koulikoro, Mali native, was named first-team All-Pac 12 every season.
Whereas Indiana is predicted to have a extra balanced offense this season with improved guard play, it should nonetheless emphasize its publish gamers.
The Hoosiers now have one of the crucial environment friendly publish scorers within the nation in Ballo. When Ballo can get into place within the publish and seal off his defender, he’s difficult to cease. In keeping with Synergy Sports activities, Ballo scored 1.33 factors per possession final season on publish pins.
Not solely does Ballo convert at a excessive clip within the paint, however drawing fouls is a power of his recreation. Final season at Arizona, Ballo drew 5.8 fouls per 40 minutes. Changing on the line, nonetheless, has been a problem. Final season, Ballo shot simply 49.5 p.c from the road and he’s a profession 56.4 p.c free-throw shooter.
Ballo can also be anticipating to impression Indiana’s rebounding considerably. The Hoosiers have been a poor rebounding crew on each ends final season regardless of being the nation’s fourth-tallest crew. Indiana ranked 254th in offensive rebounding share and 211th in defensive rebounding share nationally.
Ballo was a wonderful rebounder on each ends, however his numbers on the offensive glass stand out. His 15.2 offensive rebounding share ranked fifteenth nationally final season. At Indiana’s media day, there was loads of discuss emphasizing offensive rebounding and Ballo shall be a giant a part of it.
The pairing of Ballo and Reneau shall be a serious change from final season’s Ware and Reneau pairing, however Reneau’s passing potential ought to be an asset to Ballo. Reneau confirmed final season that he might discover Ware for lobs and he’ll do the identical with Ballo, a succesful lob risk. If Reneau can area the ground, it ought to open up the paint for Ballo to have extra room to function.
“Ballo has proven that if you throw him the ball down there, he’s a load,” Indiana coach Mike Woodson stated at media day final month.
Along with Ballo’s statistical impression, he brings intangibles that ought to profit the Indiana program. The groups he performed for at Arizona and Gonzaga mixed to go 119-21. He isn’t simply hoping to win video games; he expects to win each recreation. That’s a mentality that Indiana must change into infectious throughout its roster.
“He’s had some good years. He’s an older man that’s critical about successful,” Woodson stated this offseason. “That was the entire thing that attracted me to him.”
Backside line: Ballo’s smile and interesting persona will make him an immediate fan favourite of Indiana followers. He’s relentless on the offensive glass, shall be one of many strongest gamers within the nation within the paint and is an environment friendly post-scorer. He’s used to taking part in with one other large man from his time at Arizona and he ought to develop chemistry shortly with Reneau to kind one of many Massive Ten’s most formidable frontcourts.
Quotable: “He makes the sport simpler. He’s a giant physique who can dominate down low. He scores with each palms. It’s kinda simple to get him to ball, particularly on high-lows as a result of he can replenish a few of my area and transfer folks out of the best way.” – Reneau on what it’s like taking part in with Ballo.
Media day interviews with Ballo:
Filed to: 2024-25 season preview, Oumar Ballo
