Gabe Cupps was thrust right into a larger-than-expected position for Indiana as a freshman.
Ohio’s 2022 Mr. Basketball, Cupps dedicated to the Hoosiers in November 2021, earlier than his junior season at Centerville Excessive Faculty.
Previous to the 2023-24 season, Cupps was anticipated to function Xavier Johnson’s backup. Enjoying behind Johnson, a sixth-year participant, would afford him — and this system — an easing into the rotation position in his first school season.
However that isn’t the way it labored out.
Johnson handled a number of accidents and struggled to remain wholesome in his closing season in Bloomington. With little level guard depth, Mike Woodson turned to Cupps, who made his first begin in IU’s Massive Ten opener towards Maryland at Meeting Corridor.
“I didn’t come into the season considering that I used to be going to begin and play Gabe the minutes that he that he performed,” Woodson mentioned in late Might at Huber’s Vineyard.
Cupps made the most effective of a tough scenario. However after a 2022-23 marketing campaign the place the Hoosiers had the league’s freshman of the 12 months at level guard, there was a big statistical drop-off going from Jalen Hood-Schifino to Cupps.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard performed in all of Indiana’s 33 video games, making 22 begins. He completed the season with averages of two.6 factors, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 21.7 minutes per recreation.
Offensively, Cupps hardly ever appeared to attain regardless of capturing almost 36 % on 3s. A few of the reluctance to shoot or attempt to rating was by design, as the main focus of the IU offense was the put up and getting appears to be like for Mackenzie Mgbako and Trey Galloway.
“Not that he didn’t deserve it and never he didn’t maintain his personal, I assumed Gabe had a hell of a freshman 12 months,” Woodson mentioned of Cupps in late Might. “However we actually counted on Xavier (Johnson) to be again in spite of everything his accidents… we simply thought we had him again and that crushed us.”
Indiana addressed its level guard wants within the spring by signing Myles Rice, who arrives in Bloomington after incomes All-Pac-12 first-team honors at Washington State. The Hoosiers additionally returned Trey Galloway, who performed loads of minutes final season at level guard, and added Kanaan Carlyle, who can deal with the ball and create.
These modifications imply Cupps will see a change in his position as a sophomore for the Hoosiers. He’s not anticipated to begin recurrently or play greater than 20 minutes per recreation like he did as a freshman.
Nonetheless, Cupps can nonetheless make positive factors as a sophomore and maximize the variety of minutes he performs. And that’s precisely what the expectation needs to be for Cupps, recognized for his relentless work ethic.
“He acquired thrown into the fireplace in a way,” incoming switch Luke Goode instructed Sleepers Media in June. “Xavier Johnson being harm, it put loads of stress on him to carry out, and typically freshman, it’s robust, they don’t have what they should carry. However he’s going to take that leap, for certain, sophomore 12 months, and I’m excited to see how he performs subsequent 12 months.”
Whereas Cupps shot a wholesome share from the perimeter final season, he was usually reluctant to shoot. When Cupps had an opportunity to get set and sq. his toes, he confirmed off a succesful stroke on 3s.
However when he rushed his shot, it usually led him to fade, which harm his capturing share. In keeping with Hoop-Math.com, Cupps shot simply 31.4 % on 2-point soar photographs.
Goode mentioned capturing has been a transparent offseason focus for the Ohio native.
“I feel he’s the second-leading 3-point shooter this summer season in simply taking part in and ability exercises,” Goode defined. “So he’s actually improved. He’s in there each morning, about 6 a.m., getting photographs up.”
Off the courtroom, Cupps has the traits to develop as a pacesetter on and off the ground. Whilst a freshman, you could possibly see him continuously speaking to his teammates on the courtroom.
When Oumar Ballo visited Bloomington in April, Cupps popped into Ballo’s photograph shoot to make the massive man really feel welcome.
His potential to attach with teammates is equally vital to his statistical contributions on the ground.
“Gabe is without doubt one of the most personable guys I’ve ever met in my life. The day that I acquired to campus, he was the primary particular person I talked to, first man I hang around with, nonetheless my man,” Goode mentioned. “We get dinner most likely three or 4 instances every week. However he’s simply that dude, man. He’s within the health club earlier than everyone figuring out, he’s the final one to go away. He’s within the locker room leaping on individuals like a clown and doing all of his stuff. He’s an amazing teammate.”
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