With the beginning of school basketball season approaching, we’ve moved from our have a look at different Huge Ten applications to our player-by-player previews of the 2024-25 Indiana roster.
In the present day, our participant profiles proceed with junior Malik Reneau.
Beforehand: Bryson Tucker, Jakai Newton, Myles Rice, Mackenzie Mgbako, Gabe Cupps, Kanaan Carlyle
Malik Reneau took a significant step ahead as a sophomore.
As a freshman for the Hoosiers, Reneau was behind All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis on the depth chart and averaged 14.9 minutes per sport. He was nonetheless extremely productive in these restricted minutes and averaged 6.1 factors and three.7 rebounds. Reneau shot 55.3 p.c from the sector, a stellar mark for a freshman.
Foul points, nevertheless, prevented Reneau from taking part in extra minutes in his first season. He averaged 6.8 fouls per 40 minutes, in keeping with KenPom. A lot of the fouls have been pointless. Reneau was usually out of place or reached in when he didn’t must.
With a season of expertise underneath his belt, Reneau was able to shoulder a much bigger load in his second season as a Hoosier.
After the departure of Jackson-Davis to the NBA, Reneau grew to become a go-to scoring possibility in Mike Woodson’s offense. He had the seventh-highest utilization charge of any Huge Ten participant in league video games at 27.3 p.c. Reneau averaged 15.4 factors, six rebounds and a pair of.7 assists in 28.7 minutes. He minimize down on the fouling, too. The Miami, Florida native averaged 4.3 fouls per 40 minutes as a sophomore.
Reneau additionally developed a synergy with frontcourt mate Kel’el Ware and confirmed off one in all his finest expertise, passing. His help charge of 18.1 p.c ranked among the many prime 20 within the Huge Ten. One different wrinkle from Reneau was the addition of a fringe shot. He tried simply eight 3s as a freshman and took 45 as a sophomore. He linked on 33.3 p.c from deep.
At season’s finish, Reneau earned All-Huge Ten honorable point out honors. Now a junior, much more is anticipated from the left-handed massive man.
For Reneau to unlock his full potential, he should make good points in a number of areas. Enhancing on the glass needs to be a transparent focus for Reneau, who ranked simply twentieth in offensive rebounding proportion within the league final season.
“It’s been emphasised lots,” Reneau stated at media day. “Particularly the threes, fours and fives crashing the offensive glass. Particularly understanding that we have been a nasty rebounding crew final 12 months. In my case, too, I used to be a nasty rebounder. I gotta emphasize it in my thoughts that I gotta rebound, too.”
Slicing down on fouls ought to stay a transparent space of emphasis for Reneau. He minimize down on his fouls per 40 minutes by 2.5 final season, however 4.3 per 40 minutes continues to be a excessive quantity. Over his four-year profession at Indiana, Jackson-Davis by no means averaged greater than 2.7 fouls per 40 minutes.
With Oumar Ballo now within the fold, Reneau is anticipated to proceed logging main minutes on the 4. Final season, Reneau performed primarily within the publish with Ware’s capability to area the ground. Ballo isn’t a fringe menace, so the Hoosiers want Reneau to function extra confidently away from the basket. He’ll additionally want to have the ability to defend fours reliably.
“I really feel like nearly all of my fouls have been ticky-tack,” Reneau stated. “So simply not being the antsy one on the court docket the place I’m swiping lots and never getting these dumb fouls like that which is one thing I are inclined to do lots.”
Reneau stated the teaching employees has had him guard extra guys on the perimeter this offseason to assist him turn out to be extra snug defending away from the basket. He’s additionally labored on his lateral quickness and staying in entrance as a defender.
Backside line: Reneau is likely one of the most proficient post-scorers within the nation. He has distinctive footwork, is aware of how one can get to his spots and confirmed off strong contact from the perimeter, too. He talked at size at media day that rebounding and fouls are the areas the place he wants to enhance in his third season and he’s able to making vital good points in each areas. It gained’t be a shock if Reneau leads the Hoosiers in scoring this season and finds himself on one of many All-Huge Ten groups come March.
Quotable: “Bodily, he was dedicated to the exercise, his consuming habits, his physique has modified. His summer season play was fairly good and he’s taking part in fairly good basketball for us now. I hope it’s a pleasant carry over into when it actually begins.” – Mike Woodson not too long ago on Reneau’s improvement.
Media day interviews with Reneau:
Filed to: 2024-25 season preview, Malik Reneau
