Welcome to “That’s A Wrap,” our player-by-player recap of the 2024-25 Indiana Hoosiers. Our participant recaps conclude with Oumar Ballo.
Ballo (31 video games): 13.0 factors, 9.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 62.3 FG% in 28.8 minutes per recreation.
Beforehand: Bryson Tucker, Kanaan Carlyle, Mackenzie Mgbako, Myles Rice, Malik Reneau, Anthony Leal, Langdon Hatton, Trey Galloway, Luke Goode
Oumar Ballo was extra than simply Indiana’s prized addition within the offseason – he was considered one of, if not probably the most, coveted transfers within the nation.
The 7-foot redshirt sixth-year senior from Mali was a double-double machine at Arizona. He notched 34 in three seasons with the Wildcats and picked up two first-team All-Pac 12 honors alongside a Pac-12 All-Defensive group nod final season.
He ranked nationally because the No. 2 switch in accordance with 247Sports and No. 3 at On3.
Upon arrival, he hoped to proceed the lineage of profitable put up gamers underneath Mike Woodson, following within the footsteps of Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kel’el Ware. Early on, he was – for probably the most half – exactly what he was recruited for.
Defensively, he was a stalwart who stymied something across the rim, particularly in opposition to lower-tier opponents. Offensively, his burly body out-muscled undersized defenders on the put up or he would fly excessive for lobs.
Nonetheless, his motor wasn’t at all times current – a crimson flag he introduced from Arizona.
Regardless of simply seven factors in IU’s first excessive main check in opposition to South Carolina, Ballo grabbed 13 boards and swatted away six photographs in a robust defensive effort to steer an 87-71 win.
His first eye-popping offensive efficiency was Nov. 28 in opposition to Gonzaga within the Bahamas. He scored 25 factors on 11-for-13 taking pictures, however his efforts had been wasted in an 89-73 blowout loss.
Coming back from the Battle 4 Atlantis, Ballo underperformed in December. Outdoors of a 14-point, 18-rebound recreation in opposition to Miami-Ohio, Ballo averaged 10.8 factors and eight.3 rebounds in 4 video games in the course of the month and his lack of effort was obvious.
Ballo was benched for a Dec. 29 contest in opposition to Winthrop and Mike Woodson didn’t elaborate on the circumstances in his postgame feedback.
Within the following recreation in opposition to Rutgers on Jan. 2, Ballo was out there to play however didn’t begin for the primary time all season. Nonetheless, Malik Reneau suffered an damage early within the recreation and Ballo was primarily pressured in. He produced 17 factors and 12 rebounds in 32 minutes within the win.
Woodson re-inserted Ballo into the beginning lineup the next recreation at Penn State and he dominated with 25 factors, 13 rebounds and two blocks.
Regardless of churning out double-doubles in losses to Iowa and Illinois, he once more displayed low ranges of effort. On a number of events in every recreation, Ballo did not run again on protection and gave up on performs whereas watching the ball.
The remainder of the season, Ballo put up strong numbers right here and there with bursts of vitality, however he seemingly coasted to the end line.
Ballo’s season was a curler coaster. On the excessive factors, Ballo was a dominant drive inside on each ends of the ground. On the lows, nonetheless, his lack of vitality and energy generally decreased his worth to a mere space-filler.
Backside line: Ballo was undeniably essential to Indiana’s formulation this season. Nonetheless, he didn’t stay as much as his preseason label as one of the vital priceless transfers within the nation. Very like IU’s destiny, Ballo’s expectations coming into the 12 months exceeded actuality. At instances, he flashed glimpses of what made him a drive at Arizona, however Ballo might by no means string it collectively constantly sufficient.
Quotable: “You recognize, I’ve been in school fairly a very long time now. I do know this second, man, they go quick… as a result of this factor goes quick, and we have now to take each recreation as necessary and we have now to complete the season robust, not only for us however for the followers. And I really feel like they deserve that, and we’re pushing ahead for that,” Ballo stated reflecting on the top of his profession after Indiana’s Feb. 26 win over Penn State.
Class: Commentary
Filed to: Oumar Ballo
