After his 23-point performance in Indiana men’s basketball’s 87-71 victory over the University of South Carolina on Saturday, Myles Rice seemed surprised.
The redshirt sophomore point guard had been told by the media that his head coach, Mike Woodson, said he didn’t think the Hoosiers played well offensively.
“If he wants to say that or he did say that, he can put it on me,” Rice said postgame. “And I'll be better at it.”
Rice had good reasons to feel taken aback. Indiana made a season-high eight 3-pointers, shot 81.8% from the free throw line and averaged 1.29 points per possession in its onslaught against South Carolina inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington.
The Hoosiers’ offensive efficiency — an equivalent of 129 points across 100 possessions — bests each number the team had a season ago. Indiana went 8 for 17 from beyond the arc, a percentage (47.1%) from distance it topped only three times last year.
Still, Woodson said he didn’t know how Indiana reached 87 points and departed Assembly Hall wanting more from his team.
“Better movement offensively,” Woodson said. “We did it in spurts, and when we did it in spurts it looked pretty good — the ball movement from side to side and getting easy looks. Then we got stagnant. We went up 15 points; from that point on, we didn't play very well from an offensive standpoint. I just got to help us get better.”
Five Hoosiers reached double figures Saturday. Beyond Rice, Indiana received 17 points from sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako, while junior forward Malik Reneau added 13. Sophomore guard Kanaan Carlyle scored 12 points, while fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway pitched in 11.
The Hoosiers’ backcourt went only three-deep Saturday, as backup point guard Gabe Cupps didn’t see the floor. But the three who did — Rice, Carlyle and Galloway — combined for 46 points and seven assists. The trio went 14 for 23 from the field and 6 for 10 from 3-point range.
But even in a strong collective showing from the guards, Rice, like Woodson, sees room for improvement.
“I think we all feed off each other really well,” Rice said. “That's a credit to not only us, but our teammates we have. They understand how to play with us and we understand how to play with them. Our coaching staff knows how to coach us as well. Game by game, we're getting better at it.”
Perhaps the biggest area of growth for Indiana’s backcourt is playmaking. Woodson noted after a season-opening victory over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Nov. 6 that elevating others is the difference between being good and great for Rice and the other guards.
The Hoosiers totaled only 12 assists Saturday. Woodson frankly assessed the number as “not good” and a place to be better, particularly as Indiana progresses throughout its season and faces stronger opponents.
Indiana recorded 18 and 26 assists in its first two games, respectively. Saturday was a step back — but it also illustrated the Hoosiers’ scoring versatility more so than any other game thus far.
“This team is not predicated on one guy now,” Woodson said. “We have enough guys that can put the ball in the hole if they play the right way and play unselfish.”
Woodson emphasized rebuilding Indiana’s backcourt this offseason. He added Rice and Carlyle, who have not only elevated the Hoosiers’ playmaking but also their perimeter defense.
Indiana held South Carolina to 38% from the field and 28% from distance. Woodson was happy with the Hoosiers’ defensive performance but still wanted to make life more difficult for opposing shooters.
But offense remains Woodson’s focus. The Hoosiers have an assortment of pieces, from the pace-pushing Rice and sharp-shooting Mgbako to strong post presences in Oumar Ballo and Reneau.
The result showed Saturday — 87 points is Indiana’s most against a Power 4 opponent since scoring 110 points in a double overtime loss against Syracuse University on Nov. 30, 2021.
Yet Indiana isn’t satisfied.
“It's about execution,” Rice said. “Whether the ball is going into the hoop or not, we got to be better at executing. I think that's the point (Woodson) is trying to make. Even though we did score (87) points, the crispiness of our plays can be a whole lot better, and that starts with us as the guard and making sure everybody is on the same page.”
And such an idea — after perhaps the program’s best offensive performance given the context — lifts the ceiling of how high the Hoosiers’ offense can dream.
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa) and columnist Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer (@mateo_frohwer) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
