Indiana men’s basketball head coach Mike Woodson provided an update on the injury status of junior forward Malik Reneau following his team’s 77-71 win over Penn State on Sunday afternoon.
“Don’t know when he’s gonna be back,” Woodson said. “He didn’t tear up anything, but don’t know when he’s gonna come back, I really don’t. But it won’t be any time soon.”
The Hoosiers’ leading scorer suffered an injury to his lower body during their 84-74 win over Rutgers on Jan. 2 less than a minute into the game. Reneau’s teammate, senior forward Luke Goode, fell backwards and landed on Reneau’s right knee, who immediately collapsed in pain.
After being tended to by trainers on the floor, the Miami native walked to the locker room on his own power but returned without his uniform and with ice wrapped around the injured knee.
In Reneau’s absence, Woodson has elected to play a smaller lineup with Goode filling in the small forward position, bumping sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako to Reneau’s usual power forward role.
Senior center Landon Hatton, a transfer portal addition from Bellarmine University, has seen increased minutes in the shortened cast of Indiana’s frontcourt that features sixth-year senior center Oumar Ballo.
The pair will look to fill Reneau’s production of 14.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Although Woodson clarified that Reneau’s injury does not have structural damage, the fourth-year coach will likely be without his leading scorer for the foreseeable future.
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.
