2023 SF/PF Mackenzie Mgbako to Texas A&M via Portal

[Stuhoo]

7 minutes ago, ebridges24 said:

Someone really needs to step up out of Gabe, Jakai and Gunn. We really need two to step up.

If X stays healthy I'm 0% worried about Gabe Cupps' ability to be solid for 10-15 minutes per game.

We very much need one of CJ or Jakai to be a useful rotation player.

[go iu bb]

2 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

There really aren't that many questions.

• The starting guard line of X and Gallo isn't dominant, but is as proven as it gets.
• Reneau has already shown he's good, has a knack for the ball finding him, and will likely be a steady, plus player.
• Mbako and Cupps have very low floors as freshmen.
• Sparks will bang around and set screens. Walker is a proven P5 athletic complimentary backup.

That leaves three questions with major upside:

1. Ware; first, foremost, and as discussed above.
2. CJ Gunn, who was not good last year, but has upside as a lanky shooter, and
3. Jakai Newton, who could be the surprise star of the freshman class if his health allows for it.

 

Effectiveness of freshmen is always a question mark before the season for me. I think they'll be good but you just don't know until the games start. I wouldn't have expected someone like Ware to have such mediocre numbers last season, for example. 

The improvement of Reneau will be a factor. Can he stay on the floor or will he continue to be prone to fouling? 

Will anyone make a jump in 3-point shooting? Can Galloway maintain close to that percentage from last year or increase his volume while still maintaining a decent percentage?

Lots of new faces on the team. How well will they mesh and how long will that take?

I think the floor is a decent to pretty good team with the potential to be a great team. Where on that spectrum they end up falling depends on the answer to these and your questions.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

...Woodson commented on Mgbako’s work ethic on a podcast:  “He’s been on the floor.  I don’t see much of him off the floor.  He spends a lot of time in the gym.”

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/what-mackenzie-mgbakos-iu-basketball-teammates-have-said-about-him-this-summer/?fbclid=IwAR3Zvhs1tQMDFmsOXfbcUO4y3UUUH8vB6oWWXRuBKZHNd5X-k2d7WXliypI

[go iu bb]

2 hours ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

...Woodson commented on Mgbako’s work ethic on a podcast:  “He’s been on the floor.  I don’t see much of him off the floor.  He spends a lot of time in the gym.”

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/what-mackenzie-mgbakos-iu-basketball-teammates-have-said-about-him-this-summer/?fbclid=IwAR3Zvhs1tQMDFmsOXfbcUO4y3UUUH8vB6oWWXRuBKZHNd5X-k2d7WXliypI

Sounds like JHS in that aspect as he was said to be a gym rat while at IU too. I think Cupps is the same from what I've read. That's the kind of culture that has been missing since Miller took over so I hope it rubs off and others become as dedicated to working on their games. Crean had many faults as a coach, but he did do a good job of bringing in gym rats and built that kind of culture.

[Demo]

Mgbako has such a nice stroke. So does little brother. His looks a lot like Buddy Hield’s. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

https://hoosierillustrated.com/indiana-basketball-freshman-mackenzie-mgbako-tabbed-as-a-dick-vitale-diaper-dandy-this-season/?fbclid=IwAR3laK2IxI5ARnIU9RAiQCaC82yWwZIfB-UDQqeuiUn2SjoBDdTjfIvtprk#google_vignette

[go iu bb]

1 hour ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

https://hoosierillustrated.com/indiana-basketball-freshman-mackenzie-mgbako-tabbed-as-a-dick-vitale-diaper-dandy-this-season/?fbclid=IwAR3laK2IxI5ARnIU9RAiQCaC82yWwZIfB-UDQqeuiUn2SjoBDdTjfIvtprk#google_vignette

Bronny James is on that list. 

- Like many other honors he's gotten, would he be if his dad wasn't Lebron? Doubtful. He's good but not great from everything I've read of him. Sounds like he's getting overrated and overhyped.

- Will he even play this year after his cardiac arrest? Seems pretty risky. Damar Hamlin (NFL/Bills) is playing again but his cardiac arrest was ~9 months ago and could be attributed to getting hit in the chest. It hasn't been nearly as long form Bronny and I don't think it was caused by contact.

Also on that list is Booker. I think he's very overrated. Has a ton of talent but doesn't seem to have the mentality to be great. I guess we'll see.

IU will play against at least 2 of the players on that list.

[RaceToTheTop]

2 hours ago, go iu bb said:

Bronny James is on that list. 

- Like many other honors he's gotten, would he be if his dad wasn't Lebron? Doubtful. He's good but not great from everything I've read of him. Sounds like he's getting overrated and overhyped.

- Will he even play this year after his cardiac arrest? Seems pretty risky. Damar Hamlin (NFL/Bills) is playing again but his cardiac arrest was ~9 months ago and could be attributed to getting hit in the chest. It hasn't been nearly as long form Bronny and I don't think it was caused by contact.

Also on that list is Booker. I think he's very overrated. Has a ton of talent but doesn't seem to have the mentality to be great. I guess we'll see.

IU will play against at least 2 of the players on that list.

Bronny James is ranked 95th by 247….not exactly a watch list type.

[go iu bb]

2 minutes ago, RaceToTheTop said:

Bronny James is ranked 95th by 247….not exactly a watch list type.

You must be remembering old rankings. I don't remember him being that low, usually ranked in the 40s or 50s until somewhat recently. They have him as a 4* at 27 with a composite ranking of 5* at 22. While I think those are inflated by who his daddy is, the most likely rankings to really be huge difference makers in year 1 are top 5 or top 10. His classmate is much more likely have a huge impact than him. That's if he even plays this year.

https://247sports.com/player/bronny-james-46058619/

[RaceToTheTop]

Just now, go iu bb said:

You must be remembering old rankings. I don't remember him being that low, usually ranked in the 40s or 50s until somewhat recently. They have him as a 4* at 27 with a composite ranking of 5* at 22. While I think those are inflated by who his daddy is, the most likely rankings to really be huge difference makers in year 1 are top 5 or top 10. His classmate is much more likely have a huge impact than him. That's if he even plays this year.

https://247sports.com/player/bronny-james-46058619/

Oops…I was looking at a rating, not a rank.

[go iu bb]

2 minutes ago, RaceToTheTop said:

Oops…I was looking at a rating, not a rank.

Looks like I typed his usual rankings wrong. 30s and 40s was what I meant. I was thinking top 40 and top 50.

[IU_FanClub]

Sorry if this has already been talked about been awhile since I've been on here but I am really confused with all the national media talk of our frontcourt overlapping. They're basically saying Mgbako and Malik are the same player and I do not see it whatsoever. Maybe Mack's lateral quickness won't be all the way where it needs to be defensively but from all the video I've seen he looks more than comfortable playing offense on the wing whereas Malik is a down low guy. Plus with Ware's shooting ability I really don't see where the "clogged paint" is coming from other than these guys just being lazy in their coverage.

 

Obviously that is not to say we have a perfect team in fact I would be shocked if we did not experience growing pains during the season but our roster is way better than it is getting credit for IMO.

[HoosierFan1994]

55 minutes ago, IU_FanClub said:

Sorry if this has already been talked about been awhile since I've been on here but I am really confused with all the national media talk of our frontcourt overlapping. They're basically saying Mgbako and Malik are the same player and I do not see it whatsoever. Maybe Mack's lateral quickness won't be all the way where it needs to be defensively but from all the video I've seen he looks more than comfortable playing offense on the wing whereas Malik is a down low guy. Plus with Ware's shooting ability I really don't see where the "clogged paint" is coming from other than these guys just being lazy in their coverage.

 

Obviously that is not to say we have a perfect team in fact I would be shocked if we did not experience growing pains during the season but our roster is way better than it is getting credit for IMO.

I've said the same thing as you. I think Malik, Mack, and Kel'el will work. The staff wouldn't have put them together if they didn't feel it wouldn't work. 

[Home Jersey]

Not at all concerned about Mack's ability to fit next to Malik and Kel'el on offense (defense either, but a little more than offense)

I think people are suddenly low on his shooting ability for two main reasons: A) They're only looking at the most recent EYBL stats, where he had a poor shooting stretch for a few games that really brought down his averages. B) The narrative around him as a prospect definitely changed substantially post Duke de-commit. Probably to be expected given their hype train, but he's still the same guy. 

Like I said, I'm not expecting 20/5/5 from day 1.

But, he is going to bring a great work ethic and help us stretch the floor. Very confident in his ability to do that. 

Tip-off can't come soon enough! 

[HoosierFan1994]

2 hours ago, TeeterInNJ said:

Not at all concerned about Mack's ability to fit next to Malik and Kel'el on offense (defense either, but a little more than offense)

I think people are suddenly low on his shooting ability for two main reasons: A) They're only looking at the most recent EYBL stats, where he had a poor shooting stretch for a few games that really brought down his averages. B) The narrative around him as a prospect definitely changed substantially post Duke de-commit. Probably to be expected given their hype train, but he's still the same guy. 

Like I said, I'm not expecting 20/5/5 from day 1.

But, he is going to bring a great work ethic and help us stretch the floor. Very confident in his ability to do that. 

Tip-off can't come soon enough! 

Early on might be a struggle with playing UConn, possibly Texas, Auburn, and Kansas. However, I think by January this team will look good. 

[Demo]

Not that it hasn’t been clear from the jump, but Mgbako is an impressive kid and he will rep the school very well.

[WayneFleekHoosier]

10 minutes ago, Demo said:

Not that it hasn’t been clear from the jump, but Mgbako is an impressive kid and he will rep the school very well.

Work hard Play hard.  He says he’s 6’6” which is semi interesting.  Either way he’s playing the 3 which was presumed by everyone. He sees himself as a SF and so does the staff it seems.  
Front court looks nice. 

[go iu bb]

9 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Work hard Play hard.  He says he’s 6’6” which is semi interesting.  Either way he’s playing the 3 which was presumed by everyone. He sees himself as a SF and so does the staff it seems.  
Front court looks nice. 

I heard 6'8" but it could easily be heard as 6'6".

[MemphisHoosier]

2 hours ago, go iu bb said:

I heard 6'8" but it could easily be heard as 6'6".

I heard 6'8" as well, but more importantly - WOW what an impressive young man.  Mature, grounded, and extremely likable, great job by CMW & Staff!

[Ricochet]

Without a doubt he said 6'8.