Bahamas rewind: Observations on Trey Galloway’s play during IU basketball’s foreign tour

The Daily Hoosier spent the week down in The Bahamas in connection with IU basketball’s foreign tour and had several opportunities to see the team in action.  Since nothing was televised and not everything was public, we are going to go player-by-player in jersey number order to share our thoughts on what we saw and what to expect from Indiana’s 2021-22 roster.

Many forget that Trey Galloway entered his freshman season with a fair amount of buzz surrounding his name as an unheralded recruit who might step in and play a meaningful role early in his career.  He did just that, starting seven times and playing a lot of minutes in the first 14 games of the 2020-21 season before a back injury impacted the remainder of his freshman campaign in Bloomington.

Galloway never quite looked the same after that physical setback, and his struggles shooting the basketball further complicated the back half of year one.  After starting the season 4-of-11 (36.3 percent) from three-point range, Galloway made just 2-of-22 the rest of the way.

The 6-foot-4 guard appears to be healthy once again, and all indications are Galloway will once again see a role in the rotation.  In a crowded competition for playing time in the backcourt, Galloway played 18 minutes per game in The Bahamas.

Galloway’s court vision is an underrated strength of his game.  He made several good passes in the first game against BC Mega, including three that resulted in assists.  He got himself into trouble as a freshman by leaving his feet on dribble-drives and giving himself up as passing lanes were cut off, but Galloway used better judgment in that regard in The Bahamas.  While he still attacked aggressively off the bounce, something it appears will continue to be a strength, he was generally under control and used better judgment.

With that added composure, Galloway appears to be someone that the staff can trust to come into games, get the team organized and make smart, unselfish plays.  He showed good instincts when it came to making an extra pass to keep the defense on the move, and he does the little things like knowing how to read his man as he runs him off of a screen.

Of course the question on everyone’s mind is whether Galloway will make 3-pointers in 2021-22.  While there may be some minor tweaks, his shot mechanics have not been completely overhauled.  Galloway’s release seems a little faster.  I don’t think anyone is expecting him to become one of the team’s top shooters, but it certainly would not be a surprise if he can get his conversion rate from behind-the-arc above 30 percent this year.

I really think Indiana’s downhill and better spaced style will benefit Galloway as much as any of the returning players.  He thrived in AAU basketball playing in that kind of more wide open system.  He is at his best in the open court, and his shot requires a bit more space to get off.  I don’t expect Galloway to be a high-end scorer, that really isn’t his style.  But both as an attacking guard who can facilitate, and as a shooter with more space, Galloway’s production and efficiency should improve under Mike Woodson.

On the defensive end Galloway will be able to guard a lot of positions, perhaps one through four depending on the matchup.  That will make him attractive to Mike Woodson who more often than not will look to switch.  When he was in the game Galloway was the primary defender on expected 6-foot-10 2022 NBA lottery pick Nikola Jovic, and he held his own.  He also moves well enough laterally to guard all but perhaps the quickest of true point guards.

Galloway has a lot of competition for playing time, including Anthony Leal, who didn’t play in The Bahamas.  We will continue to beat the drum that guys playing the two through four spots who can make shots are going to be favored.  Galloway brings enough to the table that he’ll see the floor one way or another, but his minutes will in large part be dictated by how well he both helps the team facilitate an up-tempo style, and keep the floor spaced in the half-court.

TREY GALLOWAY’S STATS IN THE BAHAMAS

• Game one:   17 minutes, 3 points, 1-3 FG, 1-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 turnovers, 0 blocks, 0 steals
• Game two: 19 minutes, 0 points, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 turnover, 0 blocks, 0 steals
• Averages:  18 minutes, 1.5 points, 25% FG, 100% 3 FG, NA FT, 1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, .5 turnovers, 0 blocks, 0 steals

See also:  Trey Galloway employs lifetime lessons learned as coach’s son

More Bahamas player reviews:

• Xavier Johnson
• Rob Phinisee
• Khristian Lander
• Miller Kopp
• Jordan Geronimo
• Trayce Jackson-Davis
• Race Thompson

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