UPDATE AT 8:15: Ballo is not starting but expected to play. Luke Goode gets his second straight start.
UPDATE AT 7:40: Ballo is going through pregame and appears as though he’s planning to play. Meanwhile, Rutgers star Dylan Harper is not in uniform and will not play tonight in Bloomington. Brian Fonseca of NJ.com is reporting Harper is dealing with an illness. Harper is fourth in the nation at 22.8 points per game.
The original story follows.
Indiana center Oumar Ballo is listed as questionable for their game against Rutgers.
Ballo was in uniform for the Hoosiers last game against Winthrop on Sunday, but did not play. He was listed as questionable ahead of that game as well.
After the Winthrop game IU coach Mike Woodson would not comment on the reason for Ballo’s absence from the lineup.
But what Woodson did say led to speculation.
“I’m not going to address that,” Woodson said when asked why Ballo did not play. “But didn’t have a lot of lead time. But that doesn’t matter. You know, guys that are in uniform have got to play, and he didn’t play tonight, and you know, we’ll sit down tomorrow and address his situation and get ready for Rutgers.”
BTN commentators Connor Onion and Shon Morris reported Ballo was out with a “lower-body injury.”
The 7-foot Ballo is averaging 12.4 points and 9.2 rebounds.
IU guards Gabe Cupps and Jakai Newton are listed as out against Rutgers. Neither player is expected to be available in the near term.
Rutgers does not list any players as questionable or out.
We will update this story as the players emerge for warmups at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Indiana and Rutgers will tip at 8:30 p.m. ET Thursday on Peacock.
