When analyzing an exhibition game, it’s always important to remember the usual disclaimers.
It’s a game that, ultimately, doesn’t count for anything. Indiana men’s basketball’s exhibition games typically see the Hoosiers face a Division II or Division III program, and IU usually enjoys a lopsided victory. You can only take so much away from a contest like that in a real, meaningful way.
Sunday’s game at Tennessee is a bit of an exception, putting IU against a quality opponent. Both sides showed plenty of rust, and it still felt like a preseason game in many ways. The Hoosiers won in Knoxville, 66-62, in a game that will most likely be a footnote on the story of the 2024-25, regardless of what happens.
But one clear positive for IU emerged from the Tennessee game: sophomore Myles Rice looks like the real deal. And head coach Mike Woodson already sees him as a reliable asset.
“I trust him a lot,” Woodson said after the game. “You saw him tonight. He makes basketball plays, winning plays, and he can score the ball. And he can make free throws, so that’s a bonus.
Rice’s stat line backed up the strong play, with 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting, 6 for 8 from the foul line, two rebounds, four assists, no turnovers, and two steals.
But the numbers don’t tell the full story. Rice’s four assists don’t do justice to how many opportunities he created for teammates — he would’ve had several more if not for a very cold first-half shooting performance by IU. The Washington State transfer’s ability to drive into the paint with ease and execute simple kick-out passes is something the Hoosiers didn’t have enough of last season.
Rice’s speed and awareness were on full display against the Volunteers.
“He just pushes the pace. It’s just hard to keep up with him, especially defensively, when he’s pushing it down and they’ve got to set up their defense, he’s just getting past it. It just makes it easy to dish off and finish at the rim when you’re down there,” junior Malik Reneau said. “He just makes the game so easy.”
The scoring was an added bonus. Rice scored 14.8 points per game last season at Washington State, and Bart Torvik projects him to average 13.6 this year. But he certainly looked like a guy who could exceed those expectations, with how often he was able to get to the rim and finish.
Additionally, Indiana’s offense looked much more smooth with Rice running the show. The stretches IU played without him were just as telling as his on-court performance. In particular, Woodson used a lineup for a couple minutes during the first half with Reneau, Anthony Leal, Luke Goode, Kanaan Carlyle, and Oumar Ballo, which led to clunky offense and an 8-0 Tennessee run. The Hoosiers may have trouble surviving any stretches without Rice, Gabe Cupps, or Trey Galloway on the court to run the point.
Rice may take it to another level. Again, it’s an exhibition game, and both teams have things to work through. But his performance against Tennessee — while matching up with Zakai Zeigler, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year — showed a lot.
If the Myles Rice who showed up in Knoxville is the Myles Rice Indiana men’s basketball gets this season, the Hoosiers will be in good shape.
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