Following Indiana’s loss to Penn State earlier this month, the team was looking for someone to provide more offense. They found that in spark plug guard Trey Galloway.
The sophomore provided much-needed energy, playmaking, and scoring in his first game back from a wrist injury. He managed to score eight points, grab three rebounds, and dish out four assists. His effort led to an upset over then-No. 12 Ohio State.
Galloway followed it up with a six-point, three rebounds, and one assist outing against Minnesota. He has quickly been inserted into the Hoosiers closing lineup late in games.
“I’m getting better day-by-day,” Galloway said of his growing offensive game. “I’m just trying to focus on ways to help my team.”
The Culver, Ind. product added 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting and 2-of-3 from deep at Iowa last week. His shot seemed smoother and more confident. As did Galloway himself. On one play, he drove the lane before flipping a high-floater that kissed off the glass.
“Just being more confident in my shot. I think the one thing, just keep getting more reps in practice, and after practice, keep shooting the ball. Being more confident in games of my shooting. I know I can make shots,” the guard said of his evolving shot.
However, despite the solid point production. Galloway was responsible for three out of the Hoosiers’ 23 turnovers. He had two in a minute once the Hawkeyes started to press. The final one led to Iowa recapturing the lead en route to the 83-74 loss.
The bench as a unit did not play particularly well. They only scored 17 points, 10 of those from Galloway. They also had 10 turnovers. During a stretch in the first half, they allowed the Hawkeyes to go on a 10-0 run to regain the lead early.
“Our job is to come in there, like I said, just to contain the lead if we have the lead, and obviously give us a boost. I think we’re not performing, we’re not playing hard, we’re not getting stops, not taking out the ball, and that’s one thing we focus on is to really take care of the ball,” said Galloway.
“My responsibility is to take care of the ball, as well as my teammates, and we’ve got to find ways to basically give us a boost.”
One player in particular that the Hoosiers need to break through down the stretch is Tamar Bates.
The former four-star recruit has been in a freshman slump as of late. He has gone scoreless in three straight contests before breaking through against Iowa with a dunk on the fast-break after intercepting a pass.
Earlier in the season, the freshman showed promise. In the last outing against Nebraska, Bates had a career-high with 13 points with three 3-pointers.
Despite the struggles, the team has still run plays to attempt to get the ball into Bates’ hands for an open shot. Galloway and his teammates still believe in the true potential of Bates.
“He knows what he’s got to do, and we’re all here for him. We’re going to pick him up,” Galloway said of Bates.
“We all know we can play better, and he knows he can play better, too. So, he’s gonna push himself. He’s a hard worker and he stays in the gym, so I’m not worried about that. I know he’s going to do well. I know he’s going to be a big, big factor for our team the rest of the season.”
Bates, Galloway, and the rest of the bench will have a bounce-back opportunity against Nebraska on Monday. It will also be another chance for the Hoosiers to break the road barrier and gain their first win of the season away from Assembly Hall.
“You got to be able to do all the little things to help your team win,” Galloway said of what the Hoosiers need to do to be successful on the road.
“I mean when you go on the road, it’s not going to be easy. We know that but we got to put ourselves in a position to be right there at the end of the game to be able to win games.”
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