It started right from the jump. On Indiana’s second possession of the game, Mgbako ran across the baseline and was freed up on the wing by a double screen from Malik Reneau and Kel’el Ware. The 3-pointer rattled home, and Indiana jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead.
A few possessions later, Indiana coach Mike Woodson called a baseline out-of-bounds play that led to Ware screening Mgbako open to receive a pass in the corner. With three power dribbles, Mgbako bodied Cam Christie into the paint and drew a shooting foul.
That style of play was evident from Mgbako throughout the night, and it’s what Ware constantly harps on to his fellow newcomer.
“Even in practice, I always encourage Mack just to go to the rim, get fouled, try to create anything that can get us a bucket,” Ware said. “So he works on it in practice and it translates to the game and just being more aggressive.”
Minnesota coach Ben Johnson found his team in that predicament all night. The Golden Gophers couldn’t stop alley-oops to Ware, and Reneau’s crafty post moves worked like usual. They had to double-team Indiana’s bigs, who combined for 24 points.
But too often, that commitment left Mgbako open, and he made them pay.
“He’s a good player,” Johnson said of Mgbako. “The thing that’s unique about him is he’s got such great size. When you’re that big at the wing spot, it’s going to be a mismatch. He got it going today, and he puts you in a bind because you’re so worried about Ware and Reneau that [Mgbako] can kind of be a lost guy at times, but he can make you pay at times.”
“So that’s really a big front line, when you throw [Mgbako] in there, that’s got versatility. They can all score one-on-one, and obviously he shot the ball well today.”
Mgbako finished the night 6-for-12 from the field, only the fourth time this season he’s shot 50% or higher. He opened the first 12 games of his freshman season 8-for-44, or 18.2%, from 3-point range, but Mgbako has improved to 12-for-23, or 52.2% from beyond the arch over the last five games.
After the game, Mgbako spoke about what has enabled him to play better in recent weeks. And while one may expect him to talk about offensive development, almost every word from the freshman revolved around his defense.
Mgbako said he has focused on keeping his head on a swivel, talking and being confident in what he’s doing defensively. Throughout his freshman season, Mgbako has often looked lost within Indiana’s defensive scheme, and that has led to several open 3-pointers for opponents.
But against Minnesota, he and the Hoosiers seemed much more in tune with their defensive assignments, especially when it came to defending the 3-point line. Minnesota entered the game shooting 36.1% from beyond the arc, good for 79th in the country. The Gophers have hit at least six pointers in each of the last seven games, including four games with 10 more.
Friday, they went 3-for-20 from 3-point range, a season-low in makes and fifth-fewest in attempts. It was a noticeable improvement from Mgbako and the Hoosiers.
“Defense is the No. 1 thing [Woodson has] been trying to harp on,” Mgbako said. “Because I feel like defense creates offense.”
Indiana is at its best when Mgbako is at his, and not only because he’s the team’s best 3-point shooter. His aggressiveness opens everything up for the rest of the Hoosiers.
Mgbako had a disappointing first few weeks at Indiana, relative to the sky-high expectations he garnered as the nation’s No. 8 recruit. Friday’s career-best performance was a glimpse into what he can become.
“These young guys, they take a while to develop,” Woodson said. “They come out of high school, out of the AAU programs that they play in, and it’s not just that easy to walk into college basketball and be great. If it was that easy, everybody would be doing it.”
“But he’s put the work in. He’s continuing to work, along with the rest of our young players. All we can do as coaches is continue to teach and push and try to get as much out of them as we can as we continue this journey.”
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