Indiana Basketball: Mike Woodson hints key adjustment for Mackenzie Mgbako could be ‘a weapon’ moving forward

Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson has had numerous questions about the development of freshman wing Mackenzie Mgbako throughout the course of this season. While he had his struggles early in the year, he’s now become an invaluable member of this roster and someone that Indiana needs on the floor at all times.

The 6-foot-8 hybrid forward is averaging 10.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game this season. He’s shooting 40.6 percent from the field, 32.9 percent from three and 85.5 percent from the free throw line. He also has the second-highest usage rate for Indiana this year behind Reneau.

But, it’s been his production as of the last month and a half that has skyrocketed him up opposing team’s scouting report.

In his last 15 games, he’s averaging 12.8 points per game while shooting 42.1 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from three. He has nine games in the last 15 with at least two made 3s. He also has eight games with at least four free throw attempts.

His physicality and aggressiveness have both increased, as has his shotmaking ability.

On Saturday against No. 10 Illinois, Mgbako turned in his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

While his rebounding stood out most, it was some of his key offensive plays that had Woodson potentially adjusting the offense.

“Our strengths (this year) have been Big fell (Kel’el Ware) and Malik inside,” Woodson said Monday on his weekly radio show. ” … but Mack made some big time plays inside. That was promising to see. That could possibly be a weapon down the stretch run here in terms of posting him some.”

A lot of the talk this offseason was the fit of Mgbako, Reneau and Ware together in the front court. At times, people were pointing to playing smaller with Mgbako at the four.

Without Ware in the lineup on Saturday, Woodson was able to do that.

“All Big Ten teams are not small playing like that,” Woodson said of Illinois. “Illinois is pretty much the only team that plays like that, so they force your hand.”

With Mgbako’s versatility and increased aggressiveness over the last month, it’s clear that Indiana basketball needs to do more to get him involved in key places on the floor — including on the block.

Through nine Big Ten games, Mgbako has the highest offensive efficiency for the Hoosiers at 113.7.

“Even in practice I always encourage [Mgbako] just to go to the rim, get fouled, try to create anything that can get us a bucket, even in game,” Kel’el Ware said about Mgbako earlier this season. “So he works on it in practice and it translates to the game and just being more aggressive.”

‘Anything that can get us a bucket’ — Kel’el Ware started that discussion with Mgbako, but it’s clear Mike Woodson now sees the value Mgbako brings all over the floor.

While Woodson was hesitant early on to play Mgbako through his mistakes, as well as be a focal point of the offense, there’s no choice now. With just 11 games remaining, Indiana basketball needs to do anything and everything to continue creating ways to find Mgbako on the offensive end.