ROSEMONT, In poor health. – Indiana basketball followers are excited concerning the addition of middle Oumar Ballo, guard Kanaan Carlyle and guard Myles Rice, however it’s unlikely most Hoosiers followers have seen these gamers in motion greater than a few times.
So who higher to evaluate Indiana’s Pac-12 trio than a few of their Pac-12 buddies?
The Massive Ten has added 4 former Pac-12 colleges – Oregon, Southern California, UCLA and Washington – and a lot of gamers from former Pac-12 colleges to Massive Ten rosters.
They know a few of the Hoosiers in a method Massive Ten observers can’t know them but.
“It’s one thing new, and I by no means would have guessed we’d be in Chicago and see a bunch of those identical guys,” stated Oregon ahead Brandon Angel, who transferred from Stanford, now an ACC member.
“It’s good to see some acquainted faces, and will probably be enjoyable to maintain these little rivalries and hold these traditions going over the subsequent few years,” Angel added.
Ballo, who was named to each the official and unofficial All-Massive Ten groups, is the previous Pac-12 Hoosier who will get essentially the most consideration. Ballo (12.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg) performed essentially the most on nationwide TV of the Indiana Pac-12 trio, with extremely ranked Arizona. He performed in opposition to Indiana in December 2022 when the Wildcats defeated the Hoosiers 89-75 in Las Vegas.
Oregon coach Dana Altman hasn’t forgotten Ballo. Altman’s personal high-level middle, N’Faly Dante (now with the Houston Rockets), went toe-to-toe with Ballo a 12 months in the past.
“They’re actually good gamers. N’Faly and Ballo had some massive matches inside. They battled one another good. He can rating inside, and he runs the ground good. Arizona did a pleasant job with some high-low stuff. He was actually invaluable,” Altman stated.
Illinois guard Kylan Boswell was a teammate of Ballo’s at Arizona from 2022-24. He spoke to his excessive character.
“Oumar is a brother to me. Genuinely among the best teammates I’ve ever had. He was very useful after I obtained there at 17,” Boswell stated.
Not that Ballo’s gregarious methods will hold him from mixing it up with Boswell when the time comes.
“It will likely be humorous to play in opposition to him now. He’s going to speak crap to me for positive, however he’s an ideal teammate and an ideal man,” Boswell stated.
UCLA coach Mick Cronin had excessive reward for Rice (14.8 ppg), who overcame most cancers to develop into one of many Pac-12’s finest gamers in 2024 at Washington State.
“I used to be completely impressed with Myles Rice. To do what he did and make his group win after sitting out two years was unbelievably spectacular. He has nice change-of-pace and velocity for a guard. Actually, actually quick,” Cronin stated.
Altman stated that Rice taught Oregon’s freshman level guard Jackson Shelstad some classes final season.
“Rice actually harm us. Jackson Shelstad, our level guard, had bother with him. (With) his measurement and he (how he) might get to the basket,” Altman stated.
Angel, who performed with Carlyle (11.5 ppg) at Stanford, praised his power and athleticism.
“Kanaan is a heckuva participant. Extraordinarily dynamic, an especially gifted scorer and an elite athlete. When he will get going, he’s actually powerful to cease. He’s a heckuva competitor. I’m trying ahead to that matchup,” Angel stated.
One other participant who is aware of Carlyle as an opponent? Carlyle’s new teammate, Rice, who thinks very extremely of his new backcourt mate, having performed in opposition to him when each had been embroiled within the Pac-12 wars in 2024.
“He’s an unbelievable scorer. At his measurement, he’s 6-2, 6-3, he can fill it up with the most effective of them. I’ve seen it since I used to be youthful, I noticed it at Stanford, now at Indiana? It’s loopy,” Rice stated.
Rice thinks Carlyle might be good for the Hoosiers off the ground, too.
“His focus and his consideration to element doesn’t get as a lot reward because it ought to. He’s not a vocal or out-going man. He’s not going to speak an excessive amount of, however he’s at all times right here with us. He needs to get higher each day,” Rice famous.
How effectively will all of those gamers regulate to their new groups within the Massive Ten? Cronin was at his keep-it-real finest when he was requested to place all of it in perspective.
“Gamers might care much less about what convention you’re in. I don’t assume they care,” Cronin stated. “I hold it fairly trustworthy. They’re involved about enjoying time, what you’re going to do for his or her improvement, and now, how a lot they’re going to receives a commission. No person’s requested me about our schedule in fairly some time.”
Cronin, a transplanted Midwesterner, did acknowledge that the Massive Ten environments might be one thing all the Pac-12 exiles will get pleasure from.
“I feel it’ll be enjoyable for the blokes. Gamers like to play in nice environments with power within the constructing. The standard Massive Ten colleges are enormous colleges, not in main cities, with nice scholar our bodies that come out for the video games. I feel that might be one thing guys love,” Cronin stated.
