Three Takeaways From IU's 72-53 Victory Vs. Butler On Wednesday
Hoosiers Improve To 5-0 With Lopsided Win Over Bulldogs
Assembly Hall, Where The Hoosiers Beat Butler On Tuesday
The Addition Of Zania Socka-Nguemen Gives Moren The Post Play She Needs To Run Her System To The Fullest
Bloomington-The Hoosiers have had substantial roster turnover, with multiple transfers coming to Bloomington. None of these additions was more important than UCLA transfer Zania Socka-Nguemen
Socka-Nguemen (or “Big Z” ) played sparingly for the Bruins but also sat behind the best player in the country at her position in Lauren Betts. Now, as the Hoosiers’ featured cog down low, she gives IU the ability to run coach Teri Moren’s system to its maximum.
Indiana was elite for the five years of Mackenzie Holmes, by surrounding her with shooters, forcing the opposition to make an impossible choice. They either had to double her and leave someone open at the three-point line or play her straight up and have her score nearly every time she touched the ball.
Her projected replacement in Lily Meister, struggled last season, forcing IU to find other ways to get shooters open. Now with “Big Z,” they have a force down low again. While she is not as polished as Holmes just yet, she has the athleticism and footwork to be a threat to score every time she touches the ball and force opponents to account for her.
With two dead-eye shooters and high-scoring guards in Lenee Beaumont and Shay Ciezki, this allows Moren to run a version of the offensive system she did with Holmes. Also, backup center Edessa Noyan is arguably better than any option down low in 2024-2025 despite her limitations.
All of this allows Indiana to again be a force down low. As “Big Z” grows further into her role, the ceiling here is very high.
Top Recruits In The Next Couple Of Classes Show Rankings Matter Even If Not Perfect
Recruiting rankings are like weather forecasts. While far from perfect, they provide a solid guide for predictions and are ignored at one’s own peril.
After breaking into the top ranks of college recruiting for several seasons, including their first five-star recruits in Holmes and Grace Berger, momentum in bringing in top prospects stalled despite the winning on the court. With Berger and Holmes, and several others, IU rose to the very top of college basketball.
Despite all this success, the recruiting numbers did not necessarily match the product on the floor. Then the Hoosiers brought in Colsten Thompson this season to be their recruiting coordinator, who was achieving high-end results at Alabama.
The results have been immediate. Socka-Ngueman was a top-30 player out of high school, and current freshmen Nevaeh Caffey and Maya Makalusky were in the top-45 nationally according to ESPN. All three clearly possess superior skills and talent in the early going than the previous newcomers.
For 2026, the Hoosiers have their best class in program history at number six nationally. This includes three players in the top-60 nationally, including two in the top-35 and one inside the top-30.
Given the addition of Thompson and the improved results of bringing in top talent, the future once again appears bright for the program. This shows that while recruiting rankings should never be used religiously, they should not be ignored either and are a solid forecast of what the future might hold.
Turnover Issues Need To Be Corrected
While Indiana improved to 5-0 as a team with Wednesday’s 72-53 demolition of Butler, there is one glaring issue that needs to be solved. This is holding on to the ball and not turning it over.
While it has not cost them a game yet, it nearly did against middling Marshal recently. The Hoosiers turned it over 28 times that night and again 20 times tonight, and have double-digit giveaways in every contest but one. As this squad comes together and is showing a lot of potential, these numbers need to come down if they want to have another big season come conference play.
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