Moore-McNeil stayed the course for the Hoosiers and has become one of top players in the Big Ten.
Chloe Moore-McNeil didn’t start during her first two seasons with Indiana women’s basketball.
She provided valuable defense and energy off the bench but her stats do not jump off the screen. She shot 14.8% from deep as a freshman and 31% as a sophomore, with her free throw rate being at 47.1% and 72.7% those same years.
What she did do, again, was defend. The aspect of the game where effort matters more than any other. She gave that and then some, putting in work in practice and on her own to improve as a player across the board.
Last year? Starter, just like she was as a junior. 10.2 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game and 5 assists per game. Oh and the 3-point shooting? 40.9%.
Moore-McNeil absolutely could’ve transferred after those first two seasons. And with the modern landscape of college basketball in mind, you could hardly blame her. But she stuck through it and was rewarded with a starting spot and key role on the team.
Indiana’s program prides itself on work ethic. The Hoosiers’ slogans include “do the work” and “if you’re juiceless, you’re useless”. It’s that culture building that’s led to sold out games at Assembly Hall, deep tournament runs and players like Moore-McNeil.
Indiana basketball, as a concept around the university and state as a whole, has long prided itself on that kind of hard work. You’d be hard pressed to find a better example of that anywhere or at anytime than Moore-McNeil.
Asked about her development at media days, Moore-McNeil said that freshman year was important for her. She knew her time was coming.
“I was raised that way,” Moore-McNeil said. “Once you start something, you finish something.”
Parrish interjected as well to praise her teammate following Moore-McNeil’s answer.
“She has done her work,” Parrish said. “Put a lot of heart, soul, blood, sweat and tears into this program.”
She’s one of Indiana’s leaders and will go down as one of the most consequential players in the history of the program. Moren will proudly go on about her, calling her “tougher than a two dollar steak” earlier this year.
Now with a star on her hands in Moore-McNeil, Moren has even further proof of concept for her program building on the recruiting trail and beyond.