It isn’t one size fits all.
In part because he doesn’t project to be a part of the starting lineup, people are unsure of how Bryson Tucker will fit into Indiana’s plans next season. We’ve written about how he fits well into Mike Woodson’s offense, but it’s still not clear how many minutes he’ll see as a freshman.
With the portal beckoning for any elite player who’s unhappy with their role, this could end up being a delicate balancing act for Woodson and company. This isn’t new to this staff though, as Tucker will be the fourth top-40 recruit to join Indiana in the last three years.
Notably, none of these players have transferred out. Jalen Hood-Schifino made an early exit for the NBA, but Malik Reneau and Mackenzie Mgbako each stuck around through the highs and lows of their respective seasons at Indiana. Retaining them was no small feat.
So how has Woodson done it?
Probably the most important part of how Woodson has coached these talented freshman is that he’s been flexible in his approach. Roster construction, a player’s readiness, and overall team needs have all factored into how he’s developed these players.
Though it wasn’t the plan when he committed, Hood-Schifino excelled in the spotlight as a freshman. Once Xavier Johnson went down with an injury, JHS played at least 25 minutes per contest, ending the season with three straight games of 40 minutes logged.
Over that span, he went from being a fringe top-25 recruit in his class to a bonafide first round draft pick. The team suffered a bit for having to rely on him so much down the stretch, but he got Indiana to the round of 32 and became Woodson’s first guard to go pro.
That same season, Hood-Schifino’s high school teammate, Malik Reneau, was learning the college game mostly from the bench. He averaged under 15 minutes per game in his first year, struggling with turnovers and foul trouble as he made the jump to the next level.
After a season learning the ropes from an all-time great like Trayce Jackson-Davis, Reneau emerged as one of the most effective bigs in the conference. His playing time nearly doubled while his production skyrocketed. By the season’s end, he was Indiana’s second leading scorer.
Then there was Mackenzie Mgbako, who came in more highly-touted than the other two, but not completely ready for the college game. Over his first five games, he played over 20 minutes just twice and only managed to score more than four points in a game once.
Despite not being prepared for huge minutes, Woodson found ways to work him in that would impact winning and allow him to build confidence, like subbing him in for free throws in late game situations.
As Mgbako adapted to the college game, his minutes went up. Over Indiana’s last 15 games, he played over 30 minutes 14 times and hit double digits in scoring 13 times. Even with his slow start, this was enough for him to be named co-freshman of the year in the conference.
All of this is to say that there’s no need to worry about how Bryson Tucker fits into Indiana’s plans. Woodson has demonstrated that he’s more than capable of getting the most of elite freshmen without burning them out or sending them portaling.
Tucker will get the minutes he’s ready for, and with a stable full of capable guards and wings around him, will not be asked to do too much. In other words, an ideal scenario for a freshman to come into.