What Indiana needs from Gabe Cupps as a sophomore
Gabe Cupps was thrust into a larger-than-expected role for Indiana as a freshman.
Ohio’s 2022 Mr. Basketball, Cupps committed to the Hoosiers in November 2021, before his junior season at Centerville High School.
Prior to the 2023-24 season, Cupps was expected to serve as Xavier Johnson’s backup. Playing behind Johnson, a sixth-year player, would afford him — and the program — an easing into the rotation role in his first college season.
But that isn’t how it worked out.
Johnson dealt with multiple injuries and struggled to stay healthy in his final season in Bloomington. With little point guard depth, Mike Woodson turned to Cupps, who made his first start in IU’s Big Ten opener against Maryland at Assembly Hall.
“I didn’t come into the season thinking that I was going to start and play Gabe the minutes that he that he played,” Woodson said in late May at Huber’s Winery.
Cupps made the best of a difficult situation. But after a 2022-23 campaign where the Hoosiers had the league’s freshman of the year at point guard, there was a significant statistical drop-off going from Jalen Hood-Schifino to Cupps.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard played in all of Indiana’s 33 games, making 22 starts. He finished the season with averages of 2.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 21.7 minutes per game.
Offensively, Cupps rarely looked to score despite shooting nearly 36 percent on 3s. Some of the reluctance to shoot or try to score was by design, as the focus of the IU offense was the post and getting looks for Mackenzie Mgbako and Trey Galloway.
“Not that he didn’t deserve it and not he didn’t hold his own, I thought Gabe had a hell of a freshman year,” Woodson said of Cupps in late May. “But we really counted on Xavier (Johnson) to be back after all his injuries… we just thought we had him back and that crushed us.”
Indiana addressed its point guard needs in the spring by signing Myles Rice, who arrives in Bloomington after earning All-Pac-12 first-team honors at Washington State. The Hoosiers also returned Trey Galloway, who played plenty of minutes last season at point guard, and added Kanaan Carlyle, who can handle the ball and create.
These changes mean Cupps will see a change in his role as a sophomore for the Hoosiers. He is not expected to start regularly or play more than 20 minutes per game like he did as a freshman.
However, Cupps can still make gains as a sophomore and maximize the number of minutes he plays. And that’s exactly what the expectation should be for Cupps, known for his relentless work ethic.
“He got thrown into the fire in a sense,” incoming transfer Luke Goode told Sleepers Media in June. “Xavier Johnson being hurt, it put a lot of pressure on him to perform, and sometimes freshman, it’s tough, they don’t have what they need to bring. But he’s going to take that leap, for sure, sophomore year, and I’m excited to see how he plays next year.”
While Cupps shot a healthy percentage from the perimeter last season, he was often reluctant to shoot. When Cupps had a chance to get set and square his feet, he showed off a capable stroke on 3s.
But when he rushed his shot, it often led him to fade, which hurt his shooting percentage. According to Hoop-Math.com, Cupps shot just 31.4 percent on 2-point jump shots.
Goode said shooting has been a clear offseason focus for the Ohio native.
“I think he’s the second-leading 3-point shooter this summer in just playing and skill workouts,” Goode explained. “So he’s really improved. He’s in there every morning, about 6 a.m., getting shots up.”
Off the court, Cupps has the traits to grow as a leader on and off the floor. Even as a freshman, you could see him constantly talking to his teammates on the court.
When Oumar Ballo visited Bloomington in April, Cupps popped into Ballo’s photo shoot to make the big man feel welcome.
His ability to connect with teammates is equally important to his statistical contributions on the floor.
“Gabe is one of the most personable guys I’ve ever met in my life. The day that I got to campus, he was the first person I talked to, first guy I hang out with, still my guy,” Goode said. “We get dinner probably three or four times a week. But he’s just that dude, man. He’s in the gym before everybody working out, he’s the last one to leave. He’s in the locker room jumping on people like a clown and doing all of his stuff. He’s a great teammate.”
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