Kanaan Carlyle shines in return, proves defensive value in Indiana’s 15-point win
A key component of a successful team is a player who consistently brings energy. When they’re on the court, they hustle, wreak havoc and inject life into the rest of the lineup.
For Indiana, that guy is Kanaan Carlyle.
After missing the past three games due to a lower-body injury, the sophomore guard came off the bench for the first time this season. His response? Season-high marks with 14 points and five assists alongside a stout defensive effort, guiding the Hoosiers to an 82-67 win over Minnesota.
“I’m perfectly fine coming off the bench, I want to win games,” Carlyle said postgame. “I’m here to do my job – to play defense and provide what I can on offense.”
Mike Woodson stuck with lineup continuity after Trey Galloway had started in Carlyle’s place the past three contests. Acting as the team’s sixth man, Carlyle fulfilled his role impeccably.
Monday night’s game started with no defense. In an early track meet, the Golden Gophers started the game 11-for-15 from the field and easily got the looks they wanted. Shortly before Minnesota took a 22-20 lead with 11:42 left in the half, Carlyle first entered.
Then, Indiana’s defense shifted gears.
A unique lineup of Galloway, Carlyle, Bryson Tucker, Luke Goode and Oumar Ballo completely flipped the game in favor of IU. The Hoosiers went on a 16-1 run that stretched over seven minutes, and although Tucker and Ballo scored all of the points in that span, Carlyle arguably had the most significant impact.
The Atlanta, Georgia native hounded Minnesota’s guards on the perimeter. He cut off potential drives to the basket, closed passing lanes and applied constant pressure on the ball.
While Carlyle’s defensive tenacity is expected, the effect he spreads speaks volumes. Pumping energy throughout the team, Carlyle raises the ceiling of IU’s defensive capabilities. The rest of the lineup looked far more engaged and communicative with him on the floor.
For example, right before Minnesota ended its lengthy scoring drought, Carlyle was getting active on the ball and switching. As he did, Mackenzie Mgbako – who has displayed inconsistent levels of effort – double-teamed the ball with ferocity to force a steal.
Once that momentum spreads, things start to pick up. For Carlyle, that means heating up on both sides of the ball.
“On defense, just energy, playing well and picking up 94 feet,” he said about when he feels his best. “That’s what I need to bring every single night because that’s also what gets my offense going.”
After Carlyle made a 3-pointer shortly before halftime, the Hoosiers entered the break with a 13-point lead. After the Golden Gophers’ hot start, they finished the half 3-for-12 from the field.
The second half was when Carlyle’s offense got going as Indiana continually fended off Minnesota’s comeback attempts. He picked up where he left off with a wide-open 3-pointer, drilling it confidently and holding his form down the court to take a 16-point lead.
He scored at all three levels, getting to the paint for a bucket less than a minute later and knocking down an and-1 midrange to extend Indiana’s lead to a game-high 21 points with under 10 minutes remaining.
Fittingly, Carlyle ended the night for the Hoosiers with one last triple to seal the win. After struggling to start the season, the sophomore showed exactly why Woodson recruited him in the transfer portal with a complete effort in the win.
“I knew when I came here my job was to be that two-way player, so I take pride in that individually and my teammates all encourage me,” he said.
Entering Monday night, Carlyle had started the season 10-for-37 (27 percent) from the field, 6-for-24 (25 percent) from 3-point range and had 10 assists in 133 minutes. Against Minnesota, he shot 5-for-8 (62.5 percent), including 3-for-6 (50 percent) from deep alongside his five dimes in 22 minutes.
Offensively, Carlyle and Tucker carried the load for an inconsistent backcourt needing someone to take the initiative and score. Defensively, Carlyle can change what kind of team Indiana can be.
While not always the most reliable stat, Carlyle’s plus-minus of +15 accurately accounts for his impact against the Golden Gophers. In a 15-point win, he indeed was a top-tier difference-maker.
Whether Carlyle can maintain that level of offensive consistency remains an open question. However, there’s no doubt he can raise the ceiling of the team’s defense nightly. In a season where low-effort stretches have been a reoccurring instance, Carlyle’s energy and production could be the solution.
Filed to: Kanaan Carlyle