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Welcome to “That’s A Wrap,” our player-by-player recap of the 2024-25 Indiana Hoosiers. Our player recaps conclude with Oumar Ballo.
Ballo (31 games): 13.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 62.3 FG% in 28.8 minutes per game.
Previously: Bryson Tucker, Kanaan Carlyle, Mackenzie Mgbako, Myles Rice, Malik Reneau, Anthony Leal, Langdon Hatton, Trey Galloway, Luke Goode
Oumar Ballo was more than just Indiana’s prized addition in the offseason – he was one of, if not the most, coveted transfers in the country.
The 7-foot redshirt sixth-year senior from Mali was a double-double machine at Arizona. He notched 34 in three seasons with the Wildcats and picked up two first-team All-Pac 12 honors alongside a Pac-12 All-Defensive team nod last season.
He ranked nationally as the No. 2 transfer according to 247Sports and No. 3 at On3.
Upon arrival, he hoped to continue the lineage of successful post players under Mike Woodson, following in the footsteps of Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kel’el Ware. Early on, he was – for the most part – precisely what he was recruited for.
Defensively, he was a stalwart who stymied anything around the rim, especially against lower-tier opponents. Offensively, his burly frame out-muscled undersized defenders on the post or he would fly high for lobs.
However, his motor wasn’t always present – a red flag he brought from Arizona.
Despite just seven points in IU’s first high major test against South Carolina, Ballo grabbed 13 boards and swatted away six shots in a strong defensive effort to lead an 87-71 win.
His first eye-popping offensive performance was Nov. 28 against Gonzaga in the Bahamas. He scored 25 points on 11-for-13 shooting, but his efforts were wasted in an 89-73 blowout loss.
Returning from the Battle 4 Atlantis, Ballo underperformed in December. Outside of a 14-point, 18-rebound game against Miami-Ohio, Ballo averaged 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in four games during the month and his lack of effort was apparent.
Ballo was benched for a Dec. 29 contest against Winthrop and Mike Woodson didn’t elaborate on the circumstances in his postgame comments.
In the following game against Rutgers on Jan. 2, Ballo was available to play but did not start for the first time all season. However, Malik Reneau suffered an injury early in the game and Ballo was essentially forced in. He produced 17 points and 12 rebounds in 32 minutes in the win.
Woodson re-inserted Ballo into the starting lineup the following game at Penn State and he dominated with 25 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks.
Despite churning out double-doubles in losses to Iowa and Illinois, he again displayed low levels of effort. On several occasions in each game, Ballo failed to run back on defense and gave up on plays while watching the ball.
The rest of the season, Ballo put up solid numbers here and there with bursts of energy, but he seemingly coasted to the finish line.
Ballo’s season was a roller coaster. At the high points, Ballo was a dominant force inside on both ends of the floor. At the lows, however, his lack of energy and effort sometimes decreased his value to a mere space-filler.
Bottom line: Ballo was undeniably crucial to Indiana’s formula this season. However, he didn’t live up to his preseason label as one of the most valuable transfers in the nation. Much like IU’s fate, Ballo’s expectations coming into the year exceeded reality. At times, he flashed glimpses of what made him a force at Arizona, but Ballo could never string it together consistently enough.
Quotable: “You know, I’ve been in college quite a long time now. I know this moment, man, they go fast… because this thing goes fast, and we have to take every game as important and we have to finish the season strong, not just for us but for the fans. And I feel like they deserve that, and we’re pushing forward for that,” Ballo said reflecting on the end of his career after Indiana’s Feb. 26 win over Penn State.
Category: Commentary
Filed to: Oumar Ballo
