ANNOUNCEMENT: former Hoosier Power Forward Kaleb Banks announced his return back with full commitment….

ANNOUNCEMENT: former Hoosier Power Forward Kaleb Banks announced his return back with full commitment….

Ind. – When Indiana lost 61.2 points per game from Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Race Thompson, Miller Kopp, Tamar Bates and Jordan Geronimo, plus all the defense and leadership that came with them, coach Mike Woodson knew he needed to hit the transfer portal and get more from the roster’s few returners.

He put a lot of that weight on senior guards Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway, naming them team captains. But he also challenged his sophomore class: Malik Reneau, CJ Gunn and Kaleb Banks.

“I’m expecting some big things,” Woodson said of that trio at Big Ten media days in October. “I can’t wait on them. I need them to be ready to play this season.”

Reneau has perhaps exceeded Woodson’s expectations as he leads Indiana with 16.4 points per game, a 10.3-point increase from his freshman season serving as the backup to Jackson-Davis and Thompson. Most of Reneau’s production comes from soft touch and precise footwork inside, but he has become a quality 3-point shooter at 37.1%, too. Woodson is still pushing Reneau to improve his rebounding and defense. Wins like Tuesday’s at Ohio State, where he scored 26 points, reaffirm that Reneau as an invaluable piece for the Hoosiers.

Gunn and Banks, on the other hand, have not made the sophomore jump Woodson was hoping to see. Gunn didn’t play at Illinois, and he has played just seven minutes per game and scored three total points over his last four appearances. Banks has fallen out of the rotation completely. He hasn’t played since Jan. 19 at Wisconsin, and he’s played just 13 combined minutes in his last four appearances.

Woodson was asked Thursday what has prevented Gunn and Banks from taking the next step.

“I wish I knew because they have worked. I mean, in practice they work,” Woodson said. “I just got to find some confidence somewhere in one of them, if not both, because it’s tough. You can’t just play six guys. I mean, [Anthony] Walker played a little bit in that game. I played Payton [Sparks] very little. Anthony [Leal] played a big chunk of minutes along with the starters.”