BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The loudest cheer from the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall crowd on Wednesday night came after Luke Goode sank a corner 3-pointer while being fouled, giving Indiana a 13-point lead with 7:56 remaining against USC. The Hoosiers held onto that momentum to secure an 82-69 victory, with Goode adding two clutch free throws late in the game to help seal the win. His earlier 3-pointer, however, marked the highlight of his strong all-around performance.
Goode finished with 16 points, shooting 5-for-7 from the field, including 4-for-5 from beyond the arc. He also contributed four rebounds, made 2-of-3 free throws, and didn’t commit a turnover in 34 minutes—most on the team.
His rise in the starting lineup has coincided with some of his best performances in an Indiana uniform.
“I’m super comfortable,” Goode said, reflecting on his expanded role. “My teammates make it easy for me. When I start, the offense looks a little different, and I think that helps everyone. We’re able to get [Oumar] Ballo good looks, and having another shooter helps with spacing. That’s been a constant for me—whatever role I need to play, I try to do it to the best of my ability. When my teammates trust me, I just focus on doing what I can.”
Goode transferred to Indiana after three seasons at Illinois, where he shot 38.8% on 3-point attempts. A Fort Wayne native, Goode was expected to help boost Indiana’s shooting in 2024-25. However, his early days with the Hoosiers were slow, as he connected on just 6-of-21 attempts from beyond the arc in his first seven games. But since being inserted into the starting lineup, Goode has found his rhythm.
His breakout began on Dec. 29 against Winthrop, after Coach Mike Woodson made a series of lineup changes. Following a benching of center Oumar Ballo, and a knee injury to starting power forward Malik Reneau, Goode stayed in the starting lineup and has continued to excel. In Indiana’s current five-game win streak, Goode has shot 10-for-15 from three-point range over the past three games.
What’s behind this recent success? Goode credits a combination of factors: improvements to his shot, more offensive spacing with Reneau out, and his natural shooting ability. But a key element has also been a recommendation from Indiana assistant coach Brian Walsh, who gave Goode a book that’s helped him through the shooting slumps and mental ups and downs that come with being a shooter.
“It’s been really helpful,” Goode said of the book Mind Gym: An Athlete’s Guide to Inner Excellence by Gary Mack, which he began reading three games ago. “It’s about clearing your mind. That’s helped me in a lot of ways.”
The recent change in lineup, including more guards and wings on the floor, has also benefited Goode and the team overall. The Hoosiers have been playing faster and creating more space, allowing shooters like Goode to thrive. Ballo has more room to work inside, and the offense looks more dynamic. Despite the absence of Reneau, Indiana hasn’t skipped a beat.
“We’ve got better spacing,” Coach Woodson said, acknowledging the value of a smaller lineup. “But Malik is still a huge part of what we do.”
Indiana now heads into a tough stretch of 11 straight Quad 1 games, starting Saturday at Iowa, where they haven’t won under Woodson. While they’ll be without Reneau for the time being, Goode’s continued hot shooting gives the Hoosiers confidence moving forward.
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