KNOXVILLE, TN — Indiana basketball players Trey Galloway, Jakai Newton and Bryson Tucker sat out Sunday’s charity exhibition against Tennessee at the Food City Center.
The No. 18 Hoosiers beat the defending regular season SEC champs 66-62. Galloway, Newton and Tucker all made the trip, but didn’t dress out for the game.
Indiana coach Mike Woodson told reporters on Friday that Galloway and Newton were both questionable. The team has been patient with the guards as they work their way back from knee injuries.
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“We kind of have been slow walking them back cause it is a long season,” Woodson said. “They have not fully recovered, they might tell you guys that. That’s the whole reason we are being very cautious in terms of how we’re approaching their practices because they aren’t fully ready yet.”
While they both participated in a recent scrimmage, Woodson was reluctant about throwing them into a true game. They didn’t participate in any of the basketball-related activities at Hoosier Hysteria either.
Tucker, who was the team’s lone freshman signee in the 2024 signing class, was a late scratch after bruising his thigh in practice.
“He couldn’t get his stride together yesterday and today,” Woodson said.
Woodson has offered some high praise for the former McDonald’s All-American throughout the offseason. At Hoosier Hysteria, he told IU fans that Tucker didn’t play like a freshman and that he loves everything about his game.
The 6-foot-7, 207-pounder small forward was a four-star signee out of Bishop O’Connell High School in Virginia. He’s likely to provide depth this season in the front court behind Mackenzie Mgbako and Luke Goode.
Tucker will be re-evaluated this week, but Woodson doesn’t anticipate him missing extended time.
“It’s nothing serious,” Woodson said.
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
