Offensive growth a positive sign for Sam Alexis as his importance at Indiana is emphasized after exhibition tour

The buzzword surrounding Indiana as it headed into its Puerto Rico exhibition tour was ‘energy’. There was a certain level of energy and competitiveness throughout practices this summer that was beginning to help Indiana form its identity.

One of the players who was expected to provide a significant ‘energy boost’ was Sam Alexis. The Florida transfer entered his final year of eligibility with the Hoosiers fresh off of a National Championship season with the Gators — knowing exactly what it takes to get to that level, and how important it is to bring a level of energy and attention to detail every day.

While his addition to Indiana wasn’t a necessarily ‘sexy’ pickup this offseason, it was one that brought a lot of excitement to the staff with the anticipation of what he could bring.

Though Sam Alexis didn’t have eye-popping numbers from a statistical standpoint, just 4.7 points and 3.5 rebounds a game — he did that in just 11.9 minutes a game. 

His per-40 minute breakdown was: 15.7 points, 11.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks a game.

(On3+): What is Indiana getting in transfer big Sam Alexis? — ‘He prides himself on his effort’

So, there was an expectation that, with extended playing time and a versatile offensive system in place, he could grow his game and become a real backbone of the Indiana team — on both ends of the floor.

“Playing hard, rebounding, blocking shots, playing defense,” Alexis said last month of his role. “Doing what I got to do to help the team win.”

Before he transferred to Florida, he played two seasons at Chattanooga and was one of the more dominant rebounders and shot blocker at the mid-major level. During the 2023-24 season, he averaged 10.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks a game. His block rate was at 9.1 percent and his offensive rebound rate was 25.7 percent.

This year alone, while in a minimized role, Sam Alexis had an offensive rebound rate of 14.5 percent along with a block rate of 5.5 percent. 

During Indiana’s three-game stretch in Puerto Rico, Alexis did all of those things … and more. He finished with averages of 12.7 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting 54.3 percent from the floor. He scored in double-figures in all three games and had one double-double.

“Yeah, just bringing that here to this team, rim protection,” Alexis said. “We’re gonna need that here in the Big Ten because there’s a lot of good guards, so just being able to block shots. Yeah, I feel I’m gonna have a value on the team for that especially.”

The scoring output was something that while hopeful it would emerge, the staff wasn’t entirely sure how it would translate. Throughout the first eight weeks of summer, Indiana was unable to utilize some of its intriguing lineups consistently in practice due to lack of bodies — and what was known; lack of size. So, putting Alexis into different situations down in Puerto Rico was a very valuable experience for everyone.

(On3+): Darian DeVries discusses takeaways from Puerto Rico exhibition tour

“We got a lot more opportunity here, because you have just the five guys out there, and we could sub more. But I like what they did,” Darian DeVries said about playing Reed Bailey and Alexis together. “I thought they brought some good length, obviously our rebounding. They were also figuring out how to play off each other on the offensive end.”

Alexis, at 6-foot-9 and 238 pounds, and Bailey, 6-foot-10 and 232 pounds, were part of two big runs for Indiana in the final two games of the Puerto Rico trip. Whether it was the ability of Sam Alexis in the pick and roll game, finishing at the rim off of offensive rebounds, or Bailey’s versatility that was on display playing next to Alexis, Indiana’s offense was on another level with both — especially Alexis — on the floor.

“Sam’s got a little bit more of that back-to-the-basket game, where Reed’s got a little bit more of that face up and drive type deal,” DeVries said. “So, we’ll continue to work with that lineup, experiment with it as we get into the fall.”

It’s clear Alexis is important to Indiana this season — but the level of importance seems heightened as the Hoosiers return home and move into the fall.

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