The buzzer sounded across Assembly Hall as Sam Houston’s Kian Scroggins committed a turnover on a bad pass five minutes into the second half. The ball rolled out of the court of play, right back into the hands of an Indiana team who finally looked to have found its rhythm.
Indiana guard Myles Rice surveyed and headed down the court after taking the inbound. To his left came Luke Goode, confident and determined.
Rice passed to his left, and with a man in front of him, Goode drained the stepback 3-pointer to move him up to 16 points on the night. The 3-point play put the senior forward at five made 3s on the night.
“It’s just a testament to the process,” Goode said. “I believe in myself and I know I’m one of the best shooters in the conference, and I feel that way every day.”
If not one of the best shooters in the conference, there’s no doubt in mind that Goode sits as one of the best shooters this Indiana team has seen in a year or two.
Five made 3s in a single game is an accolade that Indiana men’s basketball hasn’t seen since the 2022-23 season, when former Indiana guard and current Los Angeles Laker Jalen Hood-Schifino shot 6-for-9 from beyond the arc against Ohio State on January 28, 2023.
It’s also an accolade that Goode hasn’t seen in his career. In Indiana’s 97-71 win over Sam Houston State on Tuesday night, Goode shot 5-for-7 from deep, ending the night with 18 total points. Both marks were career highs for the Illinois transfer.
Goode’s previous career high came just under a year prior, after a 16-point showing in Illinois’ 83-78 loss against No. 1 Purdue last season.
“Goode was fantastic tonight,” Indiana head coach Mike Woodson said postgame. “We’ve been shooting the three ball pretty well. Goode is a big part of it. That was one of the reasons we went out to recruit him. Tonight it showed big time for us. We benefited from it.”
The Fort Wayne, Indiana native joins the Hoosiers following three years representing the Fighting Illini at the University of Illinois.
In his 76 collegiate games sporting the blue and orange, Goode compiled 314 points, 200 rebounds, and 85 made 3-pointers. The stats speak for themselves.
But what’s not on the stat sheet? The mark of a leader.
“It just opens up for everybody,” Indiana forward Malik Reneau said. “It’s not only in the game. Luke shows it in practice every single day, so he gives us that confidence when he’s open, we know he’s going to knock down the shot.”
As one of Indiana’s seven new faces heading into the 2024-25 season, Goode brings a lot to the table.
Whether it be a reliable perimeter presence, a spark off the bench, a leader on and off the court, or solely a veteran who has the experience. Goode held all of the traits and the capabilities of what it meant to be an Indiana Hoosier.
Years ago, a young Luke Goode had been sitting in his uncle’s seat behind the Indiana bench, watching his favorite Indiana Hoosiers play basketball in Assembly Hall. Today, Goode takes the place of the ones he looked up to as a child.
A dream turned into a reality, and something that Goode can only boil down to as a shock.
“To be able to wear the candy stripes and go play, it’s a dream come true,” Goode said. “I hope people realize that when I go out there and play, I play as hard as I possibly can when I’m on the court to represent this program the way it should be represented.”
From once sporting the blue and orange to now representing the cream and crimson, Goode’s journey has come full circle. He’s won. He’s made it to the big stages.
But in his final year, Luke Goode still has a lot more ball left to be played, a lot more shots to fall, and a lot more games to win. This year, however, he has the pride of his home state behind him.
