Starting 5: Indiana college basketball's potential breakout players in 2022-23

The college basketball season officially tips off Nov. 7, and Indiana has a new, 11th school playing Division I hoops (welcome, Southern Indiana). In preparation of the 2022-23 season, we asked reporters across the USA TODAY Network's Indiana newspapers five questions about the teams they cover. We will publish one each day this week.

STARTING 5 SCHEDULE

Monday: Potential breakout players

Tuesday: Newcomers to watch

Wednesday: Biggest concern

Thursday: Best-case scenario

Friday: Game I'm most looking forward to

Ball State

The answer would've been Jaylin Sellers, who ended up breaking his right hand and will miss the foreseeable future. Instead, I'll throw out a name: Jalen Windham. The 6-5 junior guard has seen limited action in his first two seasons at Ball State since transferring out of Creighton. From the outside looking in, Windham's utilization didn't make much sense last season. He was solid off the bench playing throughout most of the nonconference slate, averaging 10 points until December before his production stopped. He saw limited action in Mid-American Conference play, went 5-for-7 from 3, scoring a season-high 17 points in 12 minutes in a blowout loss against Ohio and spent the rest of the season on the bench. Windham and first-year coach Michael Lewis seem to get along, which could bode well for the Ben Davis product's playing time this season. — Robby General, The Star Press

More:For Michael Lewis, it's a matter of when, not if, Ball State will return to NCAA tournament

Butler

If Simas Lukosius does not start, he would be perhaps the best sixth man in the Big East. He can play every position except center. The 6-6 Lithuanian sophomore, after one year in the United States, should be better in all areas.

As a freshman, Lukosius averaged 6.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 22 minutes per game. The Bulldogs were 6-1 in games in which he scored 10 or more points. In their last victory — 89-82 over Xavier in the Big East tournament — he scored 12 of his career-high 27 points in overtime. — David Woods, IndyStar

More:Simas Lukosius could already do it all for Butler; now he might do it better

Evansville

A former three-star prospect coming out of high school, Akron transfer Sekou Sada Kalle is likely going to be Evansville's starting center. One of the transfers who stayed after UE fired former coach Todd Lickliter, new coach David Ragland said Kalle will be the Purple Aces' "anchor" on the defensive end and will be strong offense playing above the rim.

While he didn't feature much for the Zips, he should get plenty of chances to show why he was rated as highly as he was in high school. — Anthony Kristensen, Courier & Press

More:5 things to know about Evansville men's basketball

Indiana

It’s never been hard to see Tamar Bates’ skill level or potential upside. At his best, even as a freshman, Bates looked comfortable on the floor with high-major college basketball players, and even now he remains this team’s biggest multi-level scoring threat. But his shot deserted him last winter, and Bates struggled for offensive rhythm through most of the season as a result. He’s confident in what he’s done to improve this summer. If he emerges as the borderline five-star prospect he was when he signed, Indiana’s ceiling goes up a couple floors. — Zach Osterman, IndyStar

Indiana State

After leading scorer Tyreke Key went down with a season-ending injury in the preseason, Cooper Neese was asked to take on an increased scoring load. The 6-4 guard answered the call going from 9.5 points per game in 2021 to a career-high 15 points per game last season. Neese, a senior from Cloverdale, may not eclipse his points per game average from last season, but with more talent around him and another year to get acclimated to coach Josh Schertz’s system, Neese should be a more efficient player and compete for All-MVC honors. — Akeem Glaspie, IndyStar

IUPUI

Boston Stanton III was one of the few healthy players left after injuries and transfers decimated IUPUI’s roster last season. As a true freshman, Stanton started 19 of 28 games and logged heavy minutes in the final stretch of the season. Armed with a full roster of players, the 6-5 guard can move off the ball, and showcase his shooting and scoring ability. — Akeem Glaspie, IndyStar

Notre Dame

Can a super senior who actually has a sixth year of eligibility if needed be a breakout player candidate? He can if he's guard Cormac Ryan, who's on track to play his best basketball in his third season in the system after transferring from Stanford.

Ryan averaged 9.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 30 minutes last season, when he bounced between starter and reserve. He's the clear-cut starting point guard now, the best perimeter defender, the team's vocal leader and its heartbeat. There's a lot on his basketball plate, but the 6-5, 195-pound Ryan wants all of it and more. Especially the way he ended last season when he willed Notre Dame to a pair of tournament wins (that hasn't happened since 2016) by averaging 18.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

There's even more for Ryan to show. Expect the Atlantic Coast Conference and all of college basketball to see it this season. — Tom Noie, South Bend Tribune

Cormac Ryan was good last year. He and Notre Dame could be even better this year

Purdue

Trey Kaufman-Renn. After redshirting last season, it's easy to overlook the former Silver Creek standout but he put together a solid offseason. He added strength and gives the Boilermakers plenty of options to play inside or outside. He can back up big man Zach Edey at center or fill in at power forward while using his skill set to stretch the floor from the perimeter. He is poised to become one of the team's top defenders. — Mike Carmin, Journal & Courier

Purdue primer: Point guard, post play, defense among topics as practice starts

Purdue Fort Wayne

Deonte Billups won the Horizon League Sixth Man of the Year award last season, and was fourth in the conference with 2.1 3-pointers per game. He averaged 9 points per game, providing a frequent spark off the bench. He started 18 games last season, and could see that number increase. —  Matthew VanTryon, IndyStar

Southern Indiana

In his first year of Division I basketball, I’m expecting to see a big season from Gary Solomon. The junior point guard joins the Screaming Eagles after dominating the JUCO level at Henry Ford College. He led NJCAA’s Division II with 223 assists a year ago. With his playmaking ability and toughness, he’ll likely be handed the reins of the USI offense as the starting point guard in his first year with the team. — Hendrix Magley, Courier & Press

'We project ourselves at No. 1': USI men's basketball hopes first OVC season is historic

Valparaiso

Ben Krikke, a Canadian senior, has made steady strides each season, and might be ready to make noise on the national stage. He was named to the Missouri Valley Conference Most Improved team and All-MVC third team as a sophomore and led the team in scoring last season (14.2 ppg) as a junior while making the All-MVC third team again. He was named to the preseason All-MVC first team. If he can take his assertiveness to another level and maintain his shooting percentage (54% last season), he can take his game to another level. —  Matthew VanTryon, IndyStar

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana college basketball: Division I 2022-23 breakout players